You know that emery, sandpaper-like sheet glued to your skateboard’s deck, yep that’s the grip tape. It is used for securing your legs, providing friction between your feet and the deck to allow for better balance. But as you use the board often, the grip tape begins to wear off and hence, requires replacement.
Normally, skaters take the boards to professionals for replacement, but do you know you can replace these sheets by yourself—perfectly! Here are the basic outlines to follow that save you from a continual visit to the skate shop.
- Get the necessary tools or equipment nearby for easy access and use; these tools include a cutting tool preferably a razor blade, hair dryer or heating gun, sandpaper, and unscrewing tools to detach the trucks from the decks. This process is to ensure you have a flat board devoid of wheels for easy grip tape removal.
- After detaching the truck, use the razor blade to remove the edges of the tape from the deck
- Use the hairdryer to soften the glue underneath the grip tape
- Remove the grip tape after heating
- Use the sandpaper to remove any residues on the board for a smoother, neater look and feel.
For more clarifications on the above ways, here are the details involved in the processes.
Steps on how to get Grip tape glue off your skateboard
Choosing the right environment
Peeling off a grip tape on a skateboard requires extensive movement, that is your body needs to move in different ways to properly rip it off at once. This means there is a need to choose a large space that allows for a lot of movement. I suggest your garage, backyard, or anywhere that has a large expanse of space.
Avoid places that house kids or places with consistent human movement to avoid injuries that may be due to the mishandling of sharp objects.
Assemble the required tools
As mentioned earlier, gather the needed tools properly before starting. This will allow for easy retrieval, coordination and comfort. Ensure the cutting tools are disinfected and sharp for easy slicing. Also, locate a safe nearby socket to supply power to the hairdryer.
Detach the trucks from the skateboard
Skateboard trucks are those attached metals beneath the boards that allow for proper wheel placement and define the movement of the skates. Although the removal may not be necessary for others, I advise you should as the reattachment is pretty easy and it makes balancing due to the peeling easy.
Using the razor blade on the edges
The function of a razor blade is to lift off the glued edges from the board for easy pulling. Gently use the blades to lift off the edges all around the skate by creating a cut 1 to 3 inches in width.
I understand the cut might not be perfect and may look jagged, still do so as this is one of the most important steps—speaking from an experience.
Using the heat dryer to melt the glue
The glue is applied between the grip tape and the skateboard deck for strength and can only be dissolved by heat, hence the need for a hairdryer.
Locate a safe socket and plug in the dryer; turn it on and direct the nozzle to the grip tape. Ensure the heat penetrates the tape to properly soften or melt the glue beneath.
Removing the grip tape
This is where the trick comes in as a clean removal depends on the positioning of the person, the melted glue, and how the grip tape is yanked out. The removal aims to ensure the tape comes out at once and not in patches. Cleaning up the PVC film or patches requires two times the effort and that is something you and I don’t want to involve in.
A normal skate has two sides—the left and the right the trick here is to position your feet on the opposite side of the deck when you are about to yank out the other opposite side. In simpler terms, it means your foot on the left side holding the board down and your hands on the right side of the grip tape ripping it off. Do this to the other side also.
This position creates a balance and allows the tape to come off easily as double the effort has been applied rather than using one hand. If it becomes hard to pull, use the hair dryer to heat the tough region and try again, it should become easier.
I promise this may not be successful if this is your first trial, but you know what—it’s okay as the next will be better.
Cleaning the edges and missed spots
No matter how long you have been putting and pulling grip tapes, there are bound to be some missed spots sometimes. To clean off these spots use sandpaper to even them out completely. Ensure you clear the board properly to allow for the easy placement of the next grip tape.
How do I remove the grip tape glue from the board?
There is nothing I despise more than the after stickiness of the board when the grip tape has been removed. After research and experiments, I have concluded that various liquids can get off the glue. These liquids are WD-40, denatured alcohol, lighter fluid.
Other liquids include baby oil, goo went, duct tape, and pencil erasers, PVC pipe cleaning liquid.
WD-40
Every garage owner owns a WD-40 product for their automobile parts, but do you know it is one of the most effective goo removal on skateboards.
Use a washcloth or a Terry cloth and apply a substantial amount of the liquid, use it to scrub off the goo area. This product saves you from scrubbing or any agitation and leaves the board sparklingly clean.
Alcohol
Alcohol, the denatured one, is one of the most important liquid to own; they have various uses and one includes removing the glue off the grip tape. Their components or constitutes include chemicals that can break down glue or stickiness properly.
Pour the alcohol on the surface and allow the glue to soak for a little when scrap off the glue immediately as the alcohol would have broken down the sticky constituents making it easy to remove.
Lighter fluid
Lighter fluid contains butane, an organic compound, operates like alcohol. It breaks down stickiness immediately and only requires wiping off to show your sticky-free board.
Get the lighter fluid and pour generously on the board, wait for some minutes and wipe off.
Pencil Erasers
Asides from clearing pencil marks from books, do you know you can clean the sticky part on the skateboard using a pencil eraser. Yes, you heard right, a pencil eraser! Start by using the erasers against the affected parts.
This method is cheaper and can only be used on small glue patches that require quick brushing off.
Baby oil
A lot of skaters swear by baby oil as the ultimate glue remover; not only does smell nice, it’s cheaper to buy and safer on the skin.
Pour some baby oil on the patches and wait for some minutes, use a paper towel to wipe off the glue and tada!, the deck is pretty once again.
Can I get grip tape without using a hairdryer on a skateboard?
Yes, for those wondering, you can most definitely clean without a hairdryer. Although, the ease that accompanies an air dryer won’t be included. The process to follow is almost similar to the above-mentioned steps, except for the mention of the hairdryer and the cutting technique.
Rather than cutting short edges around the board only, the cutting technique will include making straight cuts that cut across the board. The vertical cuts should be across both sides which will eventually prompt you to remove them easily.
I suggest you employ the service of a professional if you are unable to find a hairdryer or heating gun to make things less complicated.
What not to do when getting grip tape glue off a skateboard
Using the fire method
This method is viral for just one thing, the danger it possesses and not the help it intends to offer. There is no way a skater wouldn’t encounter this strange method either through the heavily optimized SEO video, or proffered by someone who once swore he tried it.
I am here to debunk any success story of this method as it spells out the word dangerous. For those who need to know, it involves pouring a generous amount of isopropyl alcohol on the deck of the skateboard and setting it on fire to remove the grip tape.
Not only does it sound outrageous, but it also is dangerous and if it must be performed, only professionals should partake in it.
There is a high risk of being burnt badly and also a greater chance of the fire spreading to other parts of the building uncontrollably causing an outbreak.
Not performing a patch test
When skaters are about to apply liquids to get rid of the aftermath of the grip tape, they should perform a patch test on themselves and the skateboard. This test should reveal whether the liquid is compatible with their skin in case of any future contact and also compatible with their skates. Does the liquid wash off or affect the designs or cause the wood to look bad?
A patch test, as its name suggests, is testing a material using a small amount of space on the receiving material. Do not use liquids that may mess up the board, ensure that is safe for you and the skateboard.
Blunt cutting tools
What is worse than sharp objects, a blunt one! Ensure the cutting tools, most especially, the blades are sharp enough to go through the grip tapes. There should be no need to force the blades in and out or make a constant inscription on a particular place before it splits. Also, don’t forget to dispose of the clips if they ever get infected (that is cut through your skin) and finally replace the tools to their original position after using them.
When to seek professionals help?
It is okay to seek professionals help when the going gets tough and some of the conditions include:
I don’t have a heating gun or hairdryer
The heating gun or hairdryer is the equipment that melts the adhesive beneath which then allows you to rip it off easily. If you are unable of gaining access to one, I suggest you hand over the replacement to a professional who will do this in a short time.
The grip tape got stuck when I was pulling it out
I understand during the removal, the adhesives may become too strong and cause difficulty. If you have tried heating the tough areas regularly, and it still doesn’t give a budge, I suggest you leave it to a professional to complete what you started.
The PVC film did not come off with the grip tape
This is the worst that could ever happen. Getting rid of that film alone will require hours of effort and as an individual, I don’t see you giving it that much of your time. So to solve this case, quickly drop it off at the professional’s shop and come back for it.
I can’t seem to get rid of the patches.
Having multiple small patches all around the board infuriates the average skater—like why wouldn’t it come off in a clean sweep. I understand you have been battling with one patch with your razor blade for hours, you should drop it off at the professionals and call it a day—don’t you think?
Conclusion
Before you apply any generous amount of a liquid, ensure you remove the trucks beneath and do a test patch to avoid any chemical reaction that may lead to damage to any part of your skateboard. The above steps should give a detailed picture of how to perform the removal at home.
