Expert Tips to Keep Your Skateboard Deck in Good Condition
Keeping your skateboard deck in good condition isn’t tough and will save you money in the long run if you can get some more time between replacements. Most regulars to the sport find themselves changing their deck about every 30-60 days. If you are skating mini ramps and not going out that long you could easily get away with keeping your deck for 1+ years.
Decks need to be kept up because once deep chips and cracks happen you could hurt yourself and those around you. On top of that, you’ll start to notice it will affect the quality of your skateboard tricks. Here are our top tips to keep your skateboard deck in good condition longer.
How to Make Your Skateboard Deck Last Longer:
Since skateboard decks are usually the most expensive part of the board, you’ll want to get the longest life out of them. Follow these tips to get more time with your current deck.
- Keep your skateboard away from water. Remember the boards are wood and even a little bit of water can wreak havoc. If your board gets wet dry it off ASAP with something like a hair dryer.
- Play nice with your skateboard. No throwing it, dropping it, rough housing with it. Basic stuff, right?
- Skateboard decks and hot cars don’t mix. Again, the deck is wood. Overly hot cars can take a toll on the skate deck. Don’t get into the habit of making your car the storage place for your skateboard.
- Prevent tail skidding and stopping. This will quickly ruin the tail, creating chips and cracks. This will eventually make it super sharp (see razor tail below).
- Use a quality skateboard grip tape. Find the best skateboard grip tape out there (Jessup UltraGrip is an excellent choice!) and remember to replace it once it starts to wear out. It will help protect the integrity of your deck longer.
Easy Fixes for the Two Top Skateboard Deck Issues
Skateboard decks can suffer from many issues, some require a new deck and a couple you can roll up your sleeves and DIY to keep your deck a bit longer. The sooner you fix, the better otherwise you are just waiting for a full-on crack or chip. So, if it's not in your budget to buy new, you can try to fix the tail and nose yourself.
How to fix the razor tail on a skateboard
The razor tail on your board is when the tail becomes sharp from wear and tear and will quickly weaken the wood. You can shave off a bit of the tail to remove sharp edges. Cracks can be sealed by applying glue or sealer and letting it sit with clamps. This isn’t a forever fix, but it will let you keep riding the deck a bit longer. Here are the steps to take to fix a razor tail on a skateboard.
- Hold your deck in place with a clamp.
- Slowly shave off any sharp edges.
- Cracks and chips can be sealed with glue/sealer.
- Let the filler dry completely and apply a clamp.
- Use sandpaper to get rid of the rough patches.
This is also a great time to check to make sure your skateboard grip tape isn’t worn down. If it is, this is a great time to also replace that!
How to Fix a Chipped Skateboard Nose
Another common issue is chipped skateboard noses. If it’s a smaller chip you can follow similar instructions to the razor tail fix. Shave off sharp edges, seal chips, and clamp if for a good day to let it dry. If the chips get worse, you’ll want to just look into replacing your skateboard deck to prevent nasty cuts or other injury.
When to Replace Your Skateboard Deck
New decks mean better safety and better response to tricks. If your deck is suffering from constant razor tail, chipped noses, and other cracking then you need to look into replacing your skateboard deck. Once you get your new deck just make sure you outfit it with the best skateboard grip tape you can find and follow the tips we mentioned above. Happy boarding!
