Which Bearings Are You Guys Running?

[LebowskisRug]

I only use ispropyl, would never use something harsh like carb cleaner or acetone personally. Acetone can compromise some plastics apparently.

[rikki]

Hmm, I've used acetone with seemingly no problems, but upon investigating more about its possible effects on plastics, I think I'll switch to isopropyl alcohol from now on. Some say that its less efficient as a degreaser than acetone, but I reckon for the amount of dirt in bearings it will be sufficient.

[darkthrone]

I rode Powell Swiss for years and never thought anything else ever came close to how good they were, but recently tried the Quantum atoms and I’m loving them. Pretty much switched over to those now.

[Xen]

To whomever I was rude or snarky to.  And anyone who felt I was anything other than pleasant and helpful to them, I apologize.  It was never my intent.
  Anyone who knows either of us, with Quantum, will tell you we are the most approachable positive people you’ll meet.
  I think tone and intent are sometimes tough to “read” in text.

Once again, we appreciate anyone who’s tried our products, whether you had a bad experience or great experience.  We really are working hard.  And the positive has outweighed the negative by a million.

Take care, Slap Pals

None of your posts have been anything but factual or helpful; don't worry about the little snowflakes (but good on you for company damage control anyway).

[Banned from the room]

Take the balls out of the retainers and only soak the metal parts. Its a little tricky to get the balls back in place but its the best way to clean them properly and avoid ruining the plastic retainers. (if that's your concern). Use a hair dryer to dry everything properly before reassembly. Minimal lube, post clean. 1, or 2 drops max of speed cream.

This is exactly what I do.

All my ceramics have done better than 7 years. That's 3 sets I got like 10 out the first. 12 out the second and I'm running on ceramic reds I got used in 2016 rn.

Might as well just throw out the shields but I usually don't. I won't be going forward.

I've had like 4 or 5 other metal bearing side boards. Some had flat spots in them some rusted because I didn't clean them fast enough after a slightly damp day.

Swiss rust easier than reds for sure I think it's because of the difference in plastics

[fulfillthedream]

I rode Powell Swiss for years and never thought anything else ever came close to how good they were, but recently tried the Quantum atoms and I’m loving them. Pretty much switched over to those now.

Ive had multiple sets of Bones reds, swiss, super reds and one set of the swiss 6 and few of the 6 ball reds. All are pretty good but i feel after covid all the china made bones bearings weren't the same.

I grabbed a set of the quantum metallics based off SLAP and really liked them. felt they were on par with bones swiss and definetly better then all the reds i tried. However after i used some speedcream they never spun as fast as they did when i first got them.

I got myself the isotopes and have been using them without the shields and i use speedcream on them about once every two months and they work great.  totally worth the $60 and in the future would get them again.

[LebowskisRug]

It does probably help to use the lube the manufacturer recommends or similar.

FWIW I have always found Speed Cream inferior to gun oil or basic 3-in-1.

[fulfillthedream]

It does probably help to use the lube the manufacturer recommends or similar.

FWIW I have always found Speed Cream inferior to gun oil or basic 3-in-1.

i forgot to order a bottle when i got the isotopes.. i wanna order there lube on its own but i can't make an order under $10

[LebowskisRug]

I'd just get some sewing machine oil, gun oil, or something super thin off Amazon if that's the case. I know their lube is formulated per their specs, but the above are less viscous than Speed Cream and I've always had better luck.

[rikki]

Yeah I think basic sewing machine oil works best. Not saying Speed Cream is bad, mind you.

[Banned from the room]

This is what one needs if you want to ride the same set of ceramic for 5 - 12 years.

It frees up rain/sleet bloard bearings that are locked up and everything

It's thin enough for dirty bearings too.

4 of my favorite things right here.

[munchbox]

This is what one needs if you want to ride the same set of ceramic for 5 - 12 years.

It frees up rain/sleet bloard bearings that are locked up and everything

It's thin enough for dirty bearings too.

4 of my favorite things right here.

whats your exact process?

[Banned from the room]

Expand Quote

This is what one needs if you want to ride the same set of ceramic for 5 - 12 years.

It frees up rain/sleet bloard bearings that are locked up and everything

It's thin enough for dirty bearings too.

4 of my favorite things right here.

[close]

whats your exact process?

Sometimes I just throw some drops and go.

If I really want to clean them

I disassemble the bearings one by one completely into a cream cheese container that I poked holes in the corner of the lid so I can drain it into another cup. Re use the same acetone for each one of the bearings in turn

After I have one reassembled I let it dry to the side.

The plastic parts I have in a third cup of warm water and a few drops of Dawn.

Once all parts are dry and reassembled I put two drops of sewing machine oil per bearing.

If I got shields I pop um back on.


Oh yeah I use my brothers tooth brush on all parts and return it to the bathroom

[OhioGuy]

Anyone ever mix bearings? One of my Swiss 6 is slow and I don’t want to buy a new set. Slap a G3 in there and it’s fast as the other wheels now.

[moonordie]

Anyone ever mix bearings? One of my Swiss 6 is slow and I don’t want to buy a new set. Slap a G3 in there and it’s fast as the other wheels now.

I wouldn't be able to do that.

[manysnakes]

It does probably help to use the lube the manufacturer recommends or similar.

FWIW I have always found Speed Cream inferior to gun oil or basic 3-in-1.

I’m not convinced that Speed Cream is anything other than lightweight machine oil (gun or sewing machine).

[rikki]

Expand Quote

It does probably help to use the lube the manufacturer recommends or similar.

FWIW I have always found Speed Cream inferior to gun oil or basic 3-in-1.

[close]

I’m not convinced that Speed Cream is anything other than lightweight machine oil (gun or sewing machine).

Similar thoughts here. A great overhead from a product, if nothing else.

[Sativa Lung]

Speed cream, Bronson, and most skate specific products work fine, as does a decent sewing machine oil. Be careful with the stuff that comes in the tiny sample size vials though, I ruined a set of brass cage ceramics with off brand sewing oil once... I think they were pigs. 3-in-1 is too thick and doesn't disperse well, especially in cold weather.

When it comes to lube the closest thing to an secret sauce I've found is liberty oil. I bought a 4oz bottle years ago and now I put it on everything. Actually just used it to quiet down a noisy computer fan bearing like an hour ago haha. It's like $9 on Amazon and you'll almost certainly lose the bottle before you use it up. One or two drops and you're good for months.

[Richard Skidder]

Speed cream, Bronson, and most skate specific products work fine, as does a decent sewing machine oil. Be careful with the stuff that comes in the tiny sample size vials though, I ruined a set of brass cage ceramics with off brand sewing oil once... I think they were pigs. 3-in-1 is too thick and doesn't disperse well, especially in cold weather.

When it comes to lube the closest thing to an secret sauce I've found is liberty oil. I bought a 4oz bottle years ago and now I put it on everything. Actually just used it to quiet down a noisy computer fan bearing like an hour ago haha. It's like $9 on Amazon and you'll almost certainly lose the bottle before you use it up. One or two drops and you're good for months.

This one?
https://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Synthetic-Lubricating-Grandfather-Clocks/dp/B00AZMGFI4#:~:text=100%25%20Synthetic%20oil%20that%20will,on%20plastics%20and%20painted%20surfaces.

Or this one?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008QNQ2VE/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWwp13NParams

[hiljentaa]

Small rant but just started skating a set of Quantum ceramics about 5 sessions ago and one wheel is already squeaking.

Had this happen to my set of metallics too. These were purchased over a year ago so maybe this doesn't happen anymore, but- annoying.

Never had a set of $10 Mini Logos squeak before the graphics wear off the wheels...

[LebowskisRug]

So what did Quantum say when you told them about it?

[Vintagebody]

Bought some Bones Big Balls to have for my indoor setup. The shields doesnt even cover properly. What kind of gibberish crap is this? Bones is seriously lousy. Atleast the cheaper ones like reds and big balls.

[Sativa Lung]

Expand Quote

Speed cream, Bronson, and most skate specific products work fine, as does a decent sewing machine oil. Be careful with the stuff that comes in the tiny sample size vials though, I ruined a set of brass cage ceramics with off brand sewing oil once... I think they were pigs. 3-in-1 is too thick and doesn't disperse well, especially in cold weather.

When it comes to lube the closest thing to an secret sauce I've found is liberty oil. I bought a 4oz bottle years ago and now I put it on everything. Actually just used it to quiet down a noisy computer fan bearing like an hour ago haha. It's like $9 on Amazon and you'll almost certainly lose the bottle before you use it up. One or two drops and you're good for months.

[close]

This one?
https://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Synthetic-Lubricating-Grandfather-Clocks/dp/B00AZMGFI4#:~:text=100%25%20Synthetic%20oil%20that%20will,on%20plastics%20and%20painted%20surfaces.

Or this one?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008QNQ2VE/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWwp13NParams

I believe they're the same, the bottom one is just unstained for sewing machine use. I have the green stuff but either should be fine.

[Richard Skidder]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Speed cream, Bronson, and most skate specific products work fine, as does a decent sewing machine oil. Be careful with the stuff that comes in the tiny sample size vials though, I ruined a set of brass cage ceramics with off brand sewing oil once... I think they were pigs. 3-in-1 is too thick and doesn't disperse well, especially in cold weather.

When it comes to lube the closest thing to an secret sauce I've found is liberty oil. I bought a 4oz bottle years ago and now I put it on everything. Actually just used it to quiet down a noisy computer fan bearing like an hour ago haha. It's like $9 on Amazon and you'll almost certainly lose the bottle before you use it up. One or two drops and you're good for months.

[close]

This one?
https://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Synthetic-Lubricating-Grandfather-Clocks/dp/B00AZMGFI4#:~:text=100%25%20Synthetic%20oil%20that%20will,on%20plastics%20and%20painted%20surfaces.

Or this one?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008QNQ2VE/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWwp13NParams

[close]

I believe they're the same, the bottom one is just unstained for sewing machine use. I have the green stuff but either should be fine.

Thanks I appreciate the response. Will be grabbing some soon.

[#alexander#]

My curiosity got the best of me and I ordered some silicon nitride ceramic balls on eBay for like 13 dollars. I put em in some cheap modus black bearings I had in the parts box. Won’t really be able to skate till Sunday but felt nice and fast in the driveway.

[tuesday]

I also Frankensteined a set of bearings with ceramic balls. Never regretted it.

[fakiefs180]

Excuse me if I may have missed it, but what is the advantage of ceramic balls in bearings?

As a kid I thought ceranic bearings are only for vert skating because there isn't as much impact as for street skating. Still have no idea to be honest.

[#alexander#]

They are harder than steel bearings and generally a higher spec so they are more round and less likely to deform. Also since they are harder than the steel races in there the balls help keep the races in spec cause they “polish” them. Lower friction too.

[devils acrobat]

My curiosity got the best of me and I ordered some silicon nitride ceramic balls on eBay for like 13 dollars. I put em in some cheap modus black bearings I had in the parts box. Won’t really be able to skate till Sunday but felt nice and fast in the driveway.

Never thought of doing this, keep us updated please how these work for you. What oil are you using?

[#alexander#]

Expand Quote

My curiosity got the best of me and I ordered some silicon nitride ceramic balls on eBay for like 13 dollars. I put em in some cheap modus black bearings I had in the parts box. Won’t really be able to skate till Sunday but felt nice and fast in the driveway.

[close]

Never thought of doing this, keep us updated please how these work for you. What oil are you using?

I just used a random 3 in 1 oil. They seem nice and smooth, nothing life changing but for sure better than the bearings with the original balls, we’ll see how they hold up over time.