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Why are fingerboards so expensive?

You have probably stumbled across the question, “Why are fingerboards so expensive?''

You have probably stumbled across the question, “Why are fingerboards so expensive?”

In a nutshell: all of our products are handmade in Germany guaranteeing 100% high quality material, craftsmanship and quality control. Sometimes the price of a fully equipped fingerskateboard outruns the cost of a full size complete skateboard, making them quite pricey. In this article we will show you how our products are made and what goes into producing a fingerboard.

What does a fingerboard consist of?

Our high-end complete fingerboards consist of a pair of fingerboard trucks, bearing wheels and a wooden fingerboard deck, all of which are crafted in Germany. Our sets come with a professional wooden fingerboard deck, a pair of Blackriver fingerboard trucks and a set of professional bearing wheels.

Why are fingerboard decks so expensive?

Our inhouse brand “Berlinwood” pioneered in manufacturing high quality, state of the art fingerskateboard decks made from real wood.

We are constantly testing new materials, graphics and engravings, as well as widths and shapes. Like normal skateboard decks, Berlinwood decks consist of a tail, nose, and concaves. The shape and standard form have been optimized specially for fingerboarding and fingerboarding tricks. Each of our decks consist of a five-ply-construction made from high quality wooden veneer. This ensures durability and a long-lasting product.

Before going into final construction we had to choose the proper veneer for the job. It had to be durable, colorful and thin enough to be pressed into shape. Since then, we have tested and manufactured decks from maple, bamboo and even plastic compounds. But since wood allows us to be most creative and flexible in designing new shapes and designs we mainly stick to that.

Developing fingerboard graphics

We constantly come up with new graphics for our Berlinwood decks, whether a promodel or a special edition graphic. Each graphic has to be designed and properly laid out for the right deck sizes, as well as tested for color consistency.

Pressing the decks

Maybe you have tried to craft some fingerboard decks yourself. The most critical part is pressing the wood into shape whilst ensuring the right amount of pressure is applied to the deck. During this phase the deck experiences the most force during the whole construction process. This step has to be repeated for each individual deck.

Refining the Decks

After being formed into the proper shape, each deck has to be cut out, refined and polished individually by hand. During this procedure we need to make sure all decks are intact and fully operational. Once each deck has the right width, tail, nose and shape, the holes for the trucks are drilled by hand.
Finally we engrave the Berlinwood logo onto the top-ply and apply the graphics to the bottom.

Why are fingerboard trucks so expensive?

Each of our Blackriver Trucks consists of 12 individual parts that are assembled by hand. The design was taken right from the real thing – fullsize skateboard trucks. We got together with engineers and professional fingerboarders to design a durable, long-lasting truck that was made just for fingerboarding.

Before taking our plans into construction we had to make sure to get the right materials for each component. A real challenge is the production of locknuts, threaded rods and hangers. Because we also offer trucks with different colored bases we needed to figure out the best way of coloring and painting the components.

First, the kingpin and pivot cup are assembled to the base of each truck. These steps are all performed by hand to ensure a perfect fit. Next, the hanger is assembled. During this step a threaded rod is inserted into the hallow hanger, preparing it for further assembly.

Each pair is individually packed and sealed from its assembler, and made available for purchase. The time and detail oriented work of putting together a pair of Blackriver Trucks, explain why they are so expensive.

Why are fingerboard wheels so expensive?

The fingerboard wheels are probably the most important components of each setup. Connecting the fingerboard with the ground. To follow the needs of fingerboarders we have introduced various shapes and sizes of wheels. Each wheel is assembled by hand and is equipped with a high performance bearing wheel.

This step might seem easier than it actually is. After production, each wheel must be checked for mistakes and imperfections. In order to assure that the bearings fit nicely in the wheels, all ridges have to be smoothened. After that, the bearing is pressed in the plastic and the wheel is finally complete. Depending on the model, prints may be added to the sides of each wheel.

Conclusion

It takes hours just to create one complete fingerboard. From pressing the deck and refining it, assembling the trucks and wheels and packing each set into its packaging. Each of the steps are completed by hand to ensure the highest quality products possible. Quality always comes with a certain price-tag. Expensive fingerboards require a lot of attention, which is why you end up with a high quality and long lasting product.

Why are fingerboards so expensive? A comprehensive teardown