SHIELDLESS SKATEBOARD BEARINGS | WHAT'S the DEAL?

In today's video we're talkin about skateboard bearings without shields. whether you removed them or they came that way. what's your opinion on them??

[@edmundleung2098]

Bearings are not designed and manufactured especially important for skateboarding. They are used inside drills, and fans and stuff and bearings lasts longer then the machine itself. I would be very surprised if they constitute +/- 0.1 % of rolling capability when lubed, not lubed or clean not clean. You have 8 of these under your feet. I am not a street skater but I go parks to watch folks doing tricks. I am also a sound engineer and guitar player. I understand how audio works in terms of human hearing. It is happening in mostly in subconscious level. Putting everything aside for now, just focus on the hearing. Your hearing determines the feel of speed and it is more precise then most realized. It contributes to a judgement where you decide if it is going to be a bail, a land and a crash in milliseconds. This is the magic of audio cue. You folks can test this put by wearing a noise canceling headphones with mysic blasting out which drowns out all extrenal sound from the environment and feel the difference. Most street skater have their wheel loose and have no spacers. Some prefer it without washers. If you have your wheel loose, the spacers and washers have no particular "rolling" function but it changers the soundscape of the board. It is like a guitarist dealing in the gain knob of the amp by less then one degree to get the sound he/she feels on stage and/or recording. I also notice mountain bikers choose the back wheel hub woth sound as the criteria. For road bike folks, less so, most road bikers have a speedometer. I don't 'play' with skateboard much. I don't leave home without it. It is my main transport that shorten my walk from 20 minute to 5 minutes in a fun way. I have soft cruiser wheel with old school japan bearings and clamp tight on the wheels to minimize noise. I alway have noise cancelation on max for a nice gliding cruise to and from work. But for sure, if I am late for a session, i take them off and can ride much faster snd carve for much more assurance if I can hear more clearly of what the wheels are doing.

[@stickersteve007]

holy crap what a comment! that's some insight. so you're sayin that the sound is actually an important aspect? direct feedback from the board to the brain. like braille for the ear

[@netmatrix75]

Bearings are not supposed to run without lubricant. As it will generate heat. You also have to deal with material wear that causes imbalance and loss of performance. But because skating is not like machines that needs nigh precision, speed and efficiency. Skaters only run in low revolutions that hardly heat up the bearing way past the material strength. You will still get material wear though. But you will never feel that because you do not run center balancing spacers between the bearings. The slack is all taken up by the wheel being torqued up by the nut. Try using these un shielded used bearings a spacer on brand new wheels, and the whole wheel rattles. If you use un shielded bearings on downhill boards... you are seriously asking for a whole worlds of hurt & trouble.

[@stickersteve007]

@netmatrix75 see for downhill boards I could see the need for shields, and probably ceramic bearings

[@chrhadden]

i stopped reading as soon as you said not a skater.your three paragraph rant about guitars is in the wrong spot

[@-AstroLogical-]

​@@chrhadden He's the infamous Skatepark Sound Engineer, The sounds, he sees and the light, he hears. Through surfing the noise, He became a pro, No bearings on his wheels, Only audio.

[@zabnuk8447]

I mean, working on machines, I can tell you you want shields on your bearing if what you're looking for is durability. Grease is hydrophobic, keeps moisture out, prevents rust buildup. Shields keep dirt and grime out. Grease will deteriorate after years, but like any synthetic product, it will be fine for about the next millennium. Also just like a drunken Saturday night with the ole ball and chain, lubrication is key. Now I do agree, dry bearings do sound better, but what we hear is friction, and friction is not our friend when what we look for is smoothness and durability. Dry bearings do spin longer, but not smoother.

[@zabnuk8447]

now i can't talk on ceramics, don't have experience on it, but steel ball bearings i know.

[@stickersteve007]

i totally understand both sides. a lot of skateboarding comes down to feeling, and i think this is another example of that. i think the ceramics definitely have an advantage in this case. i believe the Bronson Raw's are Tungston coated. if people like the shieldless route i steer em towards the Raw's

[@collencal4662]

@zabnuk8447 Facts 💯

[@zabnuk8447]

That changes things a bit, tungstene will not rust unless its basically on the sun temperature wise, and its also super hard which prevents wear some. But metal on metal would still work better with lubrication. Just not sound as cool @@stickersteve007

[@allgold3rrthang]

Facts

[@allgold3rrthang]

Been skating for over 25 years. Never popped my shields. It’s one thing if you’re a pro and get free bearings but if you’re spending good money on them, keep the shields on. I have a set of bones Swiss that are 7 years old and still going strong due to once a year maintenance.

[@stickersteve007]

I'm not a pro. These Raw's are goin strong 💪

[@nunyabusiness896]

Also been skateboarding 25 years, I kept them on and even had crimped shields in some cases, but after trying shieldless, I'll never go back. Too many cases of the shields popping off and causing friction against the truck or axle nut and slowing the board down randomly. Also much easier to rejuvenate them without shields as it's hard to get gunk out with crimped shields and once again removable shields generally will come off on their own. Bearings are cheap, dude, I think you can afford $20 every year even if it did shorten the life, but so far I find my bearings are lasting longer and staying faster without the shields.

[@stickersteve007]

@@nunyabusiness896 preach it dude!

[@chrhadden]

i have been skating 38 years and it wont hurt anything to take them off. it will never hurt to clean them as long as you do it right. it gives the dirt an escape and sounds killer just like all the pros said. you know PROFESSIONALS? the best of us

[@chrhadden]

i have bearings i ride on the streets of Philadelphia almost every day. i dont know many grimier places to skate. no shields and i get a good year and a half. i dont know about ceramic bearings yet i just got them summer 23. they are quick bearings ,i do know that. all of my current bearings i would recommend but i have my own money. im grown and retired and i can buy shit like that. if you have the money get them but the return for your money is going to get smaller and more expensive as you go up in price

[@doogliebop]

Love your vids. Informative, honest, unbiased (mostly). What I love about them the most is you're self aware and not a try-hard. Thank you!

[@stickersteve007]

Dude I appreciate that 🙏 means a lot!

[@davidvanvliet193]

Shields Up All Day. In my experience of 37 years of skateboarding every part of your skateboard has a function. Iron on iron contact needs lube, or else you grind your bearingrings ,cone the balls. Blowing out your bearings faster. Bearings for me is not a gimmick , "shieldless" is for me not a selling point. If your bearings blow out you can seriously hurt yourself. Who cares about how bearings sound. Imagine you get your car repaired and you can hear your bearings from your wheels 😉 repair guy: ' it sounds better, i took the shields off. Plus they go faster now😂 i unlubed a perfectly good working part. No worries mate.

[@stickersteve007]

Like I said. It's all subjective and down to personal preference. There's not right or wrong way when it comes to it

[@Creeksmallmouth]

Just like people that doesnt use bearing spacers. Who wants a car with a shitty alignment!? After a while the geometry changes in your wheels from the bearings sitting tilted and mash the inside of your wheel.

[@lopwidth7343]

Never had a shield come off. I have no idea what kind of nonsense these guys and their anti-engineering bs is about

[@PHeMoX]

The thing about shieldless bearings just shows to me those pros are idiots. The shields have a function. The lube has a function. And most people are better off not cleaning their bearings at all, as they don't understand how bearings work anyway. Dry bearings will never perform great. And yes, all those dudes are wrong. Shieldless bearings don't magically throw out dirt that gets in.

[@cobysmith5928]

Have you heard of 'Bronson raws'?

[@stickersteve007]

All the pros are idiots? That's comical.

[@bryanbarefoot7920]

Dry bearings do keep dirt from staying in. Wind on a dry surface will cause dirt to move. Wind on a wet surface will do nothing but keep that dirt in place. As for shields themselves put dirt in a jar with no lid and shake it around and see how the dirt comes out. Then have a lid on a jar and do the same thing. Wow no dirt comes out now.

[@canadianadvancedsk8]

I generally skate my Bones Swiss six balls for 4-5 years , I clean them regularly, lube them with singer sewing machine oil or speed cream and always use the bearing spacers ( I buy steel ones because the factory aluminum ones mushroom out fast) and always use 3 speed rings on every wheel. I don’t ever use spitfire wheels because they never seems to accommodate the spacers properly. It’s the bearing spacers that keep your bearings from blowing out. Also the sound that all these pros like is literally the of your bearings not being able to go fast under load. Spinning your wheel with no load doesn’t mean shit. Their marketing seems to work well though…….

[@stickersteve007]

Very meticulous.....respect

[@game-OJACK]

on point! don't be a lemming.

[@chrhadden]

spacers screw up the way your board sounds and they give people aids. i have never thought they were a good idea for skaters. wheels have a partition in them already since they started making them from polyurethane. spacers are evil and you are in the minority of people. they actually slow you down

[@loopypoopy5]

From Ontario Canada, keeping shields on our roads get pretty cust and definitely don't want salt in bearings. I clean, lube and put the shield on and off in the process every 3 months and my bones swiss have lasted 2 1/2 years.

[@stickersteve007]

that's a valid reason! Bronson Raw's are tungsten coated to prevent rust and corrosion. just thought id throw that in there. keep doin what your're doin

[@johnthomas2877]

After 50 plus years of skateboarding I've finally succumbed to removing all my bearing covers. The main reason is because they bend inwardly over time and rub causing the bearings to spin slower.

[@stickersteve007]

Good point!

[@ReclaimerTyphoon]

50 years! Wow!

[@ThrashinHD]

I use to pop the shields on all my bearings when I was younger. Now I don’t really bother unless they get dented or pop off by themselves. Don’t really care about the aesthetic or whatever small detail/ feel it gives. Just let the skating speak for itself

[@stickersteve007]

"just let the skating speak for itself" exactly that!

[@dfpguitar]

When pro level bicycles still had cup and cone bearings (in fact they still do at the velodrome) they were unsealed. There was a really basic metal shield but there was a fairly big gap so dirt and water could get inside the hub pretty easily. The benefit of unsealed hubs Vs sealed ones is that there is way less friction. The hubs would still have grease in though but not too much. If you are running skateboard bearings without shields I can see the benefit of zero grease because it's true that grease would attract dirt, but at the same time some kind of lube would be better. Maybe a very small amount of molybdenum based lube.

[@stickersteve007]

yes maybe a tiny bit would be beneficial for the long run

[@ddsherds50]

I will never forget a friend of mine had a shoe box of bearing parts. He never bought new bearings he would literally make new ones. And he never had covers on them

[@stickersteve007]

that's awesome

[@landonowens889]

That’s some 80’s shit!

[@chrhadden]

ok thats a little far fetched but i guess its possible but unnecessary. maybe they were really poor

[@AskYaMommyBoutMeBoi]

@@chrhaddenokay?

[@chrhadden]

@@AskYaMommyBoutMeBoi what lol i just think its weird. i take my bearings apart and all but once they have become parts like that i throw them out. they are dead and you have to let them go! lol

[@dneck]

dang the work you put in to edit the testimonials in the beginning, and with the HARD HITTING TRUTH SEEKING EYE OPENING SPECIAL REPORT INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM music 😄

[@stickersteve007]

I appreciate you noticing dude! I thought it would be funny to edit it that way

[@samaxeman123]

but have any of you tried actually oiling your bearings and keeping the shields on? feels smooth and buttery

[@stickersteve007]

I most definitely have. I personally don't like the way it feels. Makes it sound like I'm skating cruiser wheels.

[@Garylookslikeacatfish]

It feels so bad after putting lube in your bearings.. Don’t know how to properly describe it other than it feels “dull” to roll around

[@RonnieRomanoX]

In my honest opinion if I Were a pro I'd pop the shield off too, hence I can have a brand new fresh setup for each session If I want. On the one hand bearings go faster without the shield on of course, but from the other hand they won't last you for long, probably they won't even last you a month. Unless you only skate indoor skate parks, you'd definitely want your shields on if you skate in humid outdoor environments , dusty streets and dirty spots . Have you ever noticed the amount of dirt that gets stuck on the surface of your bearing shield after a few sessions? I believe that you don't want that crap inside your bearings' spheres. keep always the shields on If you are not a pro and if you are not sponsored by any bearings manufacturer , and then every few months clean them with white spirits , and ultimately lubricate your bearings with Bones or Bronson speed cream.

[@stickersteve007]

goin on 2 years with the bronsons raws i showed in the video. they are designed to be shieldless though. might have something to do with it, but i ve been shieldless since the early 2000's. i only skate outside. appreciate your insight and non elitest comment dude

[@nunyabusiness896]

Newsflash: that dirt is getting behind your shields, the difference is it won't come back out as easily with the shields on so it just builds up and cakes in there. I only recently switched to shieldless and it's 100% better with no compromise as far as I'm concerned.

[@stickersteve007]

@@nunyabusiness896 from my experience this is true

[@woolfy101]

Old enough for my first board to have cupped loose ball bearings, the giddy excitement of dad following the guide in Skateboard! magazine and fitting SKF’s. That was the last time I exposed my balls, I’ve never seen it as a good idea but hey if it works for you.

[@poiper8966]

stoked to see your views going up man. i havent been around lately. Good for for you dude

[@stickersteve007]

thank's dude i appreciate the support!..i haven't really been around lately either lol

[@AdventuresInSkateboarding]

I am glad I clicked on the video. Really good edit. I appreciate the time and work that went into it. I usually ride them as they are until the first cleaning. Then the shields never go back on. Stay Rad

[@stickersteve007]

Much appreciated! Thats what I used to do too

[@pauliewalnuts5241]

Salute! 💚🛹

[@AdventuresInSkateboarding]

@@pauliewalnuts5241 💯🙏

[@bricemenaugh4828]

I had them... for a week and they got all gunked up and didn't roll well. I wish they would have worked. So now I just skate bones Swiss.

[@stickersteve007]

That's a bummer man. My buddy got a set that seized up on him after the first sesh. He got some defective ones. It was really weird

[@hou5eheadjason]

I have mixed results with bronsons raws , they have ran fast for me in warmer months almost like ice skates and other times I seems like I just cant seem to keep them like that for a long time though , so I have like a few wheels get squeeky or run really slow while the other half run fast , when I put the bronson lube in them they just get really dirty and feel soft and slower and not loud. So I got tired of trying to figure out the maintaince on these and skating andale right now . I have tried straight alcohol and windex those both work good with no lube after but within a month they start fast but then the wheels get squeeky and slow again

[@stickersteve007]

it's really interesting the different experiences from so many people. i tend to just leave my Raw's alone. maybe cleaning em makes em worse

[@Shaburya]

Different all fucking bearings do this shit I have been fighting with bearings for a long time bones Swiss have the best quality but they lock up and fuck up too So far the best I have used are oust bearings

[@hou5eheadjason]

@Shaburya I even forker out cash for bronson ceramics , they did the same shit , they were good for a bit then also locked up and sluggish, would run good after a cleaning buck weeks later slow again

[@frankrotthier4392]

Yep! Same here! But mine get squeaky by the end of the first session after I have cleaned them. They sound great and are fast for max two weeks and then one of the bearings stop spinnig and I have to clean them and then they just don’t work anymore. And I’ve tried two sets. Raws are not for me I’ll stick with Bones Swiss.

[@chrhadden]

take a glass jar or something like that. fill .5 way with rubbing alcohol , drop your bearings in there close lid. shake the jar like you would a can of spray paint in a circular motion . take them out and rub the dirt and grime off. they will dry quick. put like a drop of your oil in each one and put your board together. ride it around your block and by the time you get back your bearings will be as good or better then new. now regret throwing out bearings in the past lol

[@chrhadden]

i take the sheilds off of every bearing i have used since 85. even my ceramics. it gives the dirt somewhere to go. that was one of my first repairs. my first board had dirt caked bearings so i took the shields off and left them off. i soon learned all the others , replacing bolts, king pins etc. it makes perfect sense that anything getting in goes out almost as fast

[@stickersteve007]

that's my logic too

[@rosstempletonogskater]

I was wondering why some pics of wheels, the bearings don't have covers? I just thought they had come off & the skaters didn't know any better. My covers have never come off. I cleaned some bearings yesterday with Super Clean, (they had Alot of grease I removed) & then put some sewing machine oil in them & they are hauling assss. I saw the vid of the skater on Club 9 talking about just using Windex. I may have to try it. Bronson 3 has vids of Dry vs oil & dry with NO LOAD spins super long, but add a load & then the oiled bearings Go Alot Furthur with the person on it...

[@stickersteve007]

i think a lot of it comes down to feel and sound for each individual skater. ive been doin it so long that i can't stand the feeling of bearings with the shields on

[@chrhadden]

take the shields off or your wasting time. you can put them back on if you want to for some reason

[@TheReal_DeanD]

Better late than never. For me if a bearing has a shield on it I’ll keep a shield on it and if it meant to be shield free I’ll keep it that way. I don’t skate in such crusty areas that I get lots of crap in the bearings. If so I’ll try keep the cleaning hints in mind. Also that edit of 9 club clips was very very rad.

[@4152008085]

Nice video. I bought some Raws after watching your review. Hands down the best bearings I’ve ever had. They go! Never rode shieldless until now at 54! Cheers ✌🏼

[@stickersteve007]

Right on! Them Raw's are my favorite

[@orlandounderground350z]

I’m gonna try this out and post video about it in a week or so to do a test and see if it’s worth the trouble challenge accepted

[@stickersteve007]

there ya go. at least you can say you tried

[@frankrotthier4392]

Hey Steve! For me they just don’t work. I actually bought a second set after watching your review on them here on YT. After less than two weeks two bearings didn’t spin freely anymore. So I had to clean them (no windex here in Europe so I used some kind of Isopropol Alcohol) Then I didn’t lube them like you all say cos that would attract dirt, right? Well by the end of the first session my raws were squeaking like hell, like they were all rusty. This is the second time this has happened to me so I’m gonna give up on them. Will stick with my Bones Super Swiss 6 with shields 😉

[@stickersteve007]

at least you can say you tried. iv'e had the opposite experience. it's crazy! Raw's are not supposed to rust because they are tungsten coated. maybe those assholes send different ones to europe haha

[@psilocin9533]

If your goal is to sell more bearings, tell your customers to ride without sheilds. I understand modifying your setup to the way you like it, and that's fine. But the fact is bearings will last longer with sheilds and lube.

[@hed1fsu]

Skated since the mind 90's. Always kept my shields on. Idk why. Never cared to take them off I suppose. Was nice when they all went to rubber shields tho for cleaning. The crimped shields.. or the pigs with the clip were a pain haha.

[@stickersteve007]

i think it's fine either way. personal preference in the end. must have sucked ass cleaning em back then

[@maxime.moineau]

coming from downhill i never heard of that, but the idea of dry stuff dont attract dirt, since we are going quite slow... It makes sense, il'll take the off my park setup toight

[@stickersteve007]

Just see how you like it. If it's not for you, just pop those shields back on.

[@maxime.moineau]

​@@stickersteve007 and maybe if you want to try something new, take a look at zealous bearings, maybe try them, with or without the shields : that's what most downhill longboarders are using, 25€, unkillable, superfast ;)

[@TyroneMansoor]

I've tried deshielding Bronson ceramics / Indy GP-R /Bones Reds. After one session, they needed a clean. The ceramics rust quick, so yeah. Tested and failed. The Raws I clean with benzene and stay unlubed. Tried the same dry with shields but I'm convinced with atleast 1 drop low velocity lube. The ceramics are favourites. Spacers tightened to the stop n lil touch back. I am hearing impaired but love how smooth they are. I have Raws but still think the ceramics will last longer 0:17

[@stickersteve007]

Never tried ceramic bearings. Maybe one day. I'd probably leave the shields on for at least a little bit

[@JunoLord]

Always pop my shields off my bearings, they last lnger imo and the sound is so much nicer. plus anything that goes in after a spin or two they come straight back out. done this with every set and the one time i didnt they lasted a month before i noticed they were slowing

[@brendonwilson4533]

I’ve both popped and and not popped before. Broken in bearings sound exactly the same…

[@stickersteve007]

there's a clear difference in sound. take the headphones out and try again

[@RikRiorik]

A bearing is the way it is because that’s the tried and tested way. That said I think bearings in skateboarding are so far from ideal bearing conditions that it doesn’t really matter that much for the longevity of the bearing if you keep your shields off or not. But you for sure can’t beat the sound of dry shieldless bearings.

[@stickersteve007]

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[@PHeMoX]

I dare say shieldless bearings can never last longer than the same type with shields. Keeping dirt out is vital. Anything else is just coincidental. Even when you are right how any bearing gets trashed by how skateboarding was never part of the original design.

[@klock_tax3150]

I avoid removing my shields but whenever I lose them or need to clean my bearings, I’m fine without them. I can alway throw my bearings in a bottle of soapy water, shake em, dry em, lube em and slap them back on. They’ve been good for about 6 months now even with my occasional rainy sessions.

[@stickersteve007]

Just goin with the flow of thing's

[@krimsonlediable]

Well done. Let the others be negative. I'll ride both on or off, because it's my choice. Period.

[@stickersteve007]

100% it's your choice. They're is no right or wrong way

[@LittleJohnToys]

Hey man, I know you've said something abour rainy weather in your location. I wanted to try Raws for my cruiser setup, but I am afraid about ride them after the rain (which happend to me like 2 times last year), so I guess you have experience with that and I want a final answer about this, because I didn't find it anywhere, just some folks wrote that rain killed the Raws next day. So, if you ride them in the wet weather and the water from the pavement or road gets on them, did you felt any changes?

[@stickersteve007]

this was literally the first time I've cleaned em. didn't feel like they needed to be cleaned just wanted to do it for the sake of the video. I basically don't avoid anything as far as conditions go. if its outright raining i wont skate, but it always seems to be damp around here. So my personal experience is i have not had one problem with them. the raceways are tungsten coated so they technically can't rust or corrode. only bearing designed to be shieldless as far as i know. That being said...for me personally on a cruiser setup i wouldn't feel the need for shieldless . mainly because the softer wheels are going to suppress the sound and feeling I'm so used to on my street setup (hope that makes sense) But for the record i have Bronson Raw's in my cruiser haha. Only because I really like them, already had a set to throw in there, and don't use it much. Hope that covers it, but anymore question's feel free to ask!

[@LittleJohnToys]

​@@stickersteve007 That's everything I wanted to know, thanks a lot! I'm gonna try the Raws.

[@stickersteve007]

@@LittleJohnToys right on. i hope they work for you like they've worked for me

[@jayskate6631]

The secret is always making sure you end the session with dry bearings, I literally skate through puddles on Vancouver island but the last 20-30 minutes of my skating I’m making sure they got spun enough for everything to go away

[@likespinningpats]

When I was younger I didn't know about popping the shields off. I lost many bearings to the shield coming off while I was riding getting bent poking back into the bearings and just ripping them to shreds and the bearing falling apart. And I didn't realize until I got the Bronson raws how much I liked that sound.

[@stickersteve007]

Once you get used to that sound it's hard to go back

[@shainedupuis2649]

Companies sell products with a little thing called planned obsolescence. Sounds to me like they've found a way to extend that planned time a bit🤷‍♂️Believe me, bearing companies don't want you to only have to buy 1 set of their bearings. They want you to keep going back for more and more whenever they get crunchy.

[@stickersteve007]

There's definitely truth to that. I think a lot of skaters (whether they ride shieldless or not) probably get new bearings frequently enough

[@joshgladden2930]

after I saw jamie foy talk about windex I saw someone else talk about putting pencil shavings (powdered graphite) in their pivot cups to stop the squeeking. I combined the two ideas and now when I setup new bearings I pop the shields ,soak them in windex and dry them out then sprinkle powdered graphite on ONE SIDE of the bearing and then put them in the wheels graphite side in (so graphite doesn't get all over you ) Try it out it works amazing. Side note it feels really bad until you ride it for like 30 seconds or so like oh fuck i ruined these brand new swiss bones but it just needs to break up the graphite, also NO WOOD PARTICLES. dont just dump pencil shavings in your bearings separate, the graphite thoroughly or you will ruin your new swiss bones.

[@stickersteve007]

oh nice! im gonna try that thanks

[@erock736]

I have the Bronson shieldless bearings and they are great. If anything gets in them they will just work their way out.

[@stickersteve007]

Simple and effective. Also they won't rust cause they're tungsten coated

[@buss1205]

i wouldnt leave bearings overnight in iso unless its 99%, because there is still water that can cause surface rust to form

[@baggytony]

Love the Bronson g3 raws I skated the same set for 3 years I finally got a new pair recently I’ve been using 3 in 1 dry lock lubricant for my bearings since 2012 and my bearings last for years

[@diplenski]

to each their own, but it's not for me. if they weren't designed to keep stuff out, why are they called shields? i just think of all the times i've overshot a curb and stuck my wheel in the wet dirt. as i said on community notes, it's like not wearing a rubber. i guess it's up to each of us to decide if the reward is worth the risk, and i'd say not. i got 9 sets of bearing/wheel core spacers and i'm gradually working them into all of my setups.

[@stickersteve007]

It's all different experiences. I run my Raw's through the dirt all the time on the curbs. And I've been using the same set for year's. They're still good.

[@Carlossteezyblunts]

I used to do shields off until I got the bones swiss ceramics. They were to pricey so i just keep the shields on, I even bought 8 extra bearing shields off the bones website and put shields on the open side of the bearings to. I also clean them pretty often so if dirt is building up with no where to escape its okay in my situation since i weirdly kinda like cleaning my bearing now. I do it regularly with IonicFlux skate lube. Best lube in the game its not a thick lubricant like the bones skate lube is. There dead silent and smooth which is whatever since I never payed much attention to the noise before I when skated without shields either. I just popped the shields out before because I liked the look better. I never minded when other people kept there shields on or off. Im cool with either or.

[@stickersteve007]

if i bought bones swiss ceramics i'd probably keep the shields on too!

[@BryanLovellsChannel]

Just the other day I was thinking about cleaning my bearings with alcohol and using dry graphite lubricant instead of the regular oil to see if they stayed clear longer now I'm gonna have to try it lol great video man 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@stickersteve007]

thank dude! please lmk how it work's out

[@steve.palmer]

Tungsten coated raceways? Thats what convinced me to get some raws, not just the no shields. Others aren't advertised with tungsten, usally steel and if titanium its usually just the balls. They have a quicker top speed compaired to the shake junt night trains when going down hills. I'll pop shields off if they start to not spin as good to clean better, works well and can't do it in a way where it can be put back on.

[@stickersteve007]

they are definitely designed to be shieldless. thats why i think theyre the best option overall

[@meltingspot1064]

I use to pop my shields on my swiss for years and they do sound and look better but they definitely get damaged quicker. I just keep em on now.

[@ZTFlames]

People need more ceramic bearings in their life. Going raw is cool if you're a pro but shields are useful. Raw is more for board feel and weighted acceleration from pushing. It's worth it if you don't care about maintenance.

[@stickersteve007]

i have yet to try ceramic's. would like to one day

[@Dontbustthecrust]

First time coming across your channel. Instant sub.

[@stickersteve007]

hey thanks dude! much appreciated

[@FinnProp]

I think shieldless bearings are just like the super small wheels of the early 90s. Cultural thing. Being a trained maintenance technician I see no technical point in shieldless unlubricated bearings. That ”cheap” sound is the sound of properly lubricated bearing. Edit: *sound of properly lubricated bearings and properly (by feel) torqued wheels.

[@K_spawn]

I've tried different bearings, the Bronson raws are the only ones i can ride shieldless for a long time before servicing them, and i use dry lubricant the 3 in 1 dry lube, they have tungsten race that's why the raws can withstand that abuse, I've tried it with other bearings and they all get destroyed if i treat them like the Bronson raw, but but! Here's the thing, i also have regular bearings with shields and lubricated that have lasted me over 3 years. So i like the raw because they are loud and last , but yes the shield ones las way more if taken care of.

[@stickersteve007]

What an intelligent and respectful response to your actual experience. Thank you dude

[@K_spawn]

@@stickersteve007 I feel smart now 🤓

[@NISHIAKI]

I imagine a lot of the variety of experiences people have may be due to the different environments people skate in. Climate could be a huge variable. Someone skating in Florida would probably have a worse experience with dry shieldless bearings than some one in Colorado for example. Or perhaps the pros are mostly skating in private indoor parks, whereas most joes are skating rusty outdoor prefab slabs. Humidity and cleanliness of the area, combined with the intensity of the skating and the texture of the surface they skate, probably would make for a wide variety of bearing reactions. Personally i just buy whatever is cheap and replace em when they feel bad haha

[@stickersteve007]

100% legit point of view. i skate in the PNW and basically only the streets. always seems like theres a puddle somewhere here haha

[@benitofranklyn4237]

So how come me and other clean and lubricate, shields on guys have been riding our bearings for 5, 6 or even 7 years and everybody else keeps buying new ones? This is absolute nonsense and meant to make you keep buying new bearings by the industry.

[@ejlopez6637]

Typically I keep the shields to keep the bearings nice and clean for as long as possible. Then when I have to clean them, I just usually leave them off. I like Raws too, but they’re not the same after you clean them. I actually balled out a couple years ago and bought some bones Swiss ceramics. Those are stupid good bearings. I don’t think they’re significantly faster than any other bearing out there, but they last forever. I’ve had them for like 3 years now and I pretty much just have to clean them once a year.

[@stickersteve007]

Like you said. I think the raws are better left alone. Time will tell with My set. Might just go and buy a fresh set. It's been a while

[@oldirtybalogh]

I've been skeptical (like you mentioned "all those dudes get their shit for free") but after watching this I'll give it a try. These machine bearings were appropriated for skateboards, they were designed for machines doing 1000s of RPM in a factory setting, all day every day, where lube and sealing made sense. I get that covers and lube might actually be slowing them down. Thanks Steve .🤙

[@stickersteve007]

Hell yeah. You must be one of the open-minded gentlemen

[@scotthughes7440]

I got to skate with Tim Brauch after he came to do a demo at my local park at the time. He rocked shield-less bearings and when he popped out on to the deck they just spun and spun and spun forever. If it was good enough for that legend there is probably something to it..

[@stickersteve007]

theres gotta be something to it right?

[@DonnieWish]

Bronson Raw are not designated for outdoor , any honest skate shop wouldn't recommend them if they know that you normally skate streets, at least for my personal experience two skate shops told me that they are not suitable for street skating and in addition they are among the most expensive. Most of Pro skaters usually donate their own setup after a few sessions,so they can't really prove and guarantee whether or not the shieldless bearings really last forever like they claim.

[@stickersteve007]

interesting perspective. i feel like most pros will give away they're old decks, but not the rest of the setup. many of these pro's stated they've been skating em for quite a while

Im sorry but I love the bronson's raws. been rolling on them since 2019. They're really good. I'm from Colombia-

[@stickersteve007]

Don't be sorry. They're great bearings. All I ride.

[@snapcult464]

I’ve taken the shields off white box Swiss for the last 30 years. Keep em clean and a few drops of speed cream.

[@stickersteve007]

a little maintenance goes a long way! you still have to clean shielded bearings too

[@saulorocha3755]

Noisy bearings are grinding bearings balls (they’re saying grease me and close the door!), loose bearings are necessary when you don’t use spacers and washers (otherwise you lock the bearings when fasten) but this habit damage and shorten the life of the bearings.

[@stickersteve007]

my Bronson Raw's say otherwise

[@2old2sk8geek]

Raws are my favourite for sure. You just got to appreciate that sound straight out of the box! They have a tendency to get a bit squeeky over time though. Will try that alcohol trick and see if that helps. Thanks for the cool vid! 😎👍

[@stickersteve007]

i had a couple that were a lil sqeaky. thats why i finally decide to clean them. seem to be rollin good

[@chrhadden]

i didnt like the ceramics at first but after six months they are pretty damn nice. i was trying somebody's board and it felt like it was in mud. do you know if the raws as fast as these? they might be even faster

[@stickersteve007]

@@chrhadden i couldnt say forsure. iv'e never skated ceramic's

[@DavidMadeira29]

I've got that scratched Independent set since I did my first upgrade, I miss the package the most, not that one soft shield. Namastè.

[@MetatronsCube23]

Saw this all the time in the 90's, as well as dry graphite lubricant powder dusted into it( locks out water and oils, and only need a little bit).

[@stickersteve007]

It's much more common than a lot of people think

[@baileyriesberg8821]

I pop mine but pros telling you to do this it dose shorten the life witch= more barings too sell right? I have a shit load of old ones from the years and i just use what i have!

[@stickersteve007]

i can see the logic in that. But my Bronson Raw's have lasted quite a while

[@baileyriesberg8821]

I've always done it I always thought your board is yours what ever makes it yours is important Im teaching my son that every skater is different but it's all the same love!

[@elguerocomentero]

Shields on shields off probably wont notice any difference till your wheel falls off.

[@Vondoobie]

I have a set of quantums right now. They recomend riding a couple weeks before popping shields for some reason. I only took them off because they kept popping out.

[@stickersteve007]

I guess in you're case the bearings decided for you

[@SabcatPrinting]

It seems a bit “anecdotal” to me. People have done the maths that beyond an abec 3 is a waste of precision for skating… that seems irrelevant but people still swear by having better. I can see that in certain conditions you’ll get away with no lube. Maybe people need to use the right amount for the job though and also accept longevity comes with a performance cost. I’d still put the seals on and use graphite instead though. I did an engineering apprenticeship (maintenance). Plenty of machinery that isnt lubricated uses graphite thats in the steel… that stuffs not high speed, but neither is a skaters bearing. Running steel on steel without lube is not clever. It’s kinda absolutely fine until it isn’t, then it’s just gonna chew itself up. How long that takes depends on a lot of things. Adults skating a nice park in a dry climate… it’s no big deal really. Maybe these guys are right as ball bearings have a high carbon content - but - they aren’t that high in chromium compared to a very stainless steel, so rust really is an issue for plenty of people. I see a similar thing screen printing… people in California and Arizona… If they came to the Uk Autumn/Winter and tried working here they’d wonder why everything is going wrong. Cold and damp changes everything.

[@stickersteve007]

intellectual and mature comment. i like it. correct me if im wrong, but i believe where i live. (Vancouver WA USA) we have similar weather as the UK. A lot of rain and it always seems to be moist

[@SabcatPrinting]

Yes, also when its occasionally very warm here, its not nice due to the humidity. The narrow part of england south of scotland… its not much over 100 miles wide… maybe its 120 or less than 100 🤣 (dont hard quote that number) but its certainly damp.

[@swy334]

Used to always have issues with bearings wearing out and breaking. Ever since I took off the covers I have never had one bearing break

[@stickersteve007]

can't be a coincidence

[@pauliewalnuts5241]

That Independent vest is 🔥 and the AR in the background

[@stickersteve007]

iv'e had the vest for a while, and what AR..........haha

[@davidvanvliet193]

Also i think George Powell , Bones bearings, knows alot more about skateboard bearings then anyone.

[@cobysmith5928]

How so?

[@Creeksmallmouth]

​@@cobysmith592810s of thousands of hours of R&D into his products for the last damn near 50 years. Id trust the guys making the bearings over the guys who skate them. Shields are for increasing lifespan on bearings keeping pollutants out. As the were intended

[@g3attack]

You would think the guys creating the bearings would run tests on their products!!! 😂😂😂😂

[@spencerwarren902]

I've been thinking about trying it out but my local skatepark has a gravel parking lot so the whole place is dustier than Scarface's desk. Like, to the point where my grip is almost white after a session. I have tried running shields but no lube (soaked them in mineral spirits) and they started making a sqeaky sound after a week or so. Anyway, if I find some Raws on sale or something I'll circle back with my thoughts after giving it a try.

[@stickersteve007]

Would be interesting in that situation. Be a good test!

[@dneck]

i keep Shields on if they're good bearings with ONE SIDE shields only like bones reds or swiss. one side shield, one side retainer cage is the only way. if they have shields on both sides i don't buy em... unless they're some wild deal like $10. taking shields on n off is the most tedious part of cleaning them. also some bearings have worse shields than other and they pop off as you skate. if that's happening with your bearings they're not bones and they're not good and no reason to keep trying to push em back in

[@stickersteve007]

That's a good point! And yes it's way easier to clean em if the shields are already off.

[@PinkPulpito]

I rollerskate and my wheels and bearings get so gunked up im starting to think oil and bearing shields are a lie.

[@stickersteve007]

It's just might not translate as well to skateboarding or in your case rollerskating. The wheels are so close to the ground. They'll gunk up no matter what.

[@PinkPulpito]

@@stickersteve007 im on quads and ive skated like two days with dry, shieldless bearings. They definitely spin pretty well. They have a weird friction feel to them. We will see what happens, i mostly skate by the beach and streets. So nothing i can do to keep a bearing clean anyhow.

[@stickersteve007]

@@PinkPulpito it's definitely a different feeling.

[@spikerzombie]

If you live in a area like Cali where it never rains the sand and dust doesn’t get as gummed up

[@stickersteve007]

Probably true. I'm in the PNW. All it does is rain haha

[@jeffli480]

I pop the shields on bones super 6 but use spacers ✌🏼😂 I think that if we don’t push fast enough for ABEC to matter, it seems the shields also aren’t super critical for our application with the amount of pros not using them. Shieldless just sound and feel better to me :). Same thing with spacers, it’s all about what feels good to you.

[@stickersteve007]

thats a very good point. people keep comparing it to car bearing's n stuff. not the same

[@jeffli480]

@@stickersteve007 yeah, bearings were originally designed for industrial applications, and I think the main purpose of shields was to keep the lube in rather than keep dirt out? Shields definitely change the way the board sounds and feels, so I agree it’s personal preference.

[@lumix2477]

Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. I'm trusting in nothing but the blood of Jesus to pay for my sins to keep me out of hell. Just like accepting a plea bargain in court.

[@stickersteve007]

right on

[@baggytony]

Amen brotha

[@jasonb993]

I ride with shields on until they mess up (shields eventually mess up). I feel like my bearings break sooner with the shields off but they go a pinch faster and sound better.

[@stickersteve007]

There's always a trade off. They sound so nice with the shields off!

[@Sproutt]

Im sorry but how do shields pop off...

[@stickersteve007]

It definitely happens

[@onshore1ft]

If you actually want decent rolling bearings, get them with labyrinth seals, use proper steel spacers and clean them as soon as they start to sound rough. Shieldless with no lube is just nonsensical and completely contrary to actual engineering but hey it sounds l cool to bareback so go with that if it you want.

[@stickersteve007]

Nonsensical is the most sensible way sometimes. Skateboarding is the definition of insanity

[@willmurray5819]

Yall are doing something that defies all logic because you think it’ll make you a better skater like the handful of pros that do it but I wouldn’t trust their opinion over the engineers who design bearings for every major brand. One of the pros even mentioned he’d only popped the caps off his bearings after seeing other pros do it and another was like “this is what a skateboard should sound like” as if that matters. It’s not like bearings are similar to skate shoes where personal preference is key and major brands can occasionally put out an absolute dogshit product. Sealed bearings are better. Period. End of story. What’s happened here is that skaters with no mechanical skill have fallen in love with setting up their own boards instead of letting their local shop owner do it and, while the task would seem impossible to screw up, skaters rely on other skaters or KZbin for guidance (at best) which is at the root of this nonsense. When properly torqued and UNDER NO LOAD, the wheels should spin freely with no lateral movement. The common skater kid who’s never touched a wheel hub doesn’t understand the function of bearings which is to spin freely under load aka when you’re riding on the board and will back off each axle nut “pass the spin test” not realizing they’re adding lateral movement and the caps are going to pop off under load. I stand to gain nothing from offering this advice as I will sell fewer bearings if people actually listen. Just trying to look out for the broke skater kids who can’t afford new bearings.

[@stickersteve007]

Skateboarding in itself defies logic. And I don't think anyone who actually skates thinks this will make them a better skater. That's just non-sense

[@Aidangiranferry]

This is stupid, take em off or leave em on it doesn’t matter. I’ve skated 2 winters with the bones reds I’ve got on now, still got the shields on them, they sound normal, and roll great. They’ve been wet, gotten salt on them, muddy, puddles, wax. I’ve never even touched them. They roll fine. Shields still on. lol been that way for all my bearings.

[@TennesseeTriStar]

The caps are what makes them look cool!

[@stickersteve007]

see i feel the total opposite.

[@SebustienT]

Bronson Raw's for days... You get addict to this sound!! I use acetone to clean mines.

[@stickersteve007]

I stripped my other set completely down last night. Like took all the ball bearing out and deep cleaned em with acetone. Litteraly like they're brand new

[@nickhem12]

Let’s take the people who are up to their eyes in product and what they say with a grain of salt. That Jamie sound bite is kind of mind numbing and I understand that NC don’t want to put people on blast but that’s Jamie’s opinion. Rock shields until the first cleaning Make or buy a bearing cleaning bottle. clean with iso alcohol or acetone (Windex in a pinch) Remove and tap excess debris out on a paper towel and let acetone evaporate Apply 2 drops of speed lube and spin bearing between fingers. Reuse a bearing tin to store or skate em. when they get dirty, clean em again. Coming up on one year with these Swiss bearings.

[@stickersteve007]

basically how i clean em. minus the lube. i am however gonna experiment with the second set of raw's i have and drop a tiny bit lube

[@nickhem12]

@@stickersteve007 shieldless is fine, lubeless is nonsense. Rolling, rubbing, and moving parts like lubrication, friction reduction, and staying cool.

[@sidvicious332]

I get the feeling most people in the comments don't actually skate. To me skating means you put a couple miles on your board at the park everyday. Where are those people? Who are these people?

[@stickersteve007]

I was kinda getting the same feeling

[@Nicotine_Rosberg]

I pop the shields off my G3’s, swish em around in alcohol for 15-20 minutes. And those things are fast and stay fast for months. Everyone’s got their own thing though!

[@stickersteve007]

amen! i like the way you roll

[@jasperd4972]

Just set up some new bones reds and was undecided on poppin off the shields. Left them on for now this argument seems logical

[@stickersteve007]

That's probably the best way to go about it. I think at the very least it's a logical argument. I would suggest Bronson Raw's if you ever want to go shieldless

[@jrickets5309]

WD-40 works pretty well. I'll clean the excess off with paper towel.

[@stickersteve007]

True. I was out. It's actually the only way I've done it previously

[@jrickets5309]

@@stickersteve007 Water Displacement Formula #40. The reason it's the best to keep them dry.

[@stickersteve007]

@jrickets5309 good to know

[@CarterVaughn-oe9hz]

Have you done or can you do a video like this but about riser pads?

[@stickersteve007]

i did a video about riser pads a couple months ago. nothing like this one though. i do ride riser pads now though

[@CarterVaughn-oe9hz]

@@stickersteve007 wow Ive been riding risers pads I just now started to ride without them...that's the thing with skateboarding you have the option of tryin different set ups

[@stickersteve007]

@CarterVaughn-oe9hz 💯 it's fun to try different stuff. You never know until you try right

[@adu3830]

Funny thing is that people pay $15 more for the Raws over Bronson G3s, when I asked Gary at NHS what the difference between the two bearings were he told me the only difference is the shields lol. If you guys insist on riding shields off for some reason just pay $20 bucks for the G3s and take the 95 seconds to pry the rubber shields off

[@Garylookslikeacatfish]

That is simply not true.. I have a set of Raws on a cruiser board that I haven’t changed in 3 years now that I still ride every day.. Been through so many sets of G3s shields on and off and the last set blew out in like a month.. Wish it wasn’t the case because I couldn’t care less about getting the big brand products, I would skate Shake Junt bearings if they were decent and lasted a while

[@stickersteve007]

i cant confirm or deny this. all i can say is i can feel the difference between them.

[@donaldwhyte3634]

Bronson Raws are the only bearings I ride. They last soooo much longer than any other bearing I've tried.

[@stickersteve007]

AMEN. once i tried em i never went to another bearing

[@JaGGeR-]

I dont understand why this is even a conversation. Just skate however you wanna skate.

[@stickersteve007]

i agree. this is kind of a spiteful video i made because of the hate in the past I've gotten for rockin shieldless bearing's haha

[@larrybraun3038]

I have ride set of fresh Bones reds i pop shields years back and they lasted think 8months they all fall apart so i never done that ever again. My first ever Bones Swiss i have done this to back years back those was alway years old broken in i ride them tell all them fall apart. Only time i pop shields off if im cleaning them or shield don't stay on. I alway wonder how shieldless bearings do since i never try those's.

[@stickersteve007]

At the end of the day it's all subjective and everyone has a different experience. I think bearings like the bronson Raw's are probably better shieldless because they were designed that way. Always stick with what you like 👍

[@larrybraun3038]

@@stickersteve007Bronson Raw i bet be better bet if i do go all shieldless those's be the ones i grab. Least be quicker too clean them out not deal with removing shields so there's that can't beat.

[@chrhadden]

those shields have no structural value. do you really think thats what keeps them together with all the stress and abuse we put them through? those little aluminum rings? cmon now

[@vinceamir7236]

I try one set of Bronson Raw last year and they are like brand new! This is the best bearing i tried so far, Reds, Swiss, Andale was ok but not really tough. The G2, G3 and Raw are the only i will ever get to the rest of my life. But if the bearing come with shield i kept them until they break.

[@stickersteve007]

Honestly, they're hard to beat. All I skate anymore

[@vinceamir7236]

I just buy a second set for my other setup. I will try to go with the Raw if i can, i just clean it with air compressor and they roll like new.

[@coachpete327]

It defies logic, but you can’t argue with what’s tried and true. Fwiw, my anecdotal evidence against keeping shields on was my bones Redz seizing up on me while the board was sitting in the trunk of my car for a year. Never even got wet

[@stickersteve007]

Good point. How'd that happen 🤔 skateboarding overall defies logic

[@coachpete327]

@@stickersteve007 I have no idea. It was only 1 bearing too 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@stickersteve007]

@coachpete327 that's also odd haha

[@theoriginalrabbithole]

Zealous bearings with built in spacers and packed with nano-grease. THE last set of bearings you will ever need to buy and favored by downhill riders everywhere. Also, there's no such thing as "downhill bearings", they're just really good. The longer you ride them, the faster they go and they only cost $15.99 a set!

[@stickersteve007]

"favored by downhill riders" means nothing to me

[@bigdeckenergy8119]

Somewhere between science and skateboarding there is sticker.

[@stickersteve007]

im all about the feels and medium to small decks

[@bigdeckenergy8119]

@@stickersteve007 and I fully support your choice of deck.

[@HighhScore]

I had a set of bones Swiss that my friend gave me after he rode them for a few years. I rode them with shields for a couple of years and one day I was like fuck it let’s take them off. I still have those bearings til this day. Spin like champs still

[@stickersteve007]

Dang nice. And you haven't cleaned em?

[@HighhScore]

@@stickersteve007 they’ve been cleaned a few times but nothing consistent.

[@Pakman13]

I’ve popped mine off for years to.. they all come with alot of grease and grease attracts dirt!🤙🏼

[@stickersteve007]

Yup. Even when you clean you're bearings with shields on there's still a ton of dirt and grime in there. So how well do they really work?