The modern skateboard looks deceptively simple. But there is some serious engineering and machining that takes place to put a skateboard together. This all starts with the skateboard deck. Each component that makes up the parts of the deck and the attachments come together to form a piece of sports equipment that is sturdy, flexible, light, durable and easy to maneuver.
The Board
The board is a type of plywood, made of multiple layers of thin wood sheets, called veneers. These are first laminated with a strong adhesive, specifically formulated to take the rigorous use a skateboard may receive. The sheets are then bonded together and inserted into a molding machine, which presses the veneers and forms the curves in the board. Once the glue has cured, a computerized cutting machine shapes the outline of the deck and drill the holes for the trucks. The deck is then sanded to round its edges. The manufacturer then applied several coats of clear coat.
The Grip Tape
Skateboard grip tape is essential for the proper use of the board. Grip tape provides the high friction surface that allows skateboarders to grip the board when rolling, turning, popping or landing. The tape is made of a tough woven fabric. One side is covered with silicon carbide, similar to that used on sandpaper. The other side is coated with a very high tack adhesive. To install the grip tape, the upper face of the skateboard deck is first roughened with coarse sandpaper and the grip tape is applied and trimmed to fit the board. Grip tape comes in a range of coarseness and colors and can even be printed on to add more graphic art to the board.
The Artwork
Artwork is an important part of a skateboard deck. Its aesthetics add to the personalized and eclectic style prevalent in skate culture today. The artwork is also more than just a pleasing artistic expression. It can also build up the underside of the board, making it more resistant to wear, particularly when grinding. Artwork can be either silk screened and protected with more clear coat or added using a heat transfer method that applies a full layer of plastic material with designs onto the bottom of the skateboard deck.
Hardware
Without hardware, a skateboard deck is just a board. So decks are drilled with holes to accommodate the bolts used to attach trucks to the deck. The trucks act as the armature that connects the wheels to the skateboard deck. Each truck is made up of a base and an axle separated by large rubber bushings that are held together with bolts. The wheels attach to each end of the axle to complete the finished skateboard.
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