Starting a Curb

[GardenSkater77]

Last week I started a curb. It was the first time in all my years of skating that I had done this.

I am working on getting slappies, but after 30-40 attempts I am barely grinding. I have gone through a block of wax already and the curb is grey.

Seems like newer concrete is so rough. I would love a painted curb but there are none in skating distance from my home.

Questions:

-How long before a rough concrete curb breaks in?
-is it possible that some curbs will never grind?
-is it better to smooth the curb before waxing?

I don’t want to paint the curb because I am trying not to call attention to the curb as a skate spot.

If I can get this test curb going I have many in the parking lot that I can make skate-able.

So glad to be out on the streets again. I have been dying a slow death in the township skatepark.

Thanks for the tips...

[Hefe43]

Rub brick

Clear rustoleum

Wax

In that order

Don’t rub brick it now since it’s already been waxed

Started a curb today also and was grinding and sliding right after the paint was dry

[What a find]

* Rustoleum Lacquer spray

[DotGuru]

Rub your trucks along it a bunch. That helps. And your slides also do--they put paint on it, though not like painting the curb itself. It's all part of the breaking in process.

[Hefe43]

* Rustoleum Lacquer spray

Nah

[silhouette]

I started a curb
Which started the whole world crying
But I didn't see
that the curb was on me
Oh no

I started to cry
Which started the whole world laughing
Oh If I'd only seen
That the curb was on me

[Lou Strux]

I started a curb
Which started the whole world crying
But I didn't see
that the curb was on me
Oh no

I started to cry
Which started the whole world laughing
Oh If I'd only seen
That the curb was on me

I like it, the early Bee Gees, very much.
Shhh... don’t tell anyone.

[silhouette]

^ One of my rules of thumb in life is basically to trust anybody who's into the early Bee Gees and never trust anybody who's into the late Bee Gees.

[GardenSkater77]

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* Rustoleum Lacquer spray

[close]

Nah

Is this what we are talking about?

[hangontoyourego]

I think this satin one was better but they both work fine and don’t forget to sweep the dust off after you use the rub brick

[Allen.]

don’t forget to sweep the dust off after you use the rub brick

remember this and that there's always money in the banana stand

[Hefe43]

 

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* Rustoleum Lacquer spray

[close]

Nah

[close]

Is this what we are talking about?

Word

[hangontoyourego]

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don’t forget to sweep the dust off after you use the rub brick

[close]

remember this and that there's always money in the banana stand

Ha ha I’ve heard that before about the banana stand . What’s that from, It’s always sunny ?

[SneakySecrets]

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don’t forget to sweep the dust off after you use the rub brick

[close]

remember this and that there's always money in the banana stand

[close]

Ha ha I’ve heard that before about the banana stand . What’s that from, It’s always sunny ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04SLXwjJvqg&feature=share

[hangontoyourego]

Ah yes !! Ha ha that’s great .

[jay_nev]

“Rub brick”

Mortally rub a brick along to smooth? Wear down a layer? What’s the intention

[GardenSkater77]

“Rub brick”

Mortally rub a brick along to smooth? Wear down a layer? What’s the intention

Basically sand the concrete to remove grit.

Thanks all for the help.

Good to know I can spray clear coat on as opposed to painting.

I feel like 80s-90s curbs were smoother and didn’t need a sanding step. Either way I will need to sand these curbs as they are ruff.

[Dr-Feelgood]

DM Roge, he will give you all his deep dark curb secrets

[hangontoyourego]

Expand Quote

“Rub brick”

Mortally rub a brick along to smooth? Wear down a layer? What’s the intention

[close]

Basically sand the concrete to remove grit.

Thanks all for the help.

Good to know I can spray clear coat on as opposed to painting.

I feel like 80s-90s curbs were smoother and didn’t need a sanding step. Either way I will need to sand these curbs as they are ruff.

You’ll be surprised how well the rub brick works . You can spray it once it’s clean . Give it an hour or so and it will be ready to skate

[animalflesh]

Expand Quote

“Rub brick”

Mortally rub a brick along to smooth? Wear down a layer? What’s the intention

[close]

Basically sand the concrete to remove grit.

Thanks all for the help.

Good to know I can spray clear coat on as opposed to painting.

I feel like 80s-90s curbs were smoother and didn’t need a sanding step. Either way I will need to sand these curbs as they are ruff.

If you already have wax on there and it is not working

BLOWTORCH it

This goes for concrete coping or anything with wax that you want to starting shellacking with other stuff

It will heat weld the wax into the cement and anything else will burn off

Only after you do this should you spend your energy and time with a rub brick etc.

And get rid of that dust absolutely


Even after you do all that you’ll still probably have to grind it in a little bit

[Lloyd Braun]

I can attest to the rub brick, clear coat wax method. Used it on a curb near my old place, and a few ledge spots. Spend the time to get it nice and smooth and like everyone else mentioned get rid of all the dust before clear coating. I recommend several coats of clear before skating. I’ve used roll on before and almost prefer it. The more the better. If done correct you shouldn’t need any wax to grind the first few sessions.

PS if you have access to an angle grinder and some concrete grinding discs you can forgo the rub brick and save a whole lot of time.

[givecigstosurfgroms]

Slappies do look fun.  I started to try to learn em in the 80s but it didn't happen for me.  I had copers back then for a minute.  those were so fun.

[What a find]

That's a trip you can't do them. They are totally doable if you still skate

Does the clear rusto work better than the laquer?

[Lloyd Braun]

I think that all clear coats will work relatively the same. The key, in my opinion is to get the surface smooth and get several coats on before hand. The clear coat will eventually wear off with enough skating, but by then the concrete will have worn in and you can just keep applying wax as needed.

[nonickname]

It snowed today and it's about -15 C here tonight so of course I'm on Slap wondering about how to smooth the new curbs put in at my old high school. And of course Slap came through with this topic to help out. Had never heard of a rub brick before and have already tracked one down online at the local hardware store. Should be ready to work when winter ends in about 3 months...but until then just wanted to say "thanks" to everyone for the info, greatly appreciated.

[satan]

I've got some leftover clear polyurethane, think it's Minwax. Anyone used that instead of lacquer?

My local Lowes and Home Depot have rub bricks..

[jay_nev]

It snowed today and it's about -15 C here tonight so of course I'm on Slap wondering about how to smooth the new curbs put in at my old high school. And of course Slap came through with this topic to help out. Had never heard of a rub brick before and have already tracked one down online at the local hardware store. Should be ready to work when winter ends in about 3 months...but until then just wanted to say "thanks" to everyone for the info, greatly appreciated.

in the same spot. Trying to use the winter to find a local low key spot I can fix up a curb.

[50mm]

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* Rustoleum Lacquer spray

[close]

Nah

[close]

Is this what we are talking about?

[close]

Word

Hefe, will that shit change a curb that is all matte and sticky into one that slick and shiny? If so I'm gonna go nuts with a can this week.

My tip for smoothing out a curb or ledge is to use a cheap stone blade sharpener like this https://www.google.com/search?q=stone+sharpener&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjzxberkfnmAhVJtZ4KHVI5AMkQ_AUoAXoECA4QAw&biw=1920&bih=944#spd=7506431002362702261.

I used one of those a couple years ago and it was like wax only it smoothed shit out, lasted forever. I made new rough ledges skateable within like 5 minutes. In one area I used it to smooth out a few curbs, and ledges and could have done more. Going to buy one now that I remember how effective it was I think the old one is at my dads.

[radcunt]

Just hit a local parking block with that rustoleum. Was smooth but porous and sticky.   Will report back later.

Theres another spot ive started up, these amazing slightly slanted curbs that are rough but a really hard, stony concrete. Just ground one in with no wax and its amazing. Has taken a big chunk of my indys though, but worth it. Going to rub brick and rustoleum on of those shits.

[jay_nev]

Just hit a local parking block with that rustoleum. Was smooth but porous and sticky.   Will report back later.

Theres another spot ive started up, these amazing slightly slanted curbs that are rough but a really hard, stony concrete. Just ground one in with no wax and its amazing. Has taken a big chunk of my indys though, but worth it. Going to rub brick and rustoleum on of those shits.

does paint and then rustOleum do anything? Or just use rustoleum from the jump and get it grind able? After smoothing with a brick?