Classic Skates Restoration: How to Restore Old Roller Skates Like a Pro! - Hello Roller Girl

So maybe you inherited some old roller skates from a relative or grandma, and recently, you found them out in an abandoned, dusty place while cleaning the backyard. Or maybe you just never cared for them until now. Whatever the case may be, it’s time you put those skates back into some good use.

What if they are dusty and you don’t know what to do to get it back rolling? What if they are too old and worn out? We will teach you how to restore old roller skates like a Pro.

First off, roller skates are never really too old to wear or use as far as they are still in great shape. A few repairs and upgrades here and there will get it back on.

Here are some tips to restore your old roller skates.

Give Them a Good Wipe Down

Cleaning the skate boot is a good way to start. You wouldn’t want to use the skate with all the specks of dust and dirt and cobwebs on them.

Also, check the laces. If they are also dirty, then you need to loosen them up for a wash. If they are feeling worn, you should probably think of replacing them.

If the skate boots are leather, you may want to re-dye the leather to make them look vibrant and lustrous. All you need is some Magic Eraser or some foamy solution to make those skate boots radiant.

If the skate boots are suede instead of leather, all you need to do is a wash with soapy water and a light washer. Your skate boots will start to glow.

Check If They the Right Size

After giving your old school skates some deep clean, the next thing is to check if they still fit. Skating with the right size not only brings comfort but maximizes your skating performance.

Skates that are too small will cramp your feet and cause you all manner of problems such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, etc. Skating in oversized skates will slow you down. In fact, wearing the wrong size skates can cause you discomfort in varying degrees.

That is why you need to make sure your old skates are of the right size. If they are not size, you shouldn’t bother wearing them.

Check the Wheels

The next thing to do to get your skates back on track is to check if the wheels are still intact or excellent for skating. It may sound so simple, but wheels impact the performance of rolling. Without them, you won’t roll well.

You need to be sure if you want to skate indoors or outdoors. But first, you need to determine the type of skate wheel the old skates possess. Skates’ wheels with a durometer rating above 85A are called hard wheels, and they are best suited for indoor skating.

Why? Because hard wheels grip better on indoor surfaces like a roller skating rink, courts, etc.

Skate’s wheels that have a durometer rating below 85A are called soft wheels, and they are best suited for road surfaces like concrete, asphalt, sidewalks, etc.

The durometer rating is usually written on the side of the wheel, which will help you realize if you want to skate indoors or outdoors.

It’s simple! If the skates have soft wheels and skate on roller rinks and courts, switch to hard wheels. If you want to become an outdoor skater, all you need to do is to replace the wheels with softer wheels if they have hard wheels.

Remember to avoid super cheap wheels. They will wear down quickly.

Check the Shape

If the skates have the right wheels but look awkward in shape (not round) and have different sizes, you may need to replace them.

Since it’s been long those skates last rolled, heat and other factors resulting from storage may have impacted them.

The wheels may have been worn out due to frequent usage. Also, it’s possible that the previous owner didn’t rotate it, resulting in its awkward-looking shape.

Skating with that kind of wheels will hamper your performance because they will force you to skate on the edge of the wheel. Eventually, this action will cause you some foot pain.

It would be best if you replaced those damaged wheels immediately. Replacing a wheel might cost you approximately $20, depending on the wheel’s brand and material.

Are the Bearings Okay?

Bearings are what allow your wheels to spin. Bearings are as paramount as the wheels when it comes to roller skates.

Bearings make it super easy for you to roll smoothly, meaning you don’t have to put in all the hard work to skate. If the wheels’ bearings are low-quality, rusty, or just very ancient, they might make rolling a bit tough.

All you need is a new set of bearings. Remember, each wheel consist of two bearings, making it a total of eight if it’s a quad roller skate or sixteen if it’s inline skates.

Like wheels, avoid low-quality or incredibly inexpensive bearings. New, good quality bearings will cost up to $100. High-quality ones may cost up to $400.

Remember, you need to clean the bearings from time to time, at least every three to six months, depending on how frequent you skate. If you don’t know how to clean or fix your bearings, don’t worry. We will discuss that before the end of this article.

And What About the Frames?

Apart from the wheels and bearings, the frame or plate is another crucial component of roller skates.

Wheels are attached to the skate boot via the frame. This frame can either be aluminum or nylon.

You need to check if the frames are in good shape. We advise that you change them, irrespective of their condition. You may still need to change them sooner than later anyway.

The type of plate material roller skates possess has a great impact on flexibility and body weight. For instance, nylon frames can’t take much of the bodyweight because they are lightweight. However, they allow greater flexibility.

On the other hand, skates with aluminum frames allow them to accommodate more bodyweight because they are heavy. This is beneficial for adults that are over 100kg.

The downside of nylon frames is the upside of aluminum frames. While nylon frames offer great flexibility, aluminum frames don’t. However, aluminum frames offer greater durability than nylon frames.

It all depends on the skater. If the skates possess aluminum frames and you prefer nylon frames because of your low body weight, you can either change them yourself or take them to a repair shop.

Whatever the case may be, avoid buying cheap nylon frames and aluminum plates. They will not only hamper your skating performance but cost you more money on replacements in the long run.

Check the Brake

Check if the brake is worn out. If it is, you should consider replacing it immediately.

You may find yourself going from one store to the other, looking for replacement brake pads. The fact is many companies don’t make replacement brake pads for their products, and there are no universal brake pads available yet.

Only a few companies make replacement brake pads, so you need to check the brake maker, and you might be lucky to get replacement brake pads.

If otherwise, you either machine it to fit or throw it away and forget about skating with a brake.

How to Clean/Replace the Bearings In Roller Skates Wheels

These tips will show you how to clean and replace the bearings in your skates wheels conveniently without taking your skates to a shoe repair shop.

First off, you need to remove the wheel. Grasp the nuts with pliers and rotate anticlockwise to loosen. Avoid loosening the small metal disc between the axle and the wheel.
Put the wheel partially onto the axle so that it only touches the first bearing. Turn the wheel to remove free the bearing from its hold.
Repeat the above steps to remove the other bearing. Remember, there are two bearings attached to one wheel.
At this point, you can decide to clean them if they are dirty or replace them with a new bearing.
Put the new bearing onto the axle with its cover facing the ground. The cover has a different color from the rest of the bearing and protects the inside from dirt.
Fix the wheel on the axle and force it down on the bearing. This will make the bearing clip into the socket.
Repeat the steps for the other bearing.
Ensure the wheel’s decals are facing outward and not inward. Place the wheel back onto the axle.
Replace the nut onto the axle and use your pliers to tighten it. Rotate clockwise until a little bit tight.
Repeat the above steps to clean or replace the bearings in other wheels.

Conclusion

Restoring your old roller skates isn’t a difficult thing to do. It can be super exciting and fun, making your old skates look vibrant and new.

However, you should know that it will cost you money to repair your old skates. Maybe it will actually cost you more than they are worth. The essential thing is to evaluate and decide if you really want to go down that road of carrying out repairs or invest in a new pair of skates.