How to Use Skateboard Deck Rails

Skateboard deck rails, also known as 'slider bars' or 'deck protectors', are made to help skateboarders in a variety of ways. Their main function is to add some extra durability to your board by giving it a little reinforcement, reducing the risk of snapping your deck in half from a hard and improper landing. The other reason many skateboarders use skateboard deck rails is because they allow you to slide easier when you do boardslides, even on rough surfaces; they also protect your graphics from getting smudged up in the process.

Things You'll Need

  • Skateboard
  • Skateboard deck rails
  • Philips screwdriver
  • Flat head screwdriver
  • Grind rail
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place your board upside down on a flat surface, and lay out the contents of your skateboard deck rail kits.

    • 2

      Line your slider bars up parallel to each other, going lengthwise across the bottom of your skateboard deck, and about 2-4 inches in from the outside edges of your board.

    • 3

      Follow the specific instructions that came with your package of skateboard deck rails. Different companies will have different instructions on how to mount them, as well as different kinds of screws. Use the appropriate screwdriver to secure the slider bars in place.

    • 4

      Tighten the screws evenly. Get all of them snug first, then tighten them the rest of the way one-by-one, working from the outermost screws to the innermost.

    • 5

      Go put your new skateboard deck rails to use at the skate park. Find a grind rail and start boardsliding. You should notice a lot less drag as you slide down the rail. Look at the underside of your board and check out how clean your graphics still are.