BBS Molds

[Sativa Lung]

So there’s a few things being confused here:

BBS makes molds for many companies especially DLX and FA. Those shapes are unique to those brands.

BBS also makes a generic popsicle and a generic squared off shape. Alien and Habitat use the squared, Magenta, Theories, Passport, Sci Fi Fantasy, and a ton of other brands use the popsicle shape. It will measure almost identical on all of them and always have only a colored top and bottom ply.

I think you might be conflating molds and shapes. There's a basically limitless combination of shapes, not just a popsicle and square. A lot of those weird eggs and fish tails are the same mold as those popsicles and squares. Everything gets pressed into a big block and THEN cut out into the appropriate shape.

There's a handful of BBS molds but they mostly follow the same formula - mid-steep spoon concave with modern style steep kicks. I've heard that there's a flat mold but I've never actually seen one. Probably my favorite of the less used or proprietary ones is the birdhouse standard, despite what the stickers say the baker mold isn't actually that mellow and it's steeper than the birdhouse one. Plus it's more of a full, less tapered shape than the baker ones and the 8.25 is a little bit shorter which makes it feel really nice and easy to flip.

[Woodshop]

Thought this could go here as well.

I know some people had been asking about this for a while, but I thought I should do something to help (and it is a rainy day here today, so I have time).

How to...

Measure a skateboard deck (correctly)

So there have often been questions and very different measurements when it comes to skateboard deck dimensions, along with various forms or items to measure them, but I hope to help with the most simple and easy way to correctly measure your board, as per industry standards.

I have a flat metal square ruler, a standard tape measure, a soft tape measure and a tailors tape, for reference here, but the standard tape measure with the hook end is the best for an accurate measurement of length and width.

They all give the same measurements when used correctly on this Antihero eagle deck that is said to be 8.25 x 32 with 14.38 wheelbase, 6.8 nose and 6.6 tail. The one difference being these DLX 8.25 decks are often a touch wider, coming in around 8.3 or so.

The board length is often the most confused measurement, but decks should be measured from tip to tip straight across, not from the top ply layer (which will give a shorter length) and not with the concave (which will give a longer length) and most definitely not with graphic side up as that will give a super long measurement.

Note: One woodshop in particular always measured the length with the concave, so if you have a PS Stix deck it will often be shorter than listed, when compared to many other brands or other woodshop dimensions.

Width is again straight across from tip to tip, often the middle ply will sit out further than the top ply layer, but as boards can often taper, measure across in a few places, such as where the trucks are and the middle of the board too.

Wheelbase is measured from the middle of the deck bolt holes closest to each other, at each end of the board, usually anywhere from 14 to 15" but more commonly 14.25 to 14.5" apart.

Nose and tail are from the tip, same as the length in a straight line to the middle of the closest deck bolt holes, most commonly popsicle shaped decks having the nose around a quarter inch longer, but often twin boards will have the same length kicks, all up between 6.5" to 7" but quite a few are longer and many are shorter too.

[Bill Salt]

The best board I rode was a Evan Smith Grimple guest board.Perfect to me in terms of wb(14) and especially concave which was labelled IV.So last in the rox in the pressing I believe.
Do anyone know what DLX deck can I get with this concave?
Thanks!

[Big Baby Jesus]

The best board I rode was a Evan Smith Grimple guest board.Perfect to me in terms of wb(14) and especially concave which was labelled IV.So last in the rox in the pressing I believe.
Do anyone know what DLX deck can I get with this concave?
Thanks!

Believe it’s still the same but all DLX boards are pressed in fours. I being the steepest and IV being the flattest. You’d probably be best served going to a shop and looking for decks with a IV on the top. Might not be a graphic you like but can probably find something in your size.

[Bill Salt]

Well there's no AH in my shop...Tracking down on the web is not easy thing as not all products have a top side photo and very fews guys at shops are aware of those specs...
Yeah I knew 4 was the less steep.I really love it cause it ain't flat at all just the best compromised to me.Had a Kanfoush (I) and it was was wa too steep for me so I'd go III or IV.
I was wondering if the other BBS deck were labeled the same way or is it specific to DLX brands.

[Sativa Lung]

Well there's no AH in my shop...Tracking doawn on the web is not eas as not all products have a top side photo...
Yeah I knew 4 was the less steep.I really love it cause it ain't flat at all just the best compromised to me.Had a Kanfoush (I) and it was was wa too steep for me so I'd go III or IV.
I was wondering if the other BBS deck were labeled the same way or is it specific to DLX brands.

.

Just dlx. I've seen it from smaller shops like control and pennswood as well but I think I've been told that it's not the stack position for them but rather which press was used.

[Bill Salt]

I dunno, some dude said so in another topic.The pile of four makes sense cause the lower you get, the less concave ou got by losing the shape of mold that is on top.

[Sativa Lung]

I dunno, some dude said so in another topic.The pile of four makes sense cause the lower you get, the less concave ou got by losing the shape of mold that is on top.

Yeah for dlx that's what it is. I'm saying don't make a mistake if you see the number stamps on boards from other shops, it doesn't mean that for them. You actually have to stack them up and see which is mellower.