Through this article, you will learn how to set up a skateboard from A to Z.
When you see all the spare parts, you wonder how it will all be assembled.
Perhaps you do not know exactly what is the utility of each part and the order in which you need to assemble them.
And yet, it won’t be super hard and you will get there very quickly.
Plus, if you still have not ordered parts, you will know through this post all the parts and the tools that you need to have.
From there, you will know each of the steps to follow in order to ride your very first skateboard.
Now all you have to do is figure out how to assemble it.
Is it hard to set up a skateboard?
At first glance, it may seem difficult, but in reality it’s not.
Anything you do for the first time seems difficult.
However, as soon as you start to understand how it works or know the steps to follow, things will seem very doable to you.
This is totally the case also in skateboarding. You will through this guide be able to set up your skateboard on your own and in a very simple way.
By the end, you will be very proud of yourself and will finally know how to set up your own skateboard.
This will be especially useful if you want to learn how to ride, to change a part or if you want to mount another one later.
How do you set up a brand new skateboard?
In order to know exactly how to mount it, you will need several materials.
Apart from the default parts that you will need, it is also necessary that you have a minimum of tools in order to be able to assemble the whole skateboard.
Now find out what you need.
Skateboard setup kit you’ll need to have
To setup your own skateboard, you will need :
- Deck
- Wheels
- Trucks
- Bearings
- Grip tape
- Hardware
- Skateboard tool
- Exacto knife or razor blade
- Screwdriver
- Carpet (optional)
You will need all these parts to set up your skateboard so you won’t miss anything. Now it’s time for you to assemble your skateboard.
How to build a skateboard
The deck
The first step is to first install your grip tape on your board.
So you remove the plastic that is on your board when you order it.
Then, you take your grip tape and you remove the film in order to have access to the sticky part.
Once this is done, you place the grip tape on the deck so that it covers it completely. Make sure for this part to place the grip tape straight.
Once this is done, you press a little with your fingers through the width of the skateboard and subsequently with your hand you press on the length of your board.
Take your time when doing this step and press well from all over as you move along the length of your board.
This way you will not have bubbles on your grip tape.
Once it’s done, you take your skateboard tool and you will see that it has a hard surface on top.
With this hard part, you will score the grip tape and you will go over the entire edge of the board.
You’ll start to see the shape of your board while you do this part since when you’re pressing with the tool it’s becoming white.
Once that’s done, you take your exacto knife and cut onto the part that forms your board.
So all the extra part of the grip tape was removed. Now that you have your board with the grip tape, all you have to do is find the holes of your board.
To do this, you will take one of the screws from your hardware package, you will turn your board over in order to access the bottom and you enter the screw from this side.
Once this is done, you will be able to see through the top of your board where the hole is because of the pressure.
You may not know it, but once you put your grip tape on, you don’t know where your holes are anymore.
So, by doing this step, you will find them again. Now that you know where they are, take your screwdriver and on the grip tape, press so that it creates a hole.
It will rip the part and you will have your hole through the grip tape now. Repeat this step for the 7 other holes of the deck.
The trucks
Now that your deck is ready, it’s time to add the trucks. This is a part that is very simple.
The first thing you should pay attention to is that the kingpin part of your truck should always be towards the inside of your board.
Never outside. Now that you know, it’s time to install it on your board.
In this case, you take your truck, you access the 4 holes of the trucks on the 4 holes of your board.
Then you put the screw and the head of the screw is on the side of the grip tape. Once it’s done, on the side of the trucks, you put your nylon nut.
You take your skate tool, you place the right corner on the nylon nut. Once it’s done, you take your screwdriver.
You do the same for the three other holes and the same steps on the other truck.
The wheels and The bearings
Now that your trucks are placed on your board, it’s time to take care of the wheels with the bearings.
First, you remove the axle nuts that are on your trucks and you place a bearing in the same place. Then you insert your wheel.
Once it’s done, you push your wheel hard enough and you will see that the bearings will get in the wheel.
You remove the wheel and you put another bearing on the axle of the truck. In the same way, you put the wheel on the side that has no bearings and you insert it into the axle.
You press hard and you will see that it will also fit. You do this for each of the 4 wheels and you will have a total of 8 bearings.
Once this is done, you place each of your wheels in the axle of the trucks and you put a spacer and the axle nut that comes with the truck.
To tighten, you take your skateboard tool and you put the right input. Tighten so that everything holds well.
Once it’s done, turn the wheel with your hand and it should roll well freely. Do the same for the other 3 wheels.
And that’s good! Your skateboard is ready.
Conclusion
Now you have all the necessary information in order to set up your own skateboard.
The most time consuming and complicated part is only when putting on your grip tape.
You have to be delicate and get the job done right.
For the rest, you should have no problem even if you are not a manual person.
You also know what tools you will need. All you have to do is assemble it now.