How to Build Your Own Complete Skateboard

Skateboarding is an extreme sport that has grown in popularity over recent years, thanks in large part to the ESPN network coverage of the annual X-Games competition. Professional complete skateboards can be purchased from local skate shops or from various online vendors. However, skaters can save a lot of money by buying the individual parts separately and then putting their complete skateboard together themselves.

Things You'll Need

• Skateboard deck
• 2 skateboard trucks
• 4 skateboard wheels
• Skateboard grip tape
• Skateboard hardware
• Screwdriver
• Knife

Instructions

1. Choose the deck that is right for you. Professional skateboard decks range in size from a width of 7 to 8 inches, with size increases every 1/4 inch. There is no wrong width, it just has to do with what is comfortable for you specifically. However, generally speaking, shorter skaters or skaters with small feet will be able to have more control over a narrow deck.

2. Apply the grip tape to the top of your skateboard. Start by removing the paper covering to expose the sticky bottom of the grip tape. Hold one end of the grip tape in either hand and bring your hands together so that the grip tape makes a u-shape. Lower the center of the grip tape onto the center of the deck and slowly apply the remaining grip in both directions. As you are applying the grip tape to the top of the deck, make a fist and smooth out the tape, starting from the deck's center and pressing out to either end. This will eliminate any air bubbles on top of your deck. Scrape the side of a screwdriver around the top edge of the deck so that a white border appears. Cut along this white border to remove the excess grip tape from around the edges of your deck.

3. Attach the skateboard trucks to the bottom of the deck. The trucks are the metal pieces that the wheels are attached to. First you must choose the right trucks for your deck. Whatever size deck you purchased, you have to get the same size truck so that the edges of the trucks will line up with the edges of the deck. Push one skate bolt through each of the holes on top of the deck. Feed the bolt through each of the four holes in the truck and tighten it in place with the bolt's nut. Make sure that you have lined up the trucks properly. Each truck has what is called a kingpin, which is a circle in the center of the truck itself. Make sure each truck's kingpin is pointed inward so that they face each other.

4. Select the proper wheels for the type of skating you will be doing. Wheels are sized from 48 mm to 60 mm diameters. The lower sized wheels are meant to be used on smooth surfaces such as treated skatepark ramps. Higher sized wheels are used on more rough surfaces such as sidewalks, pools or self-made ramps. With overuse, wheels will wear down and get smaller, so these are a type of skateboard hardware that you will be replacing often..

5. Attach one wheel to each side of the two trucks. Push one skate bearing into the alotted slot on each side of the wheel. Then place each wheel on the peg of the truck and tighten it into place with the truck's nuts. After all the wheels are tight and in place, your complete skateboard construction will be complete.

References

• Transworld Skateboarding