What Can I Use To Lube My Bearings in 2021? – (Detailed Guide)

If you are a beginner skateboarder then you may have heard this from a lot of people “make sure to lube your bearings”. After that, you might be thinking what can I use to Lube my bearings?

What Can I Use To Lubricate Bearings?

Skateboard bearings can be lubricated with oils specifically made for skateboard bearings such as Bones speed cream. However, you shouldn’t use the WD-40 because it is not a lubricant for skateboard bearings.

However, that’s not all because there’s a lot to learn when it comes to properly lubricate your skateboard bearings. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place as in this article, I will tell you how to properly lubricate your skateboard bearings.

In addition to this, you’ll learn what can I use to Lube my bearings? So let’s learn!

Bearings are composed of tiny ball-bearings enclosed in a metal or plastic case. Bearings are used to reduce the friction between surfaces, allowing them to move relative to each other without resistance.

Because of their size and working conditions, bearings must be made from materials that can handle high pressure and heat.

You can use many different materials to lube skateboard bearings (such as Teflon paste, skateboard wax, motor oil, etc.) but I will share my personal favorite with you.

Bones speed cream is specially designed for skateboard bearings and it’s perfect for this job. You can get it on amazon or any other sports store.

How Do You Properly Lubricate Bearings?

The best way to properly lubricate your bearings is by using Bones Speed Cream or skateboard wax.

Bones speed cream is the perfect choice because it was specially designed for skateboard bearings. Also, you can use just about any kind of wax as long as it’s not really yellow or dirty.

Another good alternative is Teflon paste but be careful to use just a tiny bit because too much might cause your bearing to seize up.

To see how to apply wax on bearings to get maximum performance from them, you can check out this article: How to properly lubricate skateboard bearings.

Step 1: Get The Right Tools For The Job

If you want your bearings to last a long time you need to have the right tools for this job.

So first, you should get a decent skateboard bearing cleaning kit that contains all the basic tools needed to properly clean and lube your bearings. For example, you can check out The BONES Bearing Cleaning Unit. 

It’s cheap and has everything you need for this job.

Step 2: Clean The Old Lube And Dirt From Your Bearings

The first step is to get rid of all the dirt and dust that accumulates in your skateboard bearings. To do this, just spray WD-40 into your bearings and then dry them with a paper towel or rag.

After that, repeat this process one more time.

By doing this, you’re removing all the excess dirt from your bearings and also getting rid of any existing lube that might have been left in them from previous applications.

This will ensure that the new lubricant stays where it belongs and doesn’t mix with the old one as it could compromise its performance over time.

Step 3: Apply A Little Bit of Skateboard Wax or Speed Cream

This is one of the most important steps as you can’t just apply a ton of lube and expect it to do its job right. You need to apply a small amount. That’s enough to do 2-3 sets of bearings.

If you are not going to use your skateboard for long distances, then applying more lube can be helpful. Lubricating your bearings will protect them from dirt and dust that collects inside the bearings and reduce the friction between the metal surfaces.

Can You Use Lube To Clean Bearings?

The answer is yes. However, it’s not necessary to clean your bearings after you use lube on them.

It is better if you clean them only when the lubricant has disappeared. Otherwise, there might be dirt in the bearings that will cause them to wear out faster than they should.

To see how to properly clean your skateboard bearings, you can check out this article: How to clean skateboard bearings.

How Often You Should Lubricate My Bearings?

This depends on your style of skating and how often you use them. If you are a beginner skater, I recommend every 2 weeks or 3,000 miles. If not, try to do it once a month.

Bearings are often lubricated with grease or oil to keep them moving smoothly and quietly. However, if the bearings are not sufficiently greased they will wear out more quickly over time which means that you’ll spend money much sooner than expected. 

Can You Use WD-40 to clean Bearings?

No, I would not recommend using WD-40 to clean your bearings. Instead, you should fill a bowl with a mixture of hot water and dishwashing liquid.

Now, put the skateboard wheels into the bowl and let it stay there for about 15 minutes. After that rinse them thoroughly with warm water.   

You can also use rubbing alcohol, but make sure to rinse them with warm water immediately after.

Is Vaseline A Good Lubricant For Bearings?

No, Vaseline is not a good lubricant for skateboard bearings. You should use this only if you have no other choice because it will not provide satisfactory results.

What’s The Best Lubricant For Bearings?

Your two main options are graphite or skateboard wax.

Both of them will help you out, but it really depends on your style of skating and personal preference as well as how often you want to clean your bearings.

With a skateboard wax, you’ll have to clean them after every single use, but it will provide a smooth and fast ride.

On the other hand, graphite bearings are a lot cheaper and you won’t have to clean them as often. However, they might not last as long as skateboard wax if you use them a lot during your skating sessions.  

In general, I would recommend going with wax if you plan on skating every day and going for a graphite one if you’re planning to go out twice a month.

Final Words

So “what can I use to Lube my bearings?” Well, there are many things that you can use to lubricate your skateboard bearings. However, I would highly recommend using the Bones speed cream. It is because it is specifically made for this job and it will not affect the overall performance of your bearings.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article, please let me know if If you need to ask anything let me know in the comments section below!

Thank you, and Happy Skating!