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Skateboarding => Shoes & Gear => Topic started by: Terminal on April 12, 2023, 12:02:59 AM
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Not sure if a thread already exists and direct me please if yes. I'm probably going to get kooked into oblivion for this but I seem to have lost the skill of gripping up a board. Every time for the past four or five boards, the grip has either bubbled significantly, and/or lifted along the edges. W.T.F? I've been setting up boards for nearly 30 years and never had a problem, I also ran a kind of skate shop for my local crew in the 90s and would set up boards for others too with never a drama. Is anyone else finding this? Do you sand decks first nowadays or something, did I miss something while on hiatus? MOB grip btw, for all these past five boards. Any advice appreciated.
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Using a wallpaper roller can help.
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Mob is pretty stiff and i consider it's one of the worst when gripping a board
Depending on the shape of the board (especially concave of tail and nose) it can be tricky to have clean results
and i noticed variations in behaviour in recent months / years (they probably changed something)
bubbles appearing or lifting after a few hours when the board is not used immediately despite doing it with a lot of care
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All I know is…don’t use a dull pocket knife because all you can blame a crap grip job is the dull pocket knife.
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I stopped using mob a few years back for this very reason when 3 boards in a row started coming ungripped at the intersection of the toeside concave and nose.
I've been skating and gripping boards for a long long time so I like to think I know what I'm doing.
Since I've cut out mob, I haven't had a single issue.
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Is it old "stock" mob? I had a few sheets that where a few years old on ice. I tryed to grip a board a month ago and faced the same problems. Didn't hold on to the board pretty well. I re griped it with Jessup Ultra and never went back to MOB.
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All I know is…don’t use a dull pocket knife because all you can blame a crap grip job is the dull pocket knife.
yup, very true.
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I also had weird issues like this, but it's always with MOB. Didn't have problems with them in the past, but everytime I use something else nowadays it turns out okay.
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You’re not alone! I believe griptape quality has declined since Covid. It crinkles and wrinkles and rips easier than ever. Jessup and mob are both affected in my opinion.
I recently tried pepper grip and that went on a lot smoother, it had that slight elasticity that I remembered from the old days of griptape. Only had that one sheet of it but I’d try it again next time. Anyone else have a similar experience?
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Agreed on this being especially a MOB issue! I thought I was tripping as well – been gripping boards for 30+ years myself and my last MOB grip job resulted in multiple bubbles / peels / wtf tl;dr.
Glad I'm not the only one. I wonder what happened with MOB?
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mob used to be dotted with holes to have the air escape. wonder why all sheets are solid nowadays. its 100% a downgrade.
ive been using jessup for my last few boards and honestly its just as bad.
think i might order a few sheets of pepper to check that out.
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I had this same problem with mob. Still had the holes but would always bubble near the kicks. I’d have to re grip or cut a hole with a razor. Used jessup it was fine but I didn’t like how fast it got bald. Tried pepper. I’m a pepper guy now.
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MOB sheets are still micro perforated
Jessup sheets aren't
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MOB sheets are still micro perforated
Jessup sheets aren't
well i don't see these perforations anymore on the sheets tbh and if they are perforated, it doesn't work. mob has become easily the most bubbly grip for me in recent years and apart from it performing way worse than a few years ago, having to care less about bubbles was the main reason i still bought it. jessup isn't perfect and also creases like fuck, but i have less of a problem putting it on without bubbles. weird. and i also used to grip boards as a job for years, often got complemented on my gripjobs, too, because i was obsessed with machine like clean cuts. maybe my skillz are gone. it seems harder to grip a board clean nowadays, grips just generally feel shittier overall.
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MOB has given me similar issues every time I used it with either going on fine and bubbling up after the fact or the edges starting to peel after a day or so. I switched to Jessup Ultra and have had no issues since. Jessup uses a way less rigid film and I think that also allows it to sand down/adhere better when sanding the edges post-application. I honestly don't notice too much of a difference grip feel-wise between the two, but I will say Ultra is way less prone to cut my hands up compared to MOB when I grab my board.
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I had a sheet of mob come off like a tablecloth doing a wallride in the winter and haven’t looked back. I just get a roll of jessup once a year. Haven’t had any problems, did try pepper and enjoyed it but the jessup rolls are so much cheaper in the long run if you go through decks quickly
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i've found with mob it's best to peel off the back just a lil bit and slowly peel it away while you apply it, don't just lay all on at once. i think the problem is it's just too thick so it tends to crinkle really easy and there's more of a lip for your foot or something to snag on once it's been applied. just make sure you really sand the edges down good after you put it on.
i used to use nothing but mob but the last deck i set up i used jessup and it went on smooth, no issues at all
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Use jessup
take off any stickers on the top of the deck, this is a precaution incase you lay the grip a bit crooked and cause it to miss a portion of the deck farther down. This way you can just pull it off and start over before the glue cures and you wont have a spot that wont stick due to the sticker splitting. (more common on wider boards)
Work from one end of the board to the other, patting firmly down the board and keeping the unfinished portion from making full contact with the grip. take your time and patpatpat each section real good before moving to the next.
keep a little nail around to pop any bubbles (there wont be any if you take your time and do it right)
fresh razorblades are nice too, though i've made do without them until recently.
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Yeah thanks all. Nice to know I'm not alone with this and not losing my marbles. No idea if new or old batch MOB but sheets are perforated if that provides any indication. Bought recently from a local shop in Mallorca, popular shop with likely high stock turnover, so I'd guess it's a recent batch based on that. Yeah super sharp knife. I'll change brands next setup but thanks for the roller tip, I'll give that a go next time.
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Pepper grip is the way to go now a days. Perforated, goes down nice n smoove, and I really like the sparkle/look that it has.
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I gripped a board recently with MOB and I did one last night with Jessup. I definintely notice the difference but I did not get bubbles in either. I normally like to use a wheel to roll the grip tape on but I just used my hand and it was fine. i try to keep as much of the griptape in the air as possible and then very slowly press on each piece carefully. with Mob it feels like it is absolutely tearing my hand apart though if i dont use a wheel. that shit is just way too grippy. i have to use super old shoes to skate that stuff for the first month.
if you are using a shitty knife, then just sand it a tiny bit more. I used a very shitty knife last night to do it and i was carving it like a turkey instead of slicing it like you are supposed to, and it still ended up pretty nice. i have a bit of extra grip clinging to the sides but that will just fall off anyway after like 1 session. i was debating going around and cleaning all that up but normally i end up making it worse anyway so just said fuck it.
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Same. Glad there's at least some speculation as to why. One trick that helps is slicing a little slit where those cringles/bubbles/lifts are. Helps for the grip to sit flusher thru those deep dips. I either do that or just keep pressing it with my thumb(annoying).
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Make sure you are storing your grip as well as your store your decks. I've had a few sheets basically went bad. They were stiff and wouldn't bond to the deck completely. Air bubbles wouldn't stick after I poked a hole in it. I sanded the fuck out of the edges and they still flaked. I ended up just ripping it off and doing it with another sheet.
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Mob just ain't working for me, I don't cut it well and its way too gritty for my liking since I drag and flick off hard for my tricks. Jessup for life.
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Use jessup
take off any stickers on the top of the deck, this is a precaution incase you lay the grip a bit crooked and cause it to miss a portion of the deck farther down. This way you can just pull it off and start over before the glue cures and you wont have a spot that wont stick due to the sticker splitting. (more common on wider boards)
Work from one end of the board to the other, patting firmly down the board and keeping the unfinished portion from making full contact with the grip. take your time and patpatpat each section real good before moving to the next.
keep a little nail around to pop any bubbles (there wont be any if you take your time and do it right)
fresh razorblades are nice too, though i've made do without them until recently.
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Two words:
Black Magic.
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I had these same issues with Mob. Made the switch to Pepper and haven't had a single problem.
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Two words:
Black Magic.
I second black magic. I also found that using a tennis ball is a good way to keep the bubbles away
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I've had this happen with MOB as well, especially in the winter.
MOB is my preferred grippiness, but its adhesion sucks and it has the tendency to crease on steeper boards.
Jessup Ultra is the closest to MOB grippiness in my experience. Applies well, stays adhered, but can sometimes chip little pieces off around the edges.
Pepper is a dream to apply, but not as grippy as Jessup Ultra or MOB so it is my third favorite.
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Idk, I haven't gripped a board with a whole sheet in so long. I always cut it into large sections and place each piece individually.
Kook me if you want, purists
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Not sure if a thread already exists and direct me please if yes. I'm probably going to get kooked into oblivion for this but I seem to have lost the skill of gripping up a board. Every time for the past four or five boards, the grip has either bubbled significantly, and/or lifted along the edges. W.T.F? I've been setting up boards for nearly 30 years and never had a problem, I also ran a kind of skate shop for my local crew in the 90s and would set up boards for others too with never a drama. Is anyone else finding this? Do you sand decks first nowadays or something, did I miss something while on hiatus? MOB grip btw, for all these past five boards. Any advice appreciated.
It's a [regs] MOB thing (not M80, if you can find it) I think, I always seem to have creases and shit, it's very stiff..Jessup Ultra works fine...but too grippy for me now.
Try pepper...it's thin so flexible, has perforations (so no bubbles), doesn't seem to crease for me on the kicks, grip is perfect and it lasts.
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Fuck MOB and their white power ads! Haven't used it since that shit went down. I do remember it being the most difficult to apply. Sometimes getting creases in the kicks. I tried almost everything after MOB and god damn do most grips suck ass. Most lose their grip way too quick for me, as does MOB. When Jessup Ultra Grip came around I tried that and have been on it ever since. It's definitely easier to apply than MOB, about as grippy and holds up better than anything else I've tried. Do not get the Jessup x Nike Ultra NBD though. That's the worst shit out there. I've yet to try Miles and Pepper. Got a sheet of both but I haven't gotten round to test those yet.
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Yeah thanks all. I'll probably rip the MOB off (as the bubbles are going to do my head in) and try Jessup ultra or Pepper. There seems to be a general trend of satisfaction with those two.
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Fuck MOB and their white power ads! Haven't used it since that shit went down. I do remember it being the most difficult to apply. Sometimes getting creases in the kicks. I tried almost everything after MOB and god damn do most grips suck ass. Most lose their grip way too quick for me, as does MOB. When Jessup Ultra Grip came around I tried that and have been on it ever since. It's definitely easier to apply than MOB, about as grippy and holds up better than anything else I've tried. Do not get the Jessup x Nike Ultra NBD though. That's the worst shit out there. I've yet to try Miles and Pepper. Got a sheet of both but I haven't gotten round to test those yet.
What are these white power ads you speak of?
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Was at the spot not long ago when a fella rolls up & proceeds to set up a fresh deck, new grip & all.
Comes to find he's got no blade on him, so he mounts the trucks 1st, lays down the grip down over the screws & pats out the bubs, then grabs the board by both trucks and starts scraping the entire edge, full perimeter, against the nearby curb.
He goes at this for a couple minutes & then just tears the excess material away, easy as wet paper.
Darndest thing I've set my eyes to in quite some while, I rekon.
It wasn't even that ratty looking of a grip job, if I'm to be honest.
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that's crazy!^
not brand related but ever pull off the backing and have the sheet snap back on itself? lol, faceplam, been a long while since i've done that. seems to happen when it's peeled fast hanging out in front of you.
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Fuck MOB and their white power ads! Haven't used it since that shit went down. I do remember it being the most difficult to apply. Sometimes getting creases in the kicks. I tried almost everything after MOB and god damn do most grips suck ass. Most lose their grip way too quick for me, as does MOB. When Jessup Ultra Grip came around I tried that and have been on it ever since. It's definitely easier to apply than MOB,
What are these white power ads you speak of?
Jason Jessee had an ad and had band members from a white power band or some shit with ski mask in it. Mf thought he was slick and was going to slip them in like a subliminal message, but if Led zeppelin didn't get away with subliminal messages, neither was he.
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Fuck MOB and their white power ads! Haven't used it since that shit went down. I do remember it being the most difficult to apply. Sometimes getting creases in the kicks. I tried almost everything after MOB and god damn do most grips suck ass. Most lose their grip way too quick for me, as does MOB. When Jessup Ultra Grip came around I tried that and have been on it ever since. It's definitely easier to apply than MOB,
What are these white power ads you speak of?
Jason Jessee had an ad and had band members from a white power band or some shit with ski mask in it. Mf thought he was slick and was going to slip them in like a subliminal message, but if Led zeppelin didn't get away with subliminal messages, neither was he.
That drama was ages ago tho...just don't buy his 'Hard Luck' shit.
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I second black magic. I also found that using a tennis ball is a good way to keep the bubbles away
Got my nostalgia boner going, where do you guys get Black Magic grip online?
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Fuck MOB and their white power ads! Haven't used it since that shit went down. I do remember it being the most difficult to apply. Sometimes getting creases in the kicks. I tried almost everything after MOB and god damn do most grips suck ass. Most lose their grip way too quick for me, as does MOB. When Jessup Ultra Grip came around I tried that and have been on it ever since. It's definitely easier to apply than MOB,
What are these white power ads you speak of?
Jason Jessee had an ad and had band members from a white power band or some shit with ski mask in it. Mf thought he was slick and was going to slip them in like a subliminal message, but if Led zeppelin didn't get away with subliminal messages, neither was he.
That drama was ages ago tho...just don't buy his 'Hard Luck' shit.
I don't give a shit. I was just answering and don't like mob grip. Perforated grip is dumb. If you like the grit, that's fine. If you need holes on your grip to lay it on right, then idk what to say.
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I second black magic. I also found that using a tennis ball is a good way to keep the bubbles away
Got my nostalgia boner going, where do you guys get Black Magic grip online?
Socal skateshop has it and the shortys website has it.
That's the only hassle. Hardly any shop carries it. Skate warehouse used to carry it but not no more.
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Those blades that are trapeze shaped that go into box cutters have always been the worst experience for me. Those things stunted my growth at learning how to cut grip properly it was always such a disaster, I'd just ask the shop to grip it for me, and cringe at myself. Then one day I used a fresh one of the other type that has the comfy rounded side on it for your fingers, and it changed everything. As long as I use those blades, I never have any issues with cutting clean and proper.
As far as bubbles go, in regards to jessup, black magic, or pepper, I never really get them. I line the grip up meticulously and start from one end and lay it down and press at the same time, working my way down to the other end. I feel like the quick and dirty method of just placing it on the board and then pressing from the center outward, is a recipe for bubbles. Might just need to switch up your technique? I can't comment on Mob since I heard and read it was thicker, creases, cuts like shit, etc. So I just avoided it.
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Fuck MOB and their white power ads! Haven't used it since that shit went down. I do remember it being the most difficult to apply. Sometimes getting creases in the kicks. I tried almost everything after MOB and god damn do most grips suck ass. Most lose their grip way too quick for me, as does MOB. When Jessup Ultra Grip came around I tried that and have been on it ever since. It's definitely easier to apply than MOB,
What are these white power ads you speak of?
Jason Jessee had an ad and had band members from a white power band or some shit with ski mask in it. Mf thought he was slick and was going to slip them in like a subliminal message, but if Led zeppelin didn't get away with subliminal messages, neither was he.
That drama was ages ago tho...just don't buy his 'Hard Luck' shit.
I don't give a shit. I was just answering and don't like mob grip. Perforated grip is dumb. If you like the grit, that's fine. If you need holes on your grip to lay it on right, then idk what to say.
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I second black magic. I also found that using a tennis ball is a good way to keep the bubbles away
Got my nostalgia boner going, where do you guys get Black Magic grip online?
Socal skateshop has it and the shortys website has it.
That's the only hassle. Hardly any shop carries it. Skate warehouse used to carry it but not no more.
Original poster has problems with grip and perforated grip, might help him.
Ease the fuck up.
Skatewarehouse readily carries BM
https://www.skatewarehouse.com/search-skate.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=Black+magic
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My last several sheets of jessup have been perfect but the sheet I just got is like, stale. It's crinkly and feels like, dry? And like the grit is finer and like it's not as black
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Was at the spot not long ago when a fella rolls up & proceeds to set up a fresh deck, new grip & all.
Comes to find he's got no blade on him, so he mounts the trucks 1st, lays down the grip down over the screws & pats out the bubs, then grabs the board by both trucks and starts scraping the entire edge, full perimeter, against the nearby curb.
He goes at this for a couple minutes & then just tears the excess material away, easy as wet paper.
Darndest thing I've set my eyes to in quite some while, I rekon.
It wasn't even that ratty looking of a grip job, if I'm to be honest.
That's some real tough guy caveman shit. I kinda wanna try it.
A good way to assert your dominance at the skatepark.
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3 sessions on Mob and the grittiness is really nice for slides and grinds, my feet feel really locked in despite the park being extremely dusty. No love for flip tricks, still way too gritty for me.
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Fuck MOB and their white power ads! Haven't used it since that shit went down. I do remember it being the most difficult to apply. Sometimes getting creases in the kicks. I tried almost everything after MOB and god damn do most grips suck ass. Most lose their grip way too quick for me, as does MOB. When Jessup Ultra Grip came around I tried that and have been on it ever since. It's definitely easier to apply than MOB,
What are these white power ads you speak of?
Jason Jessee had an ad and had band members from a white power band or some shit with ski mask in it. Mf thought he was slick and was going to slip them in like a subliminal message, but if Led zeppelin didn't get away with subliminal messages, neither was he.
That drama was ages ago tho...just don't buy his 'Hard Luck' shit.
I don't give a shit. I was just answering and don't like mob grip. Perforated grip is dumb. If you like the grit, that's fine. If you need holes on your grip to lay it on right, then idk what to say.
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I second black magic. I also found that using a tennis ball is a good way to keep the bubbles away
Got my nostalgia boner going, where do you guys get Black Magic grip online?
Socal skateshop has it and the shortys website has it.
That's the only hassle. Hardly any shop carries it. Skate warehouse used to carry it but not no more.
Original poster has problems with grip and perforated grip, might help him.
Ease the fuck up.
Skatewarehouse readily carries BM
https://www.skatewarehouse.com/search-skate.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=Black+magic
Perforated grip doesn't help at all. Maybe just bubbles but that's about it you could just get a roller. Mob is the thickest grip out there and crinkles like a motherfucker. Winter times? Forget it, the adhesive is ass.
Also skatewarehouse didn't have it a week ago. For like 2 weeks.
Sucks cause i already ordered from socal and they take forever ever to ship.
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Man I've exclusively skated mob for years now because I like how gritty and grippy it is and I've never had any problems with it. Be slow and diligent when you're applying and cutting it and you'll be fine.
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Fuck MOB and their white power ads! Haven't used it since that shit went down. I do remember it being the most difficult to apply. Sometimes getting creases in the kicks. I tried almost everything after MOB and god damn do most grips suck ass. Most lose their grip way too quick for me, as does MOB. When Jessup Ultra Grip came around I tried that and have been on it ever since. It's definitely easier to apply than MOB,
What are these white power ads you speak of?
Jason Jessee had an ad and had band members from a white power band or some shit with ski mask in it. Mf thought he was slick and was going to slip them in like a subliminal message, but if Led zeppelin didn't get away with subliminal messages, neither was he.
That drama was ages ago tho...just don't buy his 'Hard Luck' shit.
I don't give a shit. I was just answering and don't like mob grip. Perforated grip is dumb. If you like the grit, that's fine. If you need holes on your grip to lay it on right, then idk what to say.
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I second black magic. I also found that using a tennis ball is a good way to keep the bubbles away
Got my nostalgia boner going, where do you guys get Black Magic grip online?
Socal skateshop has it and the shortys website has it.
That's the only hassle. Hardly any shop carries it. Skate warehouse used to carry it but not no more.
Original poster has problems with grip and perforated grip, might help him.
Ease the fuck up.
Skatewarehouse readily carries BM
https://www.skatewarehouse.com/search-skate.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=Black+magic
Perforated grip doesn't help at all. Maybe just bubbles but that's about it you could just get a roller. Mob is the thickest grip out there and crinkles like a motherfucker. Winter times? Forget it, the adhesive is ass.
Also skatewarehouse didn't have it a week ago. For like 2 weeks.
Sucks cause i already ordered from socal and they take forever ever to ship.
Yeah SoCal shipping dropped off after the pandemic, they used to be super fast..usually a day or two for me...I just ordered bearings/bolts/wheels from them and it took 2 days just to process and 2 days to ship (small shit is usually priority mail from them)...anything big like shoes or a board and it's a week plus (I'm 2 hours from them); I use Long Beach Skate as well, that shit is like 2days for a board (I'm in Santa Monica).
Pepper is my go to, it's very similar to Blacck Magic and readily available if not free with boards, even the wider width is the standard freebie.
Jessup Ultra is on par with regs mob, but it's pliable as fuck in comparison.
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When you guys grip your board, do you save the paper backing? It’s really useful.
Take off paper backing.
Center grip on board and get it gently anchored in a couple spots.
Paper goes on top of the grip and just hold it in place while you smooth out the bubbles and stuff with your hand. You don’t scrape the shit out of your palm because you have the paper in between grip tape and flesh. It takes a little technique but not too hard.
Maybe I grip my board weird.
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I toss the paper, tried the lay on top of grip to smooth it out, but my application is usually stress free (unless mob kick creases). After it's applied I just step all over it if there's any bubbles just use a blade to pop, then step on them.
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I toss the paper, tried the lay on top of grip to smooth it out, but my application is usually stress free (unless mob kick creases). After it's applied I just step all over it if there's any bubbles just use a blade to pop, then step on them.
Well that’s pretty rad and very simple. I like it.
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I fold down like two inches of paper back on one end, lay it grip-side down on the floor and center my board on it, then press down the grip on the nose and roll the paper off as I work my way to the tail. Way I've always done it, quick and easy and no bubs
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I fold down like two inches of paper back on one end, lay it grip-side down on the floor and center my board on it, then press down the grip on the nose and roll the paper off as I work my way to the tail. Way I've always done it, quick and easy and no bubs
I fuck that method up every time, no idea why.
Hover centered, then plop it down middle first, lay it down towards the nose and tail at the same time, bending it a little to roll with the kicks, then press it on down with hands...then walk on it.
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Was at the spot not long ago when a fella rolls up & proceeds to set up a fresh deck, new grip & all.
Comes to find he's got no blade on him, so he mounts the trucks 1st, lays down the grip down over the screws & pats out the bubs, then grabs the board by both trucks and starts scraping the entire edge, full perimeter, against the nearby curb.
He goes at this for a couple minutes & then just tears the excess material away, easy as wet paper.
Darndest thing I've set my eyes to in quite some while, I rekon.
It wasn't even that ratty looking of a grip job, if I'm to be honest.
Is your buddy Andrew Brophy?
0:42
https://youtu.be/pxt4zQQJWis
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Two words:
Black Magic.
Still the best