Hidden gems you’ve found

[hiljentaa]

Not really unknown at all, but I will only setup boards with Girl Longneck hardware. If you want to keep your trucks for a long time, they help a ton to not blowout the baseplate holes over time.

[fernando the skater]

Zealous bearings to set and forget soft wheels/cruiser board.

+1

[swongolianbbq]

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I love the independent axle rethreader cause it has a pilot hole to keep everything straight, and the independent bearing saver T-tool is badass too cause I'm the socket doesn't touch your bearings/fuck up your shields and stuff

[close]

The Indy T-tool also works great with Ventures as it's slim and long enough. With many tools it's pretty much impossible to tighten the tail/nose side baseplate nuts without removing the hanger.

I remember this shit, unit T-tool and ventures from when I was shorter. Good times

[fulfillthedream]

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I love the independent axle rethreader cause it has a pilot hole to keep everything straight, and the independent bearing saver T-tool is badass too cause I'm the socket doesn't touch your bearings/fuck up your shields and stuff

[close]

The Indy T-tool also works great with Ventures as it's slim and long enough. With many tools it's pretty much impossible to tighten the tail/nose side baseplate nuts without removing the hanger.

[close]

I remember this shit, unit T-tool and ventures from when I was shorter. Good times

the little hack i found is using that wrench that came with diamond hardware. this is probably the worst colorway but i still have that little wrench in my backpack because im riding ventures.

[swongolianbbq]

Yooo! I had that wrench in my wallet for like 15 years. Diamond used to be my favorite hardware cause it was like Shorty's lights but with normal size nuts, no crazy colors and they didn't force you to use a colored bolt but it was included extra anyway and they came in those little packages like an edible or something

Now I fux with modus bolts but I'm always intrigued by the girl longne k hardware. I wonder if I got long necks and used them on my DBX, if being that the board is thinner, if the nut would eventually bottom out on the bolt.. hmmmMMMm

[hiljentaa]

I wonder if I got long necks and used them on my DBX, if being that the board is thinner, if the nut would eventually bottom out on the bolt.. hmmmMMMm

Would be interested in this, too. I think with cast baseplates you'd be fine, but forged may present that issue.

I used to use low-profile nuts (like Shorty's Lights) with my Longneck hardware with forged baseplates and once had that issue where they bottomed out. The threads of the hardware actually sheared off while I was trying to tighten them all the way and I had to cut the bolts off to get my trucks off the board.

After that happened, I only use the normal included nuts and have had no issues, but I don't skate Flight/DBX/VX decks.

[swongolianbbq]

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I wonder if I got long necks and used them on my DBX, if being that the board is thinner, if the nut would eventually bottom out on the bolt.. hmmmMMMm

[close]

Would be interested in this, too. I think with cast baseplates you'd be fine, but forged may present that issue.

I used to use low-profile nuts (like Shorty's Lights) with my Longneck hardware with forged baseplates and once had that issue where they bottomed out. The threads of the hardware actually sheared off while I was trying to tighten them all the way and I had to cut the bolts off to get my trucks off the board.

After that happened, I only use the normal included nuts and have had no issues, but I don't skate Flight/DBX/VX decks.

Interesting

I have a DBX eagle in the mail, I'll prolly get some longecks and compare with regular 7/8 bolts. I notice the longne ks have the smaller heads, but they're deeper, like wknd bolts and some other ones. Shorty's bolts are my fave, I just wish they didn't come with those stupid nuts, but I got a bunch of regular height nuts at the hardware store so it's all good

One thing I figured out a few years ago was that the shorter nuts that come with Shorty's 7/8s, combined with 3/4 bolts, work with a flight deck and forged baseplates. I was using like, titanium 3/4 bolts and Shorty's nuts for a sec, then I realized I was going too deep into the madness, letting ultralight backpacking infect my skateboard

[kickbacktail]

Skf bearings with 97 duro spitfires is the best feeling ride ever. About 6 of my homies have tried my set up and switched over since

New or old formula 97’s?

[Chris Partlow]

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Skf bearings with 97 duro spitfires is the best feeling ride ever. About 6 of my homies have tried my set up and switched over since

[close]

I can only speak for the new ones. I’ve spoken about it so much I’ve been asked if I work for skf. I did email them and asked if I could be their vern laird. Didn’t get the Job but I did get a box in the mail full of product.
New or old formula 97’s?

[marcusbutler]

Not really THAT hidden but GulfWax. I buy the big blocks from hobby lobby. I'm in FL and left it at a crusty spot. Returned two weeks later, I have a bad habit of leaving it at the park or a spot, and it was unscathed sitting in the florida sun and rain. Shit don't melt!

[Skatebeard]

Mini logo wheels, suprisingly good for their bargain price.

Honourable mention to their bearings too.

[WashingtonNECKTIE]

Topic adjacent - I found what I refer to as a "Zumiez-ass complete" at a vendor mall. The longboard wheels caught my eye, and after looking it over, I realized it was actually worth something.

8.25 Primitive board
149 blacked out Indy's, have to be older, still have the cross on the baseplate
69mm 79a longboard wheels
Thick risers
Fresh bearings
Grizzly grip (ripped that shit off immediately)

$50 out the door.
Parted it out to put together more set-ups for the quiver. Put the wheels on the egg cruiser, skated the deck, holding on to the trucks until I need em.

[gringo_viejo]

Mini logo wheels, suprisingly good for their bargain price.

Honourable mention to their bearings too.

Agreed. Mini logo gear always a solid 7/10. (Aren’t the wheels just unbranded bones 100s?)

My first setup was all mini logo except with thunder trucks, so they’ll always have a place in my heart. Only reason I didn’t get the trucks too was to keep it from being all matchity-match. Ben degros likes ‘em.

[Osage]

Agreed. Mini logo gear always a solid 7/10. (Aren’t the wheels just unbranded bones 100s?)

 
  Nope, the wheels are made in China but they're still pretty good and downright great for the price. The only Mini Logo wheels that are rebranded bones are the ML AWOL's, which are rebranded Bones ATF. I have the 59mm's on my cruiser and they're great.

[MOE SYZLAK]

Modus Bearings . The blues are so much better than Bones Reds.

[j....soy.....]

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Agreed. Mini logo gear always a solid 7/10. (Aren’t the wheels just unbranded bones 100s?)

[close]

 
  Nope, the wheels are made in China but they're still pretty good and downright great for the price. The only Mini Logo wheels that are rebranded bones are the ML AWOL's, which are rebranded Bones ATF. I have the 59mm's on my cruiser and they're great.

I think the original idea behind minilogo was that Powell acknowledged that you could manufacture quality gear in China but wanted to stay loyal to what they had done in the past, so they lowered the cost and put it under a different brand. 

I found a giant grip eraser at the skatepark….

[Sloppy Krooks]

I found a set of crusty unbranded penny trucks in the bushes near a skatepark.
I don’t know why but I threw them in the car and kept them.
Then the polarizer thing started going off right around COVID, and I cut down an old deck, cleaned up the trucks and threw them on, and holy shit, they turn really fucking good.

[rocklobster]

Modus Bearings . The blues are so much better than Bones Reds.

And their hardware is a nice shade of baby blue

[Slave IV]

With the recent talk of hardware and tools, I've been wondering why I haven't seen any really good tool specifically for swapping trucks out. Has anyone tried a fixed head ratcheting wrench like this?

If it works, someone should incorporate that ratchet into a skate tool or I'm just going to buy one and see for myself. Only thing is the head might be too big since the nuts are so close to the rest of the baseplate.

[j....soy.....]

we talking sliver tool?

[Slave IV]

we talking sliver tool?

I forgot about that style so kinda. But I still think a wrench style like I pictured might work better. I can usually get more efficient and comfortable turns with a side handle socket wrench compared to the standard skate tool that can only twist as much your wrist.

[roba]

sole tech shoes

[Síota]

With the recent talk of hardware and tools, I've been wondering why I haven't seen any really good tool specifically for swapping trucks out. Has anyone tried a fixed head ratcheting wrench like this?

If it works, someone should incorporate that ratchet into a skate tool or I'm just going to buy one and see for myself. Only thing is the head might be too big since the nuts are so close to the rest of the baseplate.

I use them ratchet spanners at work for some equipment, the head is bigger than normal boxed end ones, I'm sure it would hit the base plate.

[Slave IV]

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With the recent talk of hardware and tools, I've been wondering why I haven't seen any really good tool specifically for swapping trucks out. Has anyone tried a fixed head ratcheting wrench like this?

If it works, someone should incorporate that ratchet into a skate tool or I'm just going to buy one and see for myself. Only thing is the head might be too big since the nuts are so close to the rest of the baseplate.

[close]

I use them ratchet spanners at work for some equipment, the head is bigger than normal boxed end ones, I'm sure it would hit the base plate.

Bummer, thanks for the info.

[propaganda]

Say like the bandages you would wrap a wound with, if you stuff it with paper towels you can make a makeshift pad that still looks a little hesh

Can only do one hand/elbow at a time. Could prolly do both knees depending on your pants

[Badandoldskater]

Not skate related but found a beat up le crussett Dutch oven in my buildings free pile, asked the companies customer service if I could trade it in, they sent me a new one. Cool story bro

[Síota]

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With the recent talk of hardware and tools, I've been wondering why I haven't seen any really good tool specifically for swapping trucks out. Has anyone tried a fixed head ratcheting wrench like this?

If it works, someone should incorporate that ratchet into a skate tool or I'm just going to buy one and see for myself. Only thing is the head might be too big since the nuts are so close to the rest of the baseplate.

[close]

I use them ratchet spanners at work for some equipment, the head is bigger than normal boxed end ones, I'm sure it would hit the base plate.

[close]

Bummer, thanks for the info.

I'm back in work and it's slow so here you go, here is two 13mm spanners you don't really notice the size difference:



But on 10mm you clearly see the extra metal, threw in a 10mm spanner that I had to take a grinder to for some stupid design..

[rawbertson.]

I have this Andale Tool and it has ratcheting feature. HOWEVER - its ONLY for the freaking Axle and Kingpin. Lol... they should have made the Hardware socket the ratcheting one... 

at least i have a ratcheting screwdriver  (i cant stand using those "allen key" screw drivers that sit in the skate tool)

[rawbertson.]

i see Jordan 1s and blazer mids at Burlington all the time for like 40 bucks, just put some different insoles in em and they're p much the same as SB dunks or blazers

I saw some cheaper Non SB Blazers in Niagara Falls at SVP Sports (not available online sadly) and i had asked around a decent amount if GT BLazers were much different to the pedestrian ones. No one seemed to have a solid answer for me. Now I am kinda interested to try them out. they seemed very close when i was looking at them in the store, the main thing that put me off was they seemed a lot stiffer?

https://www.svpsports.ca/pages/nike-in-store-only

they also have SB "Chron 2", those sparked my interest.

[Slave IV]

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With the recent talk of hardware and tools, I've been wondering why I haven't seen any really good tool specifically for swapping trucks out. Has anyone tried a fixed head ratcheting wrench like this?

If it works, someone should incorporate that ratchet into a skate tool or I'm just going to buy one and see for myself. Only thing is the head might be too big since the nuts are so close to the rest of the baseplate.

[close]

I use them ratchet spanners at work for some equipment, the head is bigger than normal boxed end ones, I'm sure it would hit the base plate.

[close]

Bummer, thanks for the info.

[close]

I'm back in work and it's slow so here you go, here is two 13mm spanners you don't really notice the size difference:



But on 10mm you clearly see the extra metal, threw in a 10mm spanner that I had to take a grinder to for some stupid design..

You had to grind the fixed head one for it to work? If some have features then yeah, no way the ratcheting head will ever fit. Thanks!