The quality of a fingerboard wheel is only as good as the quality of its bearing. Finding and sourcing the best bearings is not that easy, so this guide aims to provide some advice.
This is my fifth post-mortem article on wheel manufacturing. You can find the list of articles at this link.
Preamble
The bearings used in fingerboard manufacturing have the reference 681XZZ, with the following dimensions: Internal diameter: 1.5 mm External diameter: 4 mm Width: 2 mm
The ABEC standard
The ABEC standard is a standard that applies to bearings. ABEC 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9 are grades that indicate the quality of the bearing.
This standard actually indicates the degree of manufacturing precision of the bearing. An ABEC 3 bearing will work for basic applications, while an ABEC 9 bearing will be used for machines with very precise movements.
In skateboarding and fingerskating, we often hear that the higher the bearing grade, the better the “glide,” but the reality is different. Skateboarding and fingerskating are tough on bearings, and if they take a beating, they can become deformed. A deformed ABEC 9 bearing is a destroyed bearing, while a deformed ABEC 3 bearing can still function.
The perfect balance between stability, smoothness, and resistance is not necessarily found in the standard (even if ABEC 3, 5, and 7 are preferred for skateboarding and fingerskating), but in the manufacture of the bearing and the reliability of the manufacturer.
Purchasing bearings
In China
China is the easiest place to purchase bearings. They can be found everywhere, on Aliexpress, Alibaba, or even Amazon France. Generally, if the bearing is inexpensive, it comes from China, where the price can be double or even triple that of a European bearing, for example.
Be wary of the ABEC standards advertised by bearing sellers in China, especially if they also sell finger skate equipment. Grading bearings according to the ABEC standard requires very specific machines, and some of these manufacturers simply name their bearings arbitrarily.
Be careful with samples. For example, I received some very good quality samples, but when the shipment arrived, the bearings were not the same. With some sellers, it is difficult to be sure of the quality.
Advantages:
- Cheap (less than one euro per bearing in general)
- Good for prototyping
Disadvantages:
- Unless you pay a high price, Chinese bearings are often of very poor quality.
- No guarantee from one shipment to the next.
- ABEC standards are sometimes unreliable.
- Manufacturing processes are sometimes poorly controlled.
In France
There are some very good bearing manufacturers in France. The best I have found are “ZEN” bearings. Made in France, they manufacture 681XZZ bearings, which are very good quality.
However, they are not cheap, costing between €2.50 and €4 per bearing.
Advantages:
- Very good quality
Disadvantages:
- Very expensive (€2.50 to €4 per bearing)
Germany and Japan
In France, it is easy to buy bearings made in Germany, where the bearing industry is well developed and bearings are slightly cheaper than in France. However, I do not have any particular companies to recommend.
Some major finger skate wheel brands source their bearings from Japan, which is also a major bearing manufacturer. I don't have any companies to recommend either, but be careful with taxes and customs, which can be very expensive, especially if you don't have a VAT number.
Why is it so difficult to find the right bearing reference?
To ensure the quality of a company's bearings, you have to order several ranges, and there is often a minimum order quantity (MOQ). Combined with the fact that you have to try several companies before finding the right one, the cost can quickly add up.
During my tests, I tried five different companies, including three in China. For 200 bearings, I spent around €150, excluding shipping costs. All this to end up with just one reference.