Sliding gloves

   Sliding gloves are used for multiple types of sliding. Some slides do not require gloves. First find a heavy duty pair of gloves for $10-$25 at any hardware or clothing store. Sliding glove have pucks stuck to them to make it slide easliy, I used corian countertop material for the pucks (I went to Menards and got 5 samples for free, they were very nice and I asked and they said that they no longer carried it, but they still had samples from when they did), You could use any other strong material that slides easily. It needs to be at least 1 inch long for the finger or thumb pucks, or 2-3 inches for the major big palm pucks. Once these are in your possession cut them to the right dimensions. To attach these pucks to the robust gloves you will need to either use industrial grade velcro (if they need to be replaceable or removable), or it could be glued on. BEWARE if velcro is used the pucks may fall/tear off, so verify the velcro used is industrial grade or very high quality! (I do not recommend velcro!) You may only use 1 sliding glove, or 2 gloves; it all depends on what type of slide you do.

Bumper: Save the Longboard Edges

  If the longboard ever hits anything (ex: Car wheel, house, or a curb) the edges will dent and the plies might even start to peel apart! A longboard bumper will save the ends of the longboard from this phenomena.
To make it, pick up some clear or black rubber tubing (whichever is your preference). Make sure that the tubing is big enough to fit on the board, but small enough that it clamps on the board and does not fall off. Also make sure it is thick enough to absorb the hit. Once the tubing is procured, cut it to the length of the end of the longboard. If the board is curved make slits in the tubing with the scissors about 1/2 way up the tubing, cut out sections right by the slits that are diagonal to the slits, it should look like this:
                                                                           
                                                 /\     /\     /\     /\    

If the board does not have curved edges do not cut slits or sections! This will make it grip WORSE if you have a straight edged board. The tubing that is cut out only needs to be as long as the ends are. The tubing may cost about $5 for a meter or so. A meter should make 5+ bumpers. I have also seen it made from tires.
   The alternative is industrially made bumpers which are heavy duty. These connect to the hardware and extend in front of the board. When you hit a curb going 35 mph and the board has industrially designed bumpers the hardware may break! Before riding any more examine the hardware to make sure that it is not bent or cracked. If you hit a curb going 35 mph with the homemade bumpers you may get a large indent, but nothing compared to if the board did not have bumpers at all. It is possible to make the industrial bumpers if you have a 1/8 inch thick sheet of metal and wielder, just bend it and drill holes in it, pictures are littered all over then internet. Go Longboard!
                    

Parts or part quality.

  By now you should have the longboard glued, cut, epoxied, drilled, and gipped. Now is the time to buy the trucks, bearings, hardware and wheels.

   Bearings: This is the part that holds the wheels on to the trucks. The higher ABEC (see terminology) number, the faster and more precise they are.
 High quality high price: Bones Swiss/Super Swiss $35-$45; Very nice, noiseless, smooth as heck
 Medium/ high quality medium price: Bones Reds $15-$20; Still very nice, barely audible, semi-smooth
 Low quality low price: any bearing on amazon $5-$10; Crappy, or fall apart, loud, bumpy, heat up FAST
To find bearings just go on amazon (beware of chinese knockoffs) or go to the Bones site-        http://bonesbearings.com/

   Trucks: Holds bearings and wheels on to the board; basically just axles and steering. Some turn very well, others are stiff for bombing huge hills/mountains.
 High quality medium price: Gullwings (not sidewinder) $50+; great quality, Trucks for average longboarders.
 High quality medium price: Gullwing sidewinders $55+; Very turny, has 2 bushings so it turns twice as sharp as regular trucks. For these risers are recommended to avoid wheelbite.
 High quality medium price: any Randal's $45+; I use these and they are pretty good trucks; all purpose.
 High quality high price: Original $65+; built in risers, very turnable.
 Low quality low price: Garbage amazon trucks $15-$35; either fall apart or do not turn or break.
Any of these trucks are available at their maker's webpage.

   Wheels: kind of self explanatory. NOT made out of plastic, made of Urethane (Hopefully)!
 High quality high price: Orangatang wheels $55+; great wheels, Cruising wheels
 High quality medium price: No Skoolz $35+; sliding wheels
 Low quality low price: Trashy amazon wheels $5-$15; usually plastic, off center/wobbly
These wheels can be purchased at their maker's webpage

   Hardware: holds the trucks tight on to the board.
 Hardware can be purchased at Ace Hardware, Menard's, Home Depot, or any other hardware store.

   All of the products listed above are only .0001% of all Wheels, Bearings, and Trucks out there. Go for anything that you like, but this is a good guide to get you started.