Choosing the components to build a skateboard is more about personal preference than anything else. This section is developed more for beginners or customers buying gifts. To build a skateboard you will need the following components: a deck, 2 trucks, 4 wheels, 8 bearings, screws/bolts, griptape and optional risers.

Step 1: Deck
Construction of decks usually consists of seven seperate ply's of wood pressed together. The style of deck that is popular now is the freestyle which has a nose, tail and a concave. The technical differences between decks are: width, length and concave.

Width: the most important aspect of the deck. Most deck widths range between 7.5 inches and 8.0 inches. If your are a short, youth skater try a mini deck with a width usually under 7.50 inches. If you are not a youth skater then pick your style of riding. A technical/flip trick style skater should try a board between 7.50 and 7.825 inches, and a vert or pool skater should try a board around 7.825 and wider. Just a reminder, as important as width is to a deck, it is still more a personal preference than anything else.

Length: the length of decks are more or less the same ranging from 31-32 inches. The only major difference is between mini/youth decks which have a length of around 28-29 inches.

Concave: the concave is the curve in the board, which gives your feet a more natural fit. The amount of concave is 100% based on personal preference and the difference from deck to deck is minimal.

The big non-technical difference between decks are graphics, companies and pro-models. There are over 50 different skateboard companies and some have over 40 different decks. As you can see the selection is enormous. But you can narrow down your search quickly if you have a favorite skateboard company, pro or style of graphic.
 • Browse Decks
 • Browse Youth Decks

Step 2: Wheels
Wheels are made of a substance called urethane, and are measured in millimeters, by their diameter or height from the ground. When choosing wheels you must consider a size that suits your style of riding: smaller wheels (50mm to 55mm) are usually used for more technical tricks, while larger wheels (55mm and above) are usually used for vert/pool riding or just cruising. A total of four wheels will be needed to build a complete.
 • Wheels

Step 3: Trucks
Trucks are basically the axles of a skateboard which connect the deck to the wheels. When choosing trucks, choose a size within at least 1/4 of an inch of your deck width. So if you choose a deck that is 7.75 inches wide, find a truck that is 7.5 to 7.75 inches wide. The height of trucks may also vary by 1/4 of an inch. If you ride larger wheels (usually over 55mm), a higher truck may be more suitable. Therefore, if you ride smaller wheels (54mm and lower), a lower truck may be more suitable. When building a complete, you will need two trucks.
 • Trucks

Step 4: Bearings
Bearings go inside the wheels which allows them to spin freely on the axles of the trucks. Bearings are available in ABEC 3, ABEC 5, and ABEC 7. What is the difference? Some say ABEC 7 are faster than ABEC 3, but we have never noticed a difference. Eight bearings are needed to build a complete.
 • Bearings

Step 5: Mounting Hardware
Nuts and bolts are used to mount the trucks to the deck. They come in either phillips and allan head style, and range from 7/8 to 1 1/2 inches. If you include risers (see below) to your skateboard choose Mounting Hardware that is longer than 1 1/4 inches. Eight nuts and bolts are needed to build a complete.
 • Mounting Hardware

Step 6: Griptape
Griptape is used to grip your shoes to prevent them from slipping off your board. It feels similar to sandpaper, but has an adhesive back to stick to the deck. There is not that much difference between griptape except price and color. One sheet of griptape is enough to cover your deck.
 • Grip Tape

Step 7: Optional Parts
 • Risers - Risers are optional and not necessarily needed. They are used to raise the deck higher from the trucks, if you are using large wheels. They can prevent wheelbite which is when the deck comes in contact with the wheels.

Riser Matrix
Riser Height	Compatible Hardware
no risers	7/8" to 1" hardware
1/8" risers	1" to 1 1/8" hardware
1/4 " risers	1 1/8" to 1 1/4" hardware
3/8" risers	1 1/4" + hardware
1/2" risers	1 1/2" + hardware

If you have any further questions about building a custom skateboard, please contact us.