Skateboard wax can be your best friend if you’re struggling to get to grips with a certain trick or just need a little more support.
It’s cheap, widely available, and if you want to save a few bucks, you can even make it yourself!
How to Use Skateboard Wax
Skateboard wax is not used in the same way that you would use wax on a surfboard or snowboard.
Rather than melting it onto the skateboard to cover the pores and provide a slicker surfing/boarding surface, skateboard wax is often rubbed onto surfaces to make them slippery.
It can also be added to the bottom of the skateboard itself, and for much the same reason.
To apply skateboarding wax, simply rub the bar in your hands and then apply to the bottom of your skateboard or the surface.
If it’s not slippy enough, just use more of it, but be considerate of other skaters (and other peoples’ property) and remember that a slippy surface is more likely to cause injury.
As a beginner, you should use a very small amount of skate wax to determine how easy the skate trick is and how much control you have.
You can increase the amount if you’re able to handle it, but it’s best not to use too much at once.
To remove the wax, you will need wax remover.
It’s usually small enough to carry around with you and will do a good job of removing skate wax.
How to Make Skateboard Wax
Skateboard wax is not expensive, but if you like to save cents and dollars everywhere that you can and enjoy crafting, you can try making your own.
The cheapest way to make skate wax is to gather any old candles that you have.
It doesn’t matter if they are scented or not, and every little helps, so grab them even if there are just scrapings left in the jar.
Preheat your oven to 150 degrees.
Place all of the candle pieces into a bowl and add a teaspoon of olive oil or vegetable oil.
Place the bowl in the oven and watch over it while it melts.
It should take just 10 minutes or so.
The trick is to melt the wax without burning it, so if it looks like it’s starting to burn, remove it immediately.
Place the melted wax in the fridge to harden and there you have it, your very own skate wax!
Alternatively, you can make skateboard wax from beeswax and paraffin.
After combining a mix that has slightly more paraffin than beeswax, and being sure to break them into small chunks, place everything in a pot on the stove.
Watch the wax melt slowly, make sure it doesn’t burn, and then finish by cooling it in the fridge.
Summary: Skate Wax
When using skateboarding wax, remember to use a modest amount and think about other skaters or the property that you’re using it on.
You can’t go around using skate wax on private property and even placing it on public stairs, walls, and sidewalks may cause issues if it leads to someone slipping and falling.
Also, as noted above, the best skateboarding wax is usually available for between $5 and $10 a block and can fit in your pocket, but if you want to save a few bucks, just gather together any remaining skate waxes, candle wax, and other melting wax (including crayons), throw them in a pot, and make your own!
