Everything you need to know about Skate Skin

A skateboard consists of several parts and always an integral part of it is the flu. This product is an abrasive coating of the board, providing its good adhesion to the sole of the shoes of a rolling person. And also this element is called sandpaper or emery. Consider all the features of the operation of the product.

A gripeype is an adhesive sandpaper. Thanks to this coating, the skater feels more confident on the board, so it’s easier to tricks and jumps. Previously, the skin performed exclusively practical functions, Now this item is able to emphasize the style of its owner.

If earlier influenza was offered only in black and gray colors in the form of sheets, now the assortment contains multi-colored and transparent options, as well as products with bright prints and illustrations, there are even samples specially tailored in shape for specific models. In addition, it is not necessary now to take a real emery, which quickly erases the sole of the shoe, since non-abrasive flu-made from rubber went on sale. On the surface of these products there are pimples similar to those that can be seen on ping-pong rackets. Boards with such a coating after riding are easy to clean - you just need to wipe the rubber with a damp cloth.

The skins can be selected precisely according to the size of the board, but keep in mind that these sizes may vary in foreign and domestic stores. Classic size fits all skateboards and cruisers. The product is offered both separately and in a set of three pieces - usually this set is cheaper. Often a product is presented as a bonus when buying a skate.

If we talk about manufacturers, then skins from the company are more popular Jessup Grip Tape and Mob Grip. Pay attention to the design. It must be applied to the substrate.

Some skateboarders buy a simple blank skin and customize it to their liking.

Usually emery is applied to the board of a new skateboard, but sometimes the old product loses its anti-slip properties and adhesion is no longer enough to perform tricks. In this case, you need to stick a new skin. Some professionals update the product every 2-3 months. For the sticker, prepare:

• new skin;
• two heavy books;
• stationery knife or scissors;
• file or whetstone;
• drill or screwdriver.

The process is as follows.

1. Spread out the new product. To prevent it from folding, lock on the edges with two books or other objects.
2. If the skin is updated, then remove the old coating from the skateboard. Clean the surface of the board - it should be perfectly clean.
3. Place a new skin along the entire length of the board and glue it, smoothing and moving from the center to the edges. This technology will prevent air from entering between the deck and the emery. To reduce friction, some skaters lay a sheet of paper on a rough surface and smooth it.
4. Trim the excess parts. To do this, first outline the contour with a file and cut it off along the contour. Without basting, you can accidentally cut off a lot of excess material, and in general the work will turn out to be careless.
5. Drill a hole for the suspension bolts. If it was not removed in advance, then it is allowed to glue emery on top - this will not affect the adhesion quality.

If there is no lumps of dirt on the influenza after operation and it continues to hold its leg well, it is better to refuse washing. When riding through puddles, it is recommended to clean immediately so that the dirt does not have time to dry out and eat into the coating.

There are several ways to peel a skin. Most often, skaters use spray guns to spray contaminated areas. This is a more gentle method than, for example, soaking or washing under the tap - these measures can damage the board material (plywood). As soon as water gets into a dirty place, it must be removed with a soft sponge. After the procedure, wipe the material thoroughly with a dry towel.

You can clean the skin with a dry method. A hard brush with a plastic bristle is suitable for this. This is an even less aggressive method, although more time consuming. The contaminated area is cleaned with a dry brush, but in some cases it can be moistened. After cleaning the skin from dirt, it is recommended to lubricate the board with a special product that is sold in sports stores.

It is easy to wash rubber off dirt moistened with water with a soft cloth. And then wipe with a dry cloth. Case for a few minutes. And the shoes don't wear out.

See how to glue the skin onto a skateboard in the video.