Learn the craft

Fingerboard guides from the Lab.

Straight answers on sizing, concave, trucks, bushings, and pressing your own decks — written by people who actually skate them.

Not sure what a term means? Check the glossary →
Sizing·6 min read

Fingerboard Sizing Guide: 32mm vs 34mm vs 36mm Decks Compared

Fingerboard sizes 29mm to 36mm compared side-by-side, with a quick chart, hand-fit tips and which width to pick for the tricks you actually skate.

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Building·7 min read

How to Press a Fingerboard Deck With a Mold

Press your first fingerboard deck at home. Plies, glue, mold clamping, cure time and finishing - the beginner-friendly guide with the mistakes to avoid.

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Building·6 min read

Fingerboard Concave Explained: Low vs Medium vs High Concave

What is fingerboard concave? Low, medium and high concave compared - the feel of each under your fingers and how to pick your first deck's curve.

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Buying·6 min read

How to Choose Fingerboard Trucks: Width, Bushings & Sizing

Single axle or double axle fingerboard trucks? A plain-English comparison of truck styles, widths, bushings and kingpins - how to pick right first time.

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Tuning·7 min read

Fingerboard Bushings Guide: Durometer, Shape & Tuning

Understand fingerboard bushing durometer (Shore A), cone vs barrel shapes, and how to tune truck tightness for the exact turning feel you want.

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Buying·6 min read

Fingerboard vs Tech Deck: What's Actually Different (2026)

Fingerboards and Tech Decks look similar but perform very differently. Compare deck material, trucks, wheels, and feel to see what sets them apart.

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Buying·7 min read

Best Fingerboard Setup for Beginners: Complete Buying Guide

Not sure what to buy first? Here is the ideal beginner fingerboard setup: deck width, concave, bushings, and grip tape, plus complete vs build-it.

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Reference·4 min read

Fingerboard Truck-to-Deck Width Compatibility Chart

Quick reference chart matching fingerboard truck width to deck width across 29-36mm, so your setup turns, flips, and grinds the way it should.

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Building·6 min read

Fingerboard Deck Materials Explained: Maple Plies & Veneer

Learn how 5-ply maple veneer construction, ply count, wood grade, and press molds determine a fingerboard deck's pop, flex, and long-term durability.

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Tuning·5 min read

How to Clean and Maintain Fingerboard Bearings and Wheels

Step-by-step guide to cleaning fingerboard bearings with isopropyl alcohol, proper drying, re-lubrication with light oil, and how often to repeat the process.

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Buying·7 min read

Wooden Fingerboard Ramps: DIY & Buying Guide

Build a fingerboard park from wood: ramp templates, obstacle sizes, materials list and finish tips - with cheap and no-tools options for beginners.

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Buying·5 min read

Fingerboard Grip Tape Guide: Foam vs Sandpaper-Style

The best fingerboard grip tape for your setup: foam vs sandpaper-style compared, application tips and how to pick for feel, grip and cost.

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Tuning·6 min read

How to Tune Fingerboard Trucks for Speed vs Stability

Adjust fingerboard truck tightness and bushings the right way - a step-by-step tuning guide balancing speed against control, with per-setup examples.

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Buying·9 min read

Which Fingerboard Mold Should You Buy? Concave, Kick and Piece Count Compared

Compare fingerboard molds by concave depth, kick height, piece count and material. A decision guide to picking the right press mold for how you actually skate.

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Buying·7 min read

Fingerboard Bearings Guide: What Matters (and What Is Marketing)

Fingerboard bearings compared honestly: ABEC ratings are largely marketing at this scale. Learn what matters — fit, seals and cleanliness — and how to pick.

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Tuning·6 min read

Fingerboard Wheel Durometer Explained: Soft, Medium and Hard Wheels Compared

Fingerboard wheel durometer decoded. The A-scale numbers (78A–101A), what soft, medium and hard wheels do differently, and which durometer suits how you skate.

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Tuning·6 min read

Fingerboard Foam Tape Explained: Foam Grip vs Standard Grip Tape

Foam-style fingerboard tape (FBS-style pads) versus standard sandpaper-grip tape: what each does, when to use which, and how to apply either without air bubbles.

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Building·8 min read

How to Build a Fingerboard Bowl: DIY Guide with Materials and Templates

Build your own fingerboard bowl at home. Materials, tools, dimensions and step-by-step for a plywood or MDF mini-bowl, plus finish and coping options.

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Building·5 min read

Fingerboard Grind Rail Setup: Positioning, Wax and Approach

How to set up a fingerboard grind rail so tricks actually work — height, wax, spacing from ramps and the two mistakes that make every rail feel wrong.

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Buying·7 min read

Best Fingerboard Obstacles Compared: What to Buy, in What Order

A honest comparison of the main fingerboard obstacle types — ramps, rails, ledges, boxes, stairs and bowls — with what each one teaches and the order to buy them in.

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Buying·6 min read

How to Upgrade Your Tech Deck: What to Swap, and When to Buy a Real Fingerboard

A Tech Deck upgrade path: which parts to swap first for the biggest improvement, which upgrades aren't worth it, and when to stop upgrading and buy a real fingerboard.

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Building·7 min read

Blank Fingerboard Decks: Choosing, Painting and Sealing

A guide to blank fingerboard decks — why builders choose them over graphic decks, what to look for when buying, and how to paint and seal one that lasts.

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Tuning·6 min read

Fingerboard Wheels Explained: Bearing, Urethane and Resin Compared

Fingerboard wheel types compared honestly. Bearing wheels, urethane wheels and resin wheels — what each is made of, how they feel, and which to buy first.

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Tuning·5 min read

Fingerboard Riser Pads Explained: What They Do and When You Need Them

Fingerboard riser pads explained. What risers do to your setup, when they help pop, when they hurt turning, and whether you actually need them.

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Buying·6 min read

Fingerboard Deck Shapes Compared: Popsicle, Cruiser and Old-School

Fingerboard deck shapes compared: popsicle, cruiser and old-school. What each feels like, which tricks each does best, and which suits your style.

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Tuning·7 min read

Fingerboard Truck Base Angles and Kingpins Explained

Fingerboard truck base angles and kingpins explained. How the hanger angle changes turning, and when to tune the kingpin vs swap the truck.

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Building·6 min read

5-Ply vs 7-Ply Fingerboard Decks: Weight, Pop and Feel Compared

5-ply vs 7-ply fingerboard decks compared honestly. How ply count changes pop, weight and durability, and which suits how you actually skate.

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Tuning·4 min read

Fingerboard Ledge Wax Guide: What to Use and How to Apply

Fingerboard ledge wax explained: which wax works, how much to apply, when a ledge is over-waxed, and how to strip it if you need to reset.

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Building·7 min read

How to Assemble a Fingerboard: Trucks, Wheels and Grip Step by Step

How to assemble a fingerboard from parts, step by step. Fitting trucks, wheels, bushings and grip tape — with the beginner mistakes to avoid.

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Tuning·5 min read

Fingerboard Trucks Falling Off? Fix Stripped Holes and Loose Trucks

Fingerboard trucks falling off or wobbling loose? Diagnose stripped holes, wrong screw length and warped plates — and fix each without a new deck.

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Reference·6 min read

How to Ollie on a Fingerboard: The First Trick, Step by Step

How to ollie on a fingerboard, step by step. Finger placement, the pop-and-drag motion, common failures and drills to land your first clean ollie fast.

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Reference·6 min read

How to Kickflip on a Fingerboard: From Ollie to Flip Trick

How to kickflip on a fingerboard. The flick motion, finger placement, common failures, and the drills to your first kickflip after ollies.

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Reference·6 min read

How to Grind on a Fingerboard: Board Slides and Truck Locks

How to grind on a fingerboard. The three trick families - truck-locks, board slides and lipslides - with finger placement, wax and approach for each.

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Reference·5 min read

How to Manual on a Fingerboard: Nose, Tail and Balance Tricks

How to manual on a fingerboard. Nose manuals, tail manuals, and the finger-pressure control that turns balance tricks from luck into consistency.

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Reference·8 min read

Fingerboard Trick Glossary: 30 Trick Names Explained

A plain-English fingerboard trick glossary. 30 trick names organised by family - ollies, flips, grinds, slides, manuals and rotations - with what each is.

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Reference·6 min read

A Short History of Fingerboarding: From Novelty to Global Scene

How fingerboarding grew from a novelty in skate videos to a global scene with real brands, championships and a 43,000-member subreddit. The short history.

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Reference·5 min read

Fast Fingers World Championship: What It Is and How It Runs

The Fast Fingers World Championship explained. Where it's held, how it runs, recent winners, event format, and how to attend or compete as a rider.

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Reference·5 min read

Fingerboarding in Winter: Cold-Weather Setups and Snow Novelties

Winter fingerboarding practicalities. What cold does to grip tape, bearings and wax, indoor session tips, and the snow fingerboard novelty.

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Reference·5 min read

How to Start a Fingerboard Club or Meetup: A Practical Guide

How to start a fingerboard club or meetup. Finding riders, picking a venue, hosting first sessions, and keeping a small group active for the long run.

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Reference·6 min read

How to Film Your Fingerboard Tricks: Setup, Angles and Editing

How to film fingerboard tricks that look sharp. Phone settings, angle placement, lighting, slow-motion frame rates, and editing basics for social clips.

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Reference·7 min read

Custom Fingerboard Design Guide: File Types, Sizes & Tips

How to prepare your artwork for a custom fingerboard deck — accepted file formats, recommended resolution, what makes a great graphic, and turnaround expectations.

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