by Todd Martin

Skateboarding is considered both as an extreme sport and a means of transport, skateboarding has establish its way into a major cultural activity and can be seen not only on the streets and in neighborhood, but also on TV, in movies and in advertisements across the nation. Skateboards are made up of a number of main parts such as, Skateboard Decks, Skateboard Bearings, Skateboard Hardware, Skateboard Trucks, and Skateboard Wheels. As well, there are optional accessories such as, Lapper, Nose guard. Rails, Risers, (Angled) Risers, Grip tape, Tail guard. Majority of these parts can be procured online at very competitive rates.

Decks for skateboards are typically prepared from 7-ply maple plank that are from 7-10 ” inches wide. Wide planks are used for trick-skating; at the same time skateboards in the 7-8 ” inch arrays are used for street-skating. Decks by and large have “grip tape” on the top of them. These tapes adhere to the top of the decks, while the surface gives a sandpaper material, which helps the person “grip” the board. Decks like Enjoi skateboard decks also have a large range of designs on the bottom of them from patterns or solid colors which permit the person to add stickers without upsetting any art to figures, structures and landscapes.

Bearings help mount the deck on an axle. Most bearings are graded according to a scale called an ABEC scale. Industrial “608″ size bearings are standard and bearings are usually made of steel. Hardware consists of a set of bolts, usually 8 in a set (10-32 bolts). An Allen (or crosshead) is also part of hardware. Additionally, self-lock nylock nuts are used.

Skateboards include two metal trucks, which are normally prepared from aluminum alloy. These link the wheels to the deck. The trucks are made up of a base plate and a hanger. The base plate is screwed to the deck and the hanger holds the axle. There are also rubber grommets or bushings connecting the hanger and the base plate, which help the board movement and spin. The stiffer is the bushings or rubber grommets, the stiffer is the turn. The bushings also cushions. A kingpin bolt is used to hold the parts as one piece.

Wheels are made from polyurethane. They are available in different Sizes and shapes to suit different types of skating, such as street or trick skating. Smaller sizes keep the deck nearer to the floor, which requires not as much of energy to speed up or slow down. The hardness of the wheel also affects on the whole performance. Hardness is generally measured by durometer ‘A’ scale. A very soft wheel is about 75a and a very hard wheel is about 101a.

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