What Are Skateboards Composed Of?

The days of a plank attached to roller skate wheels are long gone. Modern skateboards are carefully engineered and constructed from specifically chosen materials, using manufacturing processes that have been fine-tuned over the course of decades. In fact, the modern in-line skate has more in common with the materials of the skateboard than those of the old roller skate.

  1. Deck

    • The board part of the skateboard, known as the deck, is traditionally made from seven layers of Canadian sugar maple veneer. These layers are joined by polyvinyl glues, and are pressed together at 300 psi for about a half-hour. The press joins the layers together and also impresses the concave into the deck. Other materials have been experimented with, including epoxy, fiberglass and other plastics, but maple decks have an ideal combination of toughness, elasticity and feel, according to Tim Piumarta, R&D director for NHS Inc.

    Wheels

    • While early wheels were made of steel or clay, wheels since the 1970s have been made from urethane. These wheels are resistant to wear and grip the ground well. The size of wheels has been decreasing since the 1980s; modern smaller wheels are faster, but wear down quicker. Colored wheels, made by mixing pigments into the urethane, are less resilient than plain white or clear wheels.

    Trucks

    • Trucks are what attach the wheels to the deck. Made from a base plate, a pivot point and an axle, trucks are typically constructed from aluminum to balance strength against weight. The pivot point has two urethane bushings, which allow the axle to pivot when a skater leans on the board. A nut can be tightened to compress the bushings, which prevents them from turning more. It makes the board more stable, but makes it harder to turn.

    Bearings

    • Early skateboard wheels used roller skate ball bearings, which were easily contaminated by grit, dirt and water. Modern bearings are sealed, which prevent minor amounts of detritus from affecting the wheels. Sealed bearings, which go on each side of the wheel, help the wheel last longer as well.