Skateboard Bearing Lubricant Alternatives
If you’re in an attachment, you can attempt homemade alternatives to skateboard bearing lubricants, such as cooking or motor oil, to grease your bearings. To be clear, WD-40 should not be used to attempt to lubricate or grease your bearings because it is a solvent and not a lubricant.
Solvents will shorten your bearings’ lifespan since they will break down the plastics inside the bearing.
One of the most important things to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t use olive oil as a cooking oil on your bearings. However, it is better to do nothing and only use a solvent.
So, if you want to know skateboard-bearing lube alternatives then, we will briefly discuss them in the article below, read out the entire article to know more about it.
What Are the Best Skateboard Bearing Lubricant Alternatives?
One of the other most important things to know if you are a skateboarder is that dirt, dried lubricant as well and debris will destroy your skateboard bearings. So, you need to be focused on it that they never start gathering in the beginning and if they start, you should scrap them out. If you don’t do that then, they will be abrasive such as sandpaper.
Gritty wheels always shorten the lifespan of your bearings so, as mentioned earlier you should keep cleaning your skateboard bearings frequently and lubricate them with a bearing lubricant. Lubricants will also lengthen the lifetime of your skateboard bearing. But, if you don’t lubricate your bearings then, their life will be reduced and you need to change them often.
We would highly recommend you use Bones speed cream but, if you don’t have it then, here are a few alternatives for you:
- Motor Oil
- Vegetable Oil
- Canola Oil
- PAM Cooking Spray
Steps To Clean and Lubricate Your Skateboard Bearings
But, as mentioned earlier you should clean your bearing first, before anything else, and then use any lubricant. Here’s what you should clean in your skateboard and how:
- Your soiled skateboard wheels
- Alcohol or acetone, 91%
- A container, cup, or bowl
- A tiny pin or razor blade to remove the plastic bearing shields.
- A rag
Q-Tips
The above-written products are the ones that you require to clean your bearings however, it’s a too easy process as well as less consuming:
Here are a few steps on how to clean your bearing in less time:
Step 1. Pop off the shields
With a razor blade or bobby pin, you should be able to remove the shields without much difficulty. Don’t stress out if you break it! You should be OK. Just make sure the outer side of the wheel that is visible has a bearing shield when you replace the bearings on the wheels.
Step 2. Soak your bearings in your choice of alcohol or acetone for 15 to 30 minutes
You should now use alcohol while cleaning the bearings and dip your skateboard’s bearings in the alcohol for approximately 30-40 minutes. However, the time will be longer as well.
Step 3: Clean your bearings with a rag and Q-tips
Now, take the bearings out of the alcohol shake them inside a container, and start removing all the dirt over them along with a rag.
Step 4: Grease and reseal your bearings with their shields
Now, if you are done with the cleaning of your beginning then, you should re-grease with any lubricant or any of its alternatives that are mentioned earlier such as oil, cooking spray, etc.
Trusted Skateboard Bearing Lubricants
There are many lubricants specifically designed for the skateboarding market.
Despite what some people seem to believe, not all lubricants are created equal. I can assure you that this is not the case. The majority of them fall between $10 and $15. Bones Speed Cream is the most well-liked brand-name-bearing lubricant among skaters. It is a low viscosity, high-temperature lubrication, so it won’t dry out as soon as other light oils. Other skaters choose to use mild grease in their skateboard bearings rather than oils. The primary reason is that it is easily accessible and at times extends the duration between bearing maintenance needs, as mentioned earlier as well.
Grease vs Oil Lubricants
There are a few differences between grease and oil lubricants, especially when it comes to skateboard bearings. First off, a lot of people discover that their skateboard’s wheels move more quickly after being oiled with oil. Because oil is less viscous and produces less resistance when the bearings are moving. However, oil-lubricated bearings frequently require cleaning and relubrication.
Grease is an excellent option if you’d like not to clean your wheels and bearings as frequently.
You should use bike grease, marine grease, silicone grease, and lithium grease on your skateboard’s bearings. Molybdenum grease can be used if you have any around the house, but it is a bit extreme.
Now, you should spread the lubricant along with a rag while, rolling the bearing back and make sure to keep rolling it until all of the ball bearings are covered. Make sure that it snaps into place as you reinstall it. The plastic seal and all of the metal on the bearing’s outer part should then be greased using a Q-tip. Just enough moisture is needed to avoid rust and to keep it moist.
Can I Use Vaseline on My Skateboard Bearings?
Is it one of the most frequently asked questions about the usage of Vaseline as well as any other kind of petroleum as a lubricant? Even, though many people use it as a lubricant, it’s not recommended and we would also not recommend you to use it, Vaseline might be a better option rather than other than. But, these products are not being made for skateboard bearings and they might also attract dirt, debris, etc which can damage your bearings rather than increase friction.
So, you should avoid using Vaseline as well as petroleum products over your skateboard bearings and buy a proper lubricant for the long life of your skateboard and its bearings.
Conclusion
One of the other most important things to know if you are a skateboarder is that dirt, dried lubricant as well and debris will destroy your skateboard bearings. You must keep cleaning your skateboard bearings frequently and lubricate them with a bearing lubricant. Lubricants will also lengthen the lifetime of your skateboard bearing. But, if you don’t have any lubricant available then, you can also use whatever the lubricant alternatives that are briefly discussed earlier.
So, I hope you like the article and that you have understood everything about skateboard-bearing lubricant alternatives. So, if you want more articles like this, please let us know and appreciate us so we can provide you with more incredible articles like this.
I am a passionate skateboarder and founder of the website dedicated to the skateboarding community. With years of experience riding and exploring various skateparks, I have a wealth of knowledge to share with fellow skateboarders. Through this website, my aims to provide a platform for skaters to connect, learn, and share their experiences.
