Understanding the Parts of a Skateboard
 Parts, Parts, and More Parts....When it comes to building a skateboard, or better yet trying to customize your skateboard. It is beneficial to know the technical terms of the skateboard. This will help you find what you are looking for, or even help you describe what you are trying to accomplish to the person working at a skateshop... We have created a diagram that gives a better look at some of the pieces that go into a skateboard, and I will break down details if necessary to give you some insight on what they might be for! 1. The Deck - Most people do not think much about the deck, other than the width of the deck will give you a feeling of more balance and a narrower deck will make for a lighter setup. This is true but one piece I believe to be continually overlooked is the wheelbase. this measurement can give you good insight on how quickly the board will turn regardless of your truck setup. 2. Griptape - Griptape will influence how much or how little grip you have. Above that, it is a statement piece. Do you want traditional Black? Maybe Clear? Or do you want to make it a one of a kind job? ie Cutting your griptape into different pieces, shapes and designs to give your board a one of a kind look. 3. Hanger - The Hanger is a component of the overall skateboard truck. The Hanger is what actually comes into contact with a rail or coping when skating. This is also a component that will "break in" as you skate more, and grooves will form where you most commonly lock into grinds. This is one piece that is not really replaceable...so if you were to break it, unfortunately new trucks may be in your future. 4. Wheel - Skateboard wheels come in so many shapes in sizes, im just going to refer you to the other post I made about choosing the right wheel. Click here if you want the finer details on choosing the right wheel for you! 5. Bearings - Bearings are what allow the wheel to spin freely. They are all one standard size bearing but you will find a wide variety of prices for these. Why though? A big part has to do with materials. ie Ceramic ball bearings. Another factor that can lead to cost is wether or not the bearing is sealed. If the bearing is not sealed, that means you can open them up and clean them. If it is sealed, you just buy new bearings when they get worn out. 6. Bearing Spacers - These spacers go inside of the wheel, in between the two bearings. This helps keep the bearings from pinching and also keeps you from over tightening the axle nut. If used, your bearings will stay cleaner as it makes it harder for dust to find its way into your bearings. 7. Speed Washers / Axle Washers - The Speed Washers, even though small, are not something to overlook. They compliment the previously mentioned Bearing Spacers and help ensure the bearing is not pinching on the axle nut, or the hanger of the truck. It helps ensure proper tightness without risking pinching. 8. Axle Nut - The Axle Nut is the nut that tightens the wheel onto the axle of the hanger. This nut typically has a nylon ring on it to ensure it does not rattle loose over time. 9. Bushings - Bushings are the suspension of your skateboard trucks. These will come in various durometers or hardness. This is something that I would encourage anyone to experiment with. ie Maybe you are very light and find it hard to turn the skateboard!? Get some softer bushings to allow you to turn with ease, and vice versa if you are bigger and heavier. These are something that are not expensive and easy to swap on and off yourself. 10. Kingpin Nut - The Kingpin Nut is the nut that tights down over the bushings of your skateboard trucks. It is important to not loosen this past the point of the nut being flush with the kingpin itself, and do not over tighten to the point your bushings are being squished. This nut will also have a nylon ring on it to keep it from rattling loose over time. 11. Hardware - Simple enough term, that encompasses the screws and nuts that hold the trucks to the deck. In total, there are 8 screws and nuts, 4 for each truck. In some cases you will find that your hardware pack will come with two bolts that are a different color than the rest. This is in an effort to help you designate your nose or tail of the board. They will come in different lengths, depending on how thick the board is or if you plan to use a riser pad. The most common length would 1" hardware. You may also see Allen vs Phillips. This is just the tooling used to tighten the screw. Most skate tools will have both Allen and Phillips heads for tightening. That's a Wrap.In conclusion there are a lot of pieces that go into making a skateboard and every piece does play a role. So if you do find yourself wishing to make a change, it may help to know the parts and pieces and which one may be the correct one to fix what you are trying to accomplish. In addition, there are more parts to a skateboard than mentioned, but we just felt that these are some of the most commonly referred to pieces! If you have questions on other pieces, please reach out! |