If you enjoy skateboarding, you may wish to build a custom board designed to suit your personal preferences. Skateboards are all comprised of the same basic elements: a skateboard deck fitted with grip tape, four wheels and trucks to mount the wheels to the deck. These components come in a variety of designs and materials; once you have selected your pieces, all that remains is to join them together. The assembly process is very straightforward, requiring only the use of basic hand tools.
Step 1
Locate the sets of holes drilled into the skateboard deck. Measure the distance from one set of holes to the nearest end of the deck. Repeat with the holes on the opposite side of the deck. Compare the measurements and use a pencil to mark the longest end as the nose of the deck.
Step 2
Cut a piece of grip tape roughly half a foot longer than the length of the board. Peel 2 to 3 inches of backing off of the grip tape. Apply the grip tape to the nose of the skateboard. Peel more backing off and gradually apply the grip tape to the length of the board.
Step 3
Use your hands to push any trapped air towards the edges of the grip tape. Push a skateboard wheel over the surface of the tape to remove any remaining air. Use the utility knife to trim the excess tape off the edge of the deck. Sand the edges with one of the leftover scraps of grip tape.
Step 4
Insert the end of the wire or skewer through each of the holes on the underside of the skateboard deck. Poke holes through the surface of the grip tape.
Step 5
Use your fingers or an adjustable wrench to remove the nut and washer from one end of a truck axle. Fit a bearing onto the axle, then fit a wheel over the bearing. Push on the side of the wheel until the two pieces lock together. Remove the wheel and bearing assembly, then repeat this process with the remaining wheels and bearings.
Step 6
Use your fingers or an adjustable wrench to remove the nuts and washers from the remaining truck axles. Fit a washer next to each wheel bearing; if the axles come with an additional washer, fit the remaining washer next to the opposite side of the wheel. Fit a wheel onto each axle. Place a nut on the end of each axle; tighten the nuts until the wheels are secure.
Step 7
Insert the mounting bolts into the holes on the surface of the grip tape. Align the bolts with the holes on each truck bracket. Tighten the bolts until the trucks are properly secured to the deck.
Things You'll Need
- Skateboard deck
- Skateboard wheels
- Skateboard trucks
- Mounting bolts
- Nuts
- Washers
- Measuring tape
- Grip tape
- Utility knife
- Thin wire or metal skewer
- Phillips screwdriver
- Adjustable wrench
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