Skating wheels
Urethane is a chemical that is used on skating wheels which were introduced in the 1970s. It was at this time that skating began being looked at as a real sport, not just something to do when people were bored. Initially, skating wheels were made from steel during the 1900s. Wheels made from urethane are abrasion-resistant and have good traction and grip, as well as being super resilient. They’re fast, too.
To make these skating wheels at home, you’ll need specific types of chemicals and machines to add the urethane chemical groups to a metering machine which will then will heat the chemicals and mix them, creating polyurethane.
If you want color, you will need to add pigment to the polyurethane when it’s in a liquid state.
Adding color could make the wheels weak since the dye will take up some space in the wheel, making it less resilient overall. Without pigment, the wheel will be a white color and slightly clear; this type of wheel is considered the most high performance you can get. (source Exploratorium.edu)
The word polyurethane is probably more more commonly known than the word urethane. The chemical group called urethane has five atoms that are arranged in a specific order.
Polyurethane contains several different urethane groups. When several chemical groups are combined, such as when different urethane chemicals groups are combined to create a polyurethane the resulting product is stronger than the individual ingredients.
Making wheels
- Mix the urethane and chemicals
- Pour the polyurethane into the aluminum wheel molds.
- Remove the wheel molds from the aluminum when the polyurethane has hardened. Place the “wheels” on a flat surface.
- Use a lathe machine to cut the wheel down to the exact size and shape that you want it. This machine will turn the wheel as it’s cutting and remove any extra polyurethane. Make sure that each wheel matches each other, so that all of the skateboard wheels are even.
Urethane
Not every urethane wheel is created equal. They can vary in everything from color and shape to hardness. Softer wheels, which have a lower durometer, are best if you’re going to be skating on hard platforms. Harder wheels will have a higher durometer, which means they’re not able to absorb as much shock, making them better for softer surfaces.
Skating wheels are typically mass-produced in an industrial setting. They are made of polyurethane, a versatile and durable synthetic material. According to some sources, Frank Nasworthy invented polyurethane skating wheels in 1970. With their rubber-like grip on the pavement, polyurethane wheels expanded the potential in ways that skating could be done. Different types of polyurethane wheels vary mainly in terms of their durometer, diameter, color, and shape. The durometer is a measure of how hard the wheel is. Soft wheels, best for cruising on hard surfaces, have low durometers, such as 87A. Hard wheels, which absorb little shock, have a higher durometer, like 100A. The diameter is the height of the wheel. Making polyurethane skating wheels involves the use of specialized chemicals and machinery. This process is indicative of the basic industrial processes by which polyurethane wheels are made.
Polyurethane
- Mix a batch of polyurethane.
- Combine the chemical components of the polyurethane in the appropriate proportions in a metering machine. A metering machine is a machine that heats, mixes and dispenses polyurethane.
- Add color. When the polyurethane in the metering machine is a liquid, add dye or some other type of pigment to the batch. This is only necessary if you want your wheels to have a color.
- Pour polyurethane into molds. The molds should be made of aluminum and reflect the shape and size you want your wheels to be.
- Remove the polyurethane “slugs” from the mold after the polyurethane has solidified. Slugs are the basic, unfinished form of your polyurethane wheels. Place the slugs on a flat surface to fully cure.
- Shape the wheel. Use a lathe to cut the slug into shape. The sides and riding surface of the wheels should be cut to match each other exactly. A lathe is a piece of machinery that turns an object as it shapes it. In this case the lathe turns the slug as it cuts away excess polyurethane.
Tips
- Heat is not necessarily required to mix polyurethane, though it may produce a higher quality wheel.
- The use of tire softeners has been controversial in many racing arenas. This chemical mixture makes tires softer, allowing them to better grip the racetrack. Pre-mixed softeners are heftily priced per gallon, and many participants use a gallon a week. Given this, it is not uncommon for people to make a homemade solution. Fortunately, making tire softener is an extremely simple process.
- Mix together a solution composed of 1/3 acetone, 1/3 mineral spirits and 1/3 transmission fluid. Be sure to create mixture in a well-ventilated area.
- Apply mixture to tires using rag or a paint roller.
- Allow tires to soak in mixture 15 to 30 minutes before racing.
- Consider using masks and gloves to ensure the least amount of contact with the tire softener solution.
Note: Ingredients used in tire softeners can be dangerous and should always be used with caution.