Have you landed a trick and broken your skateboard or most of its layers? Learn how to fix a damaged deck so that you're able to ride on it again.
Has your favorite board snapped in two? Yes, it can be frustrating, but it's part of the game.
Actually, it is more common than skaters imagine. In the end, the most common thing to do is buy a new or second-hand board.
The price of a new skateboard deck ranges from $25 to $250.
So, depending on your initial investment, you might want to extend the lifetime of a broken board.
Most skateboards break in the middle, halfway between the front and back trucks. And there's a reason for that to happen.
"Whenever you are landing on your board, you put incredible strain on it," underline Per Welinder and Peter Whitley, authors of "Mastering Skateboarding."
"Although skateboards can take a lot of punishment, there are certain places on the board you can land that will dramatically increase the chances it will break or crack."
That is why - whenever possible - tricks should end in a clean, confident landing. For that to happen, you should keep your feet over the base plate bolts.
All your downward force is transferred through the area over the trucks and wheels, making it the sturdiest area when landing a trick.
"The worst place to land is with one foot on either the nose or the tail and the other foot between the trucks," add Welinder and Whitley.
So, if your skateboard is broken in half, you can always try the following three methods.
Instead of throwing it away, try to repair it and get something skateable.
The board will never be as stiff and strong as the original one, it will get weaker every time you ride it, but it's still rideable for a while.
1. Duct Tape
The fastest yet weakest way to fix a broken skateboard is using duct tape.
The problem is that you'll need to overlap the broken parts and then wrap duct tape around the skateboard parts.
The result is a smaller and slightly uneven skateboard that will probably only be useful for cruising around and commuting.
Using duct tape to fix and repair a broken skateboard is the most dramatic solution available.
You can also try using tape-based products that blend industrial-strength fibers and specialized resin to glue and harden your damaged skate.
2. Rails
One of the things that you can do is put rails on the deck.
All you have to do is screw the rails into the board to hold the broken parts in place.
Although they're out of fashion, rails can help make the board really stiff, especially if your skate is only partially broken.
Rails will also ensure you get a good pop.
3. Extra Layer of Wood
If your skateboard is broken in two, but you've got an old deck or a flat piece of wood, then you can try to unite the separated parts.
It might take an hour or two, but it is something that you can easily do by yourself at home.
First of all, measure the width of your skateboard.
Then, cut a rectangular piece of wood that goes from one edge of the deck to the other and generously overlaps the board's broken parts.
Finally, glue it to the bottom of the board and drill it from top to bottom using flat screws.
The fixed skateboard will roll away perfectly and will even allow you to land a few tricks.
The only downside is that you'll have an extra inch of wood below the board, making it hard to grind and slide over obstacles and ledges.
The challenge will always be increasing the skateboard's strength so that it continues to be fairly rideable.
Ultimately, you can hang it on the wall of your room.
Tips for Cracked, Chipped, or Warped Decks
If your skateboard is not exactly broken in half, consider repairing it to make it last longer.
Whenever you find a crack or chip in the deck, remove the grip tape, clean the surface, and apply epoxy to fill and close the fissure.
After letting it dry for 24 hours, smooth the surface with fine-grit sandpaper, and apply a new grip tape.
Finally, if your board is warped, remove the trucks and wheels, and immerse the deck in water for 12 hours.
Immediately after, lay the deck on a flat surface and put a heavy object on top. Wait 24 hours before reassembling your skateboard and resume riding.
Wet wood is pliable - this technique will help it bend back into its original shape.