If you’re a veteran skater and you’ve had the unfortunate experience of breaking your board, you understand how disheartening it can be. This is especially true if the mishap is with a board you’ve spent a lot of time breaking in.
Luckily, there are several methods on how to fix a broken skateboard at home. It’s not always mandatory to spend unneeded money on a brand new deck and replacing damaged components.
Most people assume that breaking a skateboard means it’s snapped in half or the deck is cracked in some fashion. However, there are many different ways to put a skateboard out of commission during a session. There are a lot of components on a skateboard, which means there could be a lot of broken parts.
Lucky for you, we’re going to share our repair secrets for all those malfunctions. If you’ve got a broken board and you’re still picking up the pieces, keep reading for a short guide on how to fix a broken skateboard or broken parts.
Related: How Long Does a Skateboard Last
How to Fix a Broken Skateboard
Before you can start carving and pushing again, you need to diagnose your problem. Where is the board going to need repairs?
Here are some of the most common skateboard issues and their corresponding repairs.
Delamination
Skateboard decks are made of plywood. The plywood is made up of seven individual layers that are glued together to ensure these layers bond together efficiently. However, after normal wear, these layers can start separating in a process known as delamination. After delamination sets in, a board loses much-needed strength, and that signature pop is needed to pull off tricks. This is how you fix delamination.
1. Grab some wood glue from a craft store. Spend a few extra dollars and get a name-brand version. This difference in price will matter in the quality of the finished repair. Go to the Dollar Tree or any grocery store and get a meat syringe. This is perfect for the job because you can load the glue and wedge the syringe between layers of wood. After putting the glue in the syringe, spread it evenly throughout the separated layers of wood.
2. Take a rag and wipe the outer edges of the skateboard to get any excess glue off the deck. The deck needs weight on it to press the layers of wood firmly back together. You could stand on the deck for an hour, but who wants to do that? Use a stack of heavy books piled on top of each other. You can use anything you want as long as it’s not damaging, like concrete blocks.
Fixing Skateboard Bearings
If your bearings are causing the skateboard to maneuver funky, in some instances, they can be repaired.
- Remove the nuts that fasten the wheels to the trucks.
- Push a small screwdriver through the middle of the bearings.
- Once the bearings are popped out, apply a generous amount of lubricant and pop the bearings back into place.
- Reattach your wheels and skate on.
Fixing Skateboard Axles
The axles are one of the most important parts of the board as far as movement is concerned. Axles give you the ability to turn.
When you’re a new skater, chances are the axles are tighter since this gives you more control over the skateboard. As you progress and prepare yourself to attempt tricks, the axles need to be loosened.
Technically what we’re doing here is adjusting the axles, but it’s going to alter the way your ride feels substantially. Grab a wrench so you can tighten the nut in the middle of the axle. Test the skateboard out to make sure you didn’t turn the nut the wrong way.
Fixing a Broken Skateboard Deck
If the deck is cracked or chipped, you can piece a broken skateboard deck back together so you can get back to skating in a flash.
- Remove the old grip tape from the skateboard deck using a razor and a blow-dryer. When you heat the grip tape with the dryer, it releases the adhesive. Use the razor blade to scrape underneath the tape as you heat.
- Epoxy from a hardware store or wood glue as we mentioned earlier will work for this repair. After you’ve removed the grip tape and you’re down to exposed wood, use the glue or epoxy to fill any chips in the surface of the board. If there are cracks, use a similar method to bond the pieces of wooden layers of the broken deck back together.
- Use a weight to hold the board in place while the epoxy or glue works its magic. For this repair, you’re going to allow 24-hours for drying.
Warped Deck
If the deck has become warped, use this quick fix to balance it back to a level shape.
- Strip everything from the deck, including the grip tape.
- Soak the deck in water overnight. When you soak the board, it’s going to make it easier to bend and mold.
- The next morning, remove the deck and place something heavy on top. You can use a cement block for this as long as you place a towel on top of the board first. The idea is to use the weight to flatten the board out.
- While the weight is on the board, you can use a heat gun for a more efficient process.
If you have a broken board, don’t panic. You don’t have to empty your wallet to start riding again. Use these simple, quick-fix tips, and you’ll be back on your board in no time.