Maintenance Tips Boards
How to Apply Griptape
Griptape comes in a variety of types, in sheets or rolls. Black, plain colours or graphics.
The basic black grit is composed of silicon carbide. The black grit is way better than the grit on the coloured and graphic griptapes and a way better glue is used to stick the grit on with. A different glue is used to stick the clear grit on so the colours and graphics show through from the base sheet. This glue is not that good and you'll find your griptape going smooth long before your deck needs replacing.
Usually the shop you purchase your new deck from will apply your griptape for you and it should be a good job. No bubbles and a nice smooth cut around the edges. But there are times you may want to or need to apply it yourself. Perhaps you want to cut your own patterns in the grip or around a top logo.
Rule #1 If you are going to cut your own grip out in patterns or around top logos, NEVER NEVER cut the grip on your deck. Mark it out on the backing sheet, cut it out, then stick it down. The smallest cut in the top sheet of your deck will create a weak spot and sure as, your deck will snap right on that score mark.
Tip, if you just want to cut your grip straight across for a top logo, place your grip sheet roughly over the deck to find the spot where the logo/cut is going to be. Just cut it roughly across, then turn both sheets around and use the machined cut ends. Way straighter than you can cut it and so much faster.
Tools you'll need. All I use is a paint scraper......yeah, a paint scraper, and a pair of old scissors if I'm going to cut out any patterns. Others use knifes or razor blades. Oh and you'll need some sort of platform, I use a plastic milk grate and drape a soft rag over it..... perfect. In the ten + years I've had my shop I've gripped thousands of boards and can do a deck in about 1 minute flat.
Step 1 Clean the top of the deck, just make sure there is no dirt or dust etc on it. I read an article today that you should use some grip to sand the top of the deck... LAME.. Do NOT do that... the grip will stick better straight onto the shinny top gloss. Place the deck down onto your crate
Peel off the backing sheet of the griptape. Hold the griptape at both ends with thumb and index fingers. Standing at the side with nose and tail to your left and right side. Lower the griptape down over the deck, but don't touch it down yet. Line up the far side of the grip along the edge line of the deck, just to make sure it is not crooked. With your other fingers feel for the nose and tail to position the grip in the middle front and back.
Once you have the sheet roughly centered, flop it down on the deck. Start from the center and press it down, run from the center up to the start of the kicks and press it down from the middle to the edges, Press down in the curves of the kicks and follow up to the ends. You don't have to press that hard, it will stick well enough and get pressed down firmer when you stand on it. You do need to press firm all around the edges prior to cutting though. Use the ball of your hand and press it down firm, or the edges may pull up and tear.
Step 2 Grab your scraper, I have slightly sharpened the sides, if your cutting blade is too sharp it can dig into the side of your deck and makes for a very slow cut trying to get the angle right. So sharp, but not as sharp as your kitchen knife or certainly not like a razor blade of a "Stanley" knife.
Stand on your deck with one foot, grab the end of the griptape on either the nose or tail. Cut straight into the grip using a downwards sawing motion till you hit the deck. Turn the scraper onto about a 45 degree angle and start to cut around the nose/tail using downward sawing action, holding onto and pulling out the off cut as you go alone. You only need to do this on the curve, as you get to the straight you can run the scraper along in one fast move, keeping the off cut taught as you cut. That helps heaps to make it cut fast and in one long pass all the way to about 1/2 way up the kick.
Turn the deck around, you'll need to use the downward sawing motion then to get around the curve again till you hit the straight, again pull the off cut taught and run the scraper down the edge again, you'll just need a few more downward cuts to finish off the curve. I can usually do this part in less than 15 seconds flat.
If the cut needs a little trimming just run the side of the scarper around the deck again at an angle to clean it up.
Some like to run some off cuts of grip over the griptape just to smooth it off a little, as it can be too grippy when new and stick or catch when flipping the deck. but this is a personal preference.
You can clean the griptape, the better black grip is water proof. Use a little warm water and maybe some detergent with a scrubbing brush. Use as little water as possible to stop from wetting your deck too much, the exposed sides of the deck will take up moisture fast. Of course keep water well away from your trucks, wheels and especially your BEARINGS. Wet the top with warm water this will help get into the dirt fast, scrub the dirt patches and then rinse it off. Dry your deck with a rag or towel fast.