However, a complete skateboard features a total of 12 different individual components. Each of these elements has a function and requires fine adjustments.<\/p>\n
The most intricate and complex component is the skateboard truck.<\/p>\n
Trucks hold the deck a few inches above the ground, sustain the skateboarder's weight, and are responsible for keeping the wheels rolling.<\/p>\n
If you want to assemble your skateboard with select components, all you need is a good skate tool for tightening wheels and mounting hardware and adjusting the kingpin's height.<\/p>\n
Let's take a detailed look at the skateboard anatomy.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The deck is the skateboard's wooden platform where the rider places his or her feet and to which other parts are attached.<\/p>\n
They come in different sizes and shapes, but most popsicle-shaped skateboard decks feature a kick in the tail and the nose.<\/p>\n
Skateboard decks have subtle differences that distinguish the front (the nose) from the rear (the tail), so they're not exactly symmetrical.<\/p>\n
The deck also incorporates some kind of concave and a more or less gentle end-to-end curve - rocker or camber.<\/p>\n
Generally speaking, a narrow skateboard is more responsive and flips easily but will also be less stable; a wide board provides stability but is more difficult to maneuver.<\/p>\n
If you are buying your first skateboard, place different decks on the ground, and choose a size that is slightly narrower than the length of your feet.<\/p>\n
In other words, when your heels are even with one side, your toes should stick off the other side by about an inch.<\/p>\n
A standard deck is made from seven layers of 1\/16-inch thick hard maple veneer laminated with PVA glue and pressed to a complex form.<\/p>\n
Grip Tape<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The grip tape is a top surface sandpaper-like sheet that helps the skateboarder to grip the skateboard.<\/p>\n
Bolts<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Trucks are attached to the deck by bolts.<\/p>\n
There are two sets of four holes drilled into the deck. A total of eight bolts hold the trucks onto the board.<\/p>\n
You can loosen them for easier turning, but make sure they're tight enough so that you cannot undo them with your fingers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Trucks are the central and most complex part of a skateboard deck.<\/p>\n
They feature the mechanics that allow the rider to skate around, turn, and get to the air.<\/p>\n
A skateboard truck is made of steel and is exceptionally resistant. Often, it outlives all the other components of a skateboard.<\/p>\n
The truck comprises several parts: the baseplate, the kingpin, the hanger, the bushings, and the axles.<\/p>\n
A truck's width is determined by the length of its hanger (127-187 mm) and axle (193-254 mm).<\/p>\n
In the end, and ideally, a rider wants the outside of the wheels slightly hidden inside both sides of the deck.<\/p>\n
So, ultimately, the choice of a deck has an impact on the correct size of trucks for the board.<\/p>\n
Baseplate<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The baseplate is a flat and solid base metal plate featuring machine-drilled holes that mount to the skateboard's deck.<\/p>\n
Kingpin<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The kingpin is a large threaded pin - or large bolt - that sticks out of the baseplate.<\/p>\n
Hanger<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The hanger attaches to the other end of the kingpin.<\/p>\n
It's a T-shaped metal component that takes all the beating. As a result, it is the heaviest and sturdiest part of a skateboard.<\/p>\n
It is usually made of steel, but there are also lighter, more durable, and more expensive alloys available in the market.<\/p>\n
The hanger houses the axles that stick out and incorporate both wheels.<\/p>\n
Bushings<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Each truck has two bushings, the elements that allow the skateboard to turn.<\/p>\n
The bushings are two small rubber cups that pivot when the skateboarder leans left or right.<\/p>\n
They are sandwiched between the baseplate and the hanger, i.e., the metal parts of any skateboard.<\/p>\n
There's a bolt holding the bushings and hanger onto the kingpin that can be tightened or loosened to adjust how easily the board turns.<\/p>\n
Bushings have a variety of hardness levels, depending on the riding conditions.<\/p>\n
Technical and heavy riders often opt for stiffer bushings; cruisers and light skaters prefer softer bearings for easy turning.<\/p>\n
Bushings may need to be replaced when they become worn out and start to crack.<\/p>\n
Axle<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The axles, also known as hanger shafts, connect the two wheels on each truck and are held in place by axle nuts.<\/p>\n
They range from 193 to 254 mm and set the standard for how trucks are measured.<\/p>\n
As a general rule of thumb, the axle length should put the wheels within one-quarter of an inch of the deck's edge.<\/p>\n
Skateboard wheels should run smoothly on their axles.<\/p>\n
Risers<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The riser is an optional element that can be placed between the baseplate and the deck.<\/p>\n
It's a plastic or rubbery pad that absorbs shock and offers extra cushion.<\/p>\n
It may increase the wooden deck's life by protecting it from sudden and powerful impacts transferred through the wheels and trucks.<\/p>\n
They also add space between the wheels and the bottom side of the deck to prevent the wheels from hitting the board's underside.<\/p>\n
They make flip tricks difficult to land because they raise the skater's center of gravity.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A complete skateboard features four urethane wheels attached to the trucks and are categorized by diameter and hardness.<\/p>\n
They range in size from 50 mm to 70 mm+ and have a hardness scale (durometer) that goes from 78A to 100A+.<\/p>\n
Large and soft wheels are more forgiving and absorb impacts better. They're good for cruising and vert riding and range in size from 67 mm to 80 mm.<\/p>\n
Small and hard wheels are fast and good for performing tricks and shredding skateparks and sidewalks. They range in size from 52 mm to 58 mm.<\/p>\n
Axle Nuts<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A complete skateboard uses four axle nuts that keep the wheels in place and spinning.<\/p>\n
They tend to wear out quickly, so they should be replaced once in a while.<\/p>\n
The standard size is 5\/16'' for trucks that have 8 mm axles.<\/p>\n
Washers<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Most skateboards assembled in skate shops have two small washers between the nuts on the axle and between the hanger's inner bearings.<\/p>\n
Washers help wheels spin smoothly.<\/p>\n
Bearings<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A complete skateboard has a total of eight bearings - two inside each of the four polyurethane wheels.<\/p>\n
They look like rings with small steel balls inside.<\/p>\n
Bearings fit into either side of the wheel and allow it to spin smoothly on the axle.<\/p>\n
The most expensive bearings are ceramic bearings.<\/p>\n
These high-performance bearings absorb the heat generated from the friction of a fast-spinning wheel and make the skateboard go fast.<\/p>\n
However, precision steel bearings are the most common bearings used in skateboards.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, there's also an aluminum spacer inside the wheel, between the bearings, that keeps everything aligned.<\/p>\n
Bearings are rated for their ABEC (Annular Bearing Engineer's Committee) factor. That is to say they are rated for their quality and smoothness.<\/p>\n
The ABEC scale ranges from 1 (low quality and cheap) to 9 (better quality and expensive).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
More: However, a complete skateboard features a total of 12 different individual components. Each of these elements has a function and requires fine adjustments. Continue reading
\nThe anatomy of a skateboard - SurferToday<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"