How to Oil Skate Bearings

Joseph Merlin of Huy, Belgium, invented roller skates in 1759. However, at that time, they were hard to stop in and very bulky. In 1863, James Pimpton of the United States created the first user-friendly roller skates. Pimpton's skates placed one pair of wheels under the ball of the foot and one pair under the heel. Today, roller skates and in-line skates have become much more advanced and proper maintenance is required to keep them rolling smoothly. Reapplying lubrication to the ball bearings of your roller skates is a necessity.

Things You'll Need

• Roller skates or in-line skates
• Vice
• Lubricant
• Rags

Instructions

1. Place one roller skate upside down into the vice. Tighten the vice so your roller skate cannot move.

2. Spray a small amount of lubricant onto the bearings.

3. Gently wrap a rag around the base of the skate. Let stand for five minutes.

4. Spin all the wheels of your roller skate or blade. If you do not notice a difference, reapply lubricant.

5. Repeat the steps for the second roller skate.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when handling lubricants as they may cause skin irritation.

References

• Skates US
• Feed Your Skate Bearings
• Roller Skating History of the United States