Maintenance Tips for Professional Fingerboards: Get the Most From Your Setup

When you have shelled out money on a professional fingerboard, you must be proud of all the grinds, flips and tricks you are able to pull off. A pro fingerboard is not a toy — it is a highly tuned instrument that is specifically created to be used. It should be taken care of in order to be smooth, responsive and reliable, just like any good system.

You are either an old fingerboarder or new and serious about the craft; nonetheless, regular maintenance will make you maintain that sharp pop and perfect command that makes the pros and the amateurs stand apart.

The following are some of the basic yet effective maintenance tips to maintain your professional fingerboard in high condition.

1. Keep Your Deck Clean and Dry

The center of your configuration is your deck. The surface accumulates finger oil, dust, and dirt over time — this is particularly the case with foam or rubber grip tapes. This accumulation not only wears your pop, but also can influence the grip of your fingers on the board in the tricks.

What to do:

• After each session, wipe your deck with a soft cloth that is slightly moist.

• Never wet it; genuine wooden decks may check when they are immersed.

• When you have foam grip tape make sure you wash it with a dry toothbrush to clean the grime.

Maintaining the deck clean gives you the same friction and control all the time you ride.

2. Check Your Trucks Regularly

Professional fingerboard trucks aren’t large, but they can do all of your impact, slides and grinds. Screws can become loose over time and the bushings can also wear, leaving your board feeling unstable.

Maintenance steps:

• Screw the kingpin in a correct tool with light force. Do not over tighten — you will strip the threads or crush the bushings.

• When your trucks squeak, or are stiff, examine the bushings. The difference between a small rub of wax, or a drop of bearing oil.

• Whenever you feel that the bushings or pivot cups become worn, replace them immediately you notice that it slops or it turns unevenly.

Properly adjusted trucks will provide you with good turns, steady landings, and elusive flick.

3. Keep a Look to Your Bearings and Wheels

Sticky wheels are the bane of a session. The finest bearings may not run smoothly unless dust or water gets into them. Professional fingerboards are required to be attended to occasionally since it has been machined wheels and micro bearings.

How to maintain:

• Take your wheels off every now and then and spray dry the bearings with a rag.

• Do not apply water or alcohol — this will strip the small quantity of lubricant contained in the bearings.

• In case your wheels begin to be gritty, use a single drop of bearing oil or lubricant.

• You also need to check your wheels, size of flats or cracks. Early replacement of damaged wheels will ensure that there is no uneven wear and keep your roll even and predictable.

4. Guard Your Graphic and Finish

Numerous pro decks are beautifully decorated or painted by hand. These designs will contribute to what will make your setup special. Nevertheless, the artwork may be eroded or scratched with time during constant grinding and outdoor usage.

Protection tips:

• Clear grip = use of clear grip tape in case you wish to keep a full-graphic deck and still be able to control it.

• Keep your fingerboard in a case or pouch when you are not using it.

• Do not expose it to the sun, or in very hot weather — this will cause the paint and the layers of wood to dry up.

Such a small attention will do wonders in maintaining the appearance of your board as the day you opened the package.

5. Customize Your System to Your Fashion

Each fingerboarder has a style of riding. Some riders really like loose trucks that enable them to make manuals in a smooth manner, others like tight trucks that enable them to perform technical flips. Another thing to keep in your maintenance is to make sure your setup is adjusted to suit your ride.

Try experimenting with:

• Truck tightness: Loosely fitting to give easier carving, and tightly fitting to be stable.

• Grip texture: Fresh foam grip to have control, worn grip to have a smooth feel.

• Hardness of wheels: Soft – indoor, hard – slick.

Your setup is the place where you can be at home: a continuation of your creativity.

6. Preventive Maintenance: Replace Worn Parts Before They Fail

Delaying in replacement of parts is one of the largest errors made by riders. Fingerboard components that are used professionally are made durable and yet they wear and tear.

You are advised to replace:

• Fractured and delaminated decks.

• Splitted or lost rebound bushings.

• Unevenly rotating bearings or grinding.

Consider it as a ride upgrade. New trucks or a new deck can revitalize your setup and reinvigorate your desire to practice.

7. Store It Smartly

Where is your fingerboard when you are not shredding? It may seem innocent when put in a backpack or pocket but it can readily accumulate dust or even be crushed.

Best practices:

• Keep your board in a little fingerboard display stand.

• Store it in the absence of humidity, direct sunlight, and heat.

• When you have more than one deck, rack stands are the best to store them and keep them neat.

An empty cavity will make your setup look professional — and will help you feel closer to your equipment.

Final Thoughts

It does not require such a complicated process to maintain a professional fingerboard. Several minutes of attention every week would ensure your setups last longer, work better, and look great.

Imagine it as a component of the craft — like waxing skateboard rails or tuning trucks — fingerboarders maintain their equipment to optimal functionality.

With the right board under your fingers, all tricks will be simpler, all the games will be more enjoyable. Go on cleaning up that deck, inspecting those trucks, turning your wheels, and concentrate on your fingerboard.

Or, in fact, the finest setups do not only perform well, but also demonstrate the attention of the rider who rides them.