We Flew to Sweden to Find Out How Some of The Fastest Bearings Are Made
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- From Boeing jet engines to your dirty microwave, chances are if you crack these items open an SKF bearing will fall out. We were curious to know why this corporate bearing company wanted to enter the skateboarding industry, so we hopped in the Jenkem private jet (aka Spirit Airlines economy) to do some digging.
Filmed: Ian Michna [ / ian.michna ]
Edited: Max Seeger [ / mrseeger ]
Additional filming: Love Öhling [ / lover_ohling ]
More Info: www.jenkemmag....
Shop Jenkem: shop.jenkemmag...
"We're a kind of underground scene"
...says a Swedish skater deep in a WWII bunker embedded into a mountain
Gotta love typical Swedish understatement
Literal underground
@@reallivebluescatthatsthejoke.jpg
Honestly wish this was longer. This is a great video
This is true business.
There is no money in selling bearings to kids, but (like me) when those kids grow up and become engineers they go to SKF to supply the $5,000/set 100,000 RPM bearings they need to build a one-of-a-kind machine.
That's a bad argument. All other options are worse so skf would be the obvious choice if the bearing is mission critical regardless of if they used to skate skf or bones or whatever.
What do you use 5k bearings for?
@@benitofranklyn4237 things that spin really fast
@@benitofranklyn4237 Large multi million dollar machines?
And there is money selling those bearings, so it is a win win. These subcontractor have a hard time becoming household names, and thus attracting good talent.
No way i get this random video in my reccomended and decide to watch it only to realize they filmed the skate park in the mountain i can litteraly see from my window lol
I'm originally from a small city in Southern Chile and I remember that SKF had a team in the early 80's, maybe even late 70's, and they did a demo there at the end of the world. Mad respect for that.
Asking the Swedish engineer the most important question, "shields on or off?" would have been a banger 🤣
I love an investigative story. This was great, I learned a lot. Nicely done Ian!
This! Absolutely the most important question! But this was fantastic regardless 😀
Shields 🛡️ off 💨💨💨
As a mechanical engineer and skateboarder myself, there’s no way he’d recommend shields off. They’re there to keep the lubricant in and everything else out.
If you think a dry bearing spins better, it’s because you’re spinning it unloaded and running steel directly on steel. When you ride on it, you’re wearing it out very quickly and generating too much heat. The bearings won’t last.
Why do you think it is called a shield? Its just a skaters habit...Looks cool. Sounds cool. No purpose. A hard no if you ask these guys.
@@serf___ another engineer here to confirm this. no way in hell you would find an engineer that would recommend removing the shield
Literally an underground skate scene
haha :D
That skatepark insode the mountain, built in a factory used to produce bearings during the war, is one of the coolest things ive ever heard of lol. That thing needs more coverage 🙌
Straight up
They're called hidden gems for a reason. Let's keep it that way.
yeah its a fun place during winters, to bad that's the only good park because the outdoor one is kinda wonky and old.
I said hell yea right up until I googled who they were making bearings for lol
@@mfaucher533 pretty safe to say no one involved in the company today had anything to do with that and if you're looking for any kind of industrial or tech company without a dark past I've got some bad news for you.
Jenkem again with the legit vids
I think I'll take the words of an actual Swedish mechanical engineer who works for one of the largest industrial bearing companies in the world over a thousand random skate RUclipsrs when it comes to ABEC ratings and if they really matter when it comes to skate bearings
@@icantollie ABEC rating in skate bearings hasn't really been a thing in the last few years. Bones showed the gimmicky marketing up with their "skate rated" jingo.
@@icantollie Best Skateboard bearing are actually the not ABEC rated one's. But ABEC3 are still always the worst ones. My personal tip (after 30 years of skating and testing all kinds of brands and materials) are the Bones Super Reds, much better than the Reds but only a bit worse than the expensive Swiss. Engineers measure in precision used inside for high speed machines, while skateboard bearings are used outside at low speed, but get banged around a lot.
@@jamesryan4325 Exactly. Best Skateboard bearing are actually the not ABEC rated one's. But ABEC3 are still always the worst ones. My personal tip (after 30 years of skating and testing all kinds of brands and materials) are the Bones Super Reds, much better than the Reds but only a bit worse than the expensive Swiss. Engineers measure in precision used inside for high speed machines, while skateboard bearings are used outside at low speed, but get banged around a lot.
SKF saying skate revenue is too insignificant to matter, but they do it anyway is actually kind of punk rock - in the most big industry capitalist way.
Every brand wants to be cool. Skateboarding is cool. That's why.
same with nike SB, its a drop in a bucket for them.
@@ajkulac9895 lol you really think that industrial manufacturers care about "being cool"?
How come you didnt know this brand? Is the most famous industrial bearing brand. In fact, i didnt knew they made skate bearings 😂 so i will probably try these next, these guys are real pros
@@smiauu yes
This is *awesome* :) When I started skateboarding back in the late 80’s, after smugling my first board from Denmark in to Norway (it was illegal until ‘89 in Norway), one my first cheap bearings started to break after learning to ollie I spent all my savings on a set of SKF bearings from a local engineering specialist shop, the people working there just looked at me funny for buying these expensive bearings for a toy … and I *STILL* have them on my old setup, they still work great, used to clean them regularly and grease them up good, such a great brand :D
Cheap bearings are made to break after a certain amount of time or use. Otherwise the companies don't make money from selling reliable stuff. Its the same with mobile phones, cars etc.
@@roberts3423 Cheap bearings, like all cheap things in general, are made of cheap materials, which of course will usually break faster than things made with solid, sturdy materials that usually last longer - but it’s really not because the manufacturer wants things to break, but because people started to complain about the expensive things being too expensive, so they made things cheaper because some people wanted cheaper things - so the problem is mainly «us», not «them» - if «we» didn’t buy the cheaper made things «they» wouldn’t make them, because «they» want to make money and sell what people want to buy. Of course there are companies selling expensive things that are cheap to make, but again it’s «us» that keeps buying them. So instead of complaining about «them» and changing nothing make some deliberate choices and influence others to choose quality stuff sold in small local shops … but the cow has probably left the barn already and we are stuck hunting for quality stuff in a sea of mediocre crap I’m afraid :/
Ive lived in gothenburg my whole life and even i was unaware of the skate scene here, Awsome vid
Quite the stacked team, indeed.
And Beatrice Domond.
She don't belong there wtf
I remember when my father brought me industrial SKF bearings from the factory he was working. They are still working after many years.
So cool to see Gothenburg on this channel! That is the biggest city we could travel to for a day of skating back in my youth, the late 90's/early 2000s! Did a lot of streetskating there growing up
Same here man! I remember going to Nya galaxen as well, that place was rough!
I've been using the same SKF bottom bracket on my bike for ~10 years now. I could have bought five Shimano BBs for the same price, and they'd probably have been fine, but it's nice to invest upfront in something so reliable. I don't know how the skate bearings are, but if they're like their bike components, they'll be high performing and durable.
Its SKF dude, these dudes know what they are doing better than any skate company.
all SKF parts are reliable and built to spec. my car's timing belt, tensioner and roller bearings are all SKF
I had Asko washing machines that were close to 30 years old with bearings that were like the machine rolled off the assembly line in Vara the day prior lol.
As long the seal doesn't fail, the SKF bearings in them will basically last forever.
Cool Video, i got offered a job at SKF in the early 2000's and I was a skater, I ended up building racecars instead but would of loved to re-start the skate line or at least try, I had no idea that had a secret mountain lair skatepark!
This needs to be longer.
My mother retired from skf, she assembled large bearings that went into drawbridges, windmills. It's amazing how many different fields skf has made bearings for.
True. They’re all over the world. Not focused to one specific use. You could almost say that they lack…bearing.
Hey Jenkem, thanks for being real. Your video articles always hit.
Jenkem's been killing it lately. They and Ian were just cited in a _New York Times_ article on skateboarding at the Paris Olympics. Jenkem's at the top of legit skate journalism right now
Hell yeah Göteborg!
Growing up in different parts of Sweden during the 90’s, I can just say that everyone put SKF above other brands👌
Consistency, durability and feel. SKF for life!
imagine beeing this legendary company that is working with Nasa and the skateboarding community. Wow! Amazing engineers! My first bearings in 00s were SKF - I was so proud having them - everyone back in the days loved them - SKF was THE brand. Thanks for the doc, SKF ucking rules!
I've used SKF bearings in dirtbikes, used them at work in industrial machines, and even used them in bicycles yet I am today years old when I found out they have been widely used for years in skateboarding I feel like I just crawled from under a rock.
Amazing company for sure! Thnx for this! Gorm, legend.
HVAC professional and amateur skateboarder. I can tell you I have seen SKF bearings at work for many years! I always skated Bones Swiss but if SKF is making 608 bearings then sign me up!!!!!
Of course they are, that's an industrial standard.
They've been making 608's for a very long time.
Alright so skatepark in the mountain is basically the coolest thing I've ever heard of. Mind blown, always in the shade.
I used to work in a shop that sold (among other things) SKF bearings, it only took one skateboarder to discover that we stocked the right size and all the skateboarders in town lined up.
We didn't sell many before, and it became a big seller thanks to the skateboarders, mostly because they were regarded among the best, but also because we sold them dirt cheap
I'm a Swede. SKF is one of our biggest exporters. I had *no idea* SKF had anything to do with Skateboarding.
during WWII, SKF came inbetween the allies and the axis, because both needed bearings.. and its quite an interesting story how that unfolded.
Been on bones for years but I am now converted to try these next time I buy 👍
visiting sweden rn from california, gotta check out götenberg
There is so much to see here if you know where to go. My tip is to go out to the coast, maybe out to Öckerö and experience the granite rocks and take a swim in the ocean.
As a gothenburgian I can say that "rough and undiscovered" covers Gothenburg pretty well over all compared to Malmö and especially Stockholm
Im not a scater but my mother worked at SKF. My Grandfather and Grandmother as well. Now i have atleast 5 friends working at SKF and another 10 friends that have been working at SKF.
Jenkem > Vice
Facts
Dude..Literal sh*t from a rabid monkey > Vice.
People think Shields off sounds cool, and it keeps their bearings running a few more days after they're dirty. If you don't do such huge gaps that your bearings actually break. Take them out once they're "done" clean, dry and re-lubricate them. Bones has a manual that tells you how. Or yt videos. I actually just clean the worst dirty with a towel, take the shields off, clean the inside with a towel, rinse them off under running water, lay them into hot water with dish washer for 5min, take them out, rinse them off again, clean with a towel and dry with a blowdryer, then re-lubricate with Bones speed cream, resemble, lubricate the outside and trucks/axel part as well. Do this 3x a year. Keeps them running for years. Even if you ride through rain or sand, if you do this once you get home, they'll be fine. Just don't leave your deck over night once they got really wet and water is absolutely not a problem, your bearings wont rust if you do this the same day, even if you dropped your whole deck under water. Also buy Super Reds, much better than Reds and only a bit worse than Swiss, absolutely worth the price.
Still have the Calypso board and use it. The trucks are cool and unusual. All works great
Props to whoever had this idea. This was absolutely fascinating 😮
@@Lostin2024 ✌️
sick mini doc. well produced
Nice; on dirtbikes the SKF are just worlds better than the cheap brands, I won't waste my time with anything else. I didn't know they made skate, I'll try them for my next set
I use SKF bearings in the mining industry in Perth Australia! So cool to see them do it as a passion project and employ skaters to do the designs. Also super rad skatepark in the cave, most places would turn it into a shit museums that no one would visit
Been using these bearings on my Vespa builds and cars. Never had issues. Been curious on the skate bearings though
Jenkem - HARD HITTING SKATEBOARD JOURNALISM OF THE HIGHEST CALIPER!
"I always watch a Jenkem video to get hyped before covering a hurricane live." - Jim Cantore
I lived in Gothenburg for a few years and come back regularly to visit family. It's always such a trip to see familiar places on video like this. Makes it feel more exotic than I remember 😂
10/10 super intersting thanks Jenkem
Great video as always
It's the only skateboarding brand that makes their own bearings. How good is that?
its a bearing brand. ppc
Too good.
No they been around for like 100 years lol. Skateboarding is a market they stepped into, not sure how you think there a skateboard brand 😅 that’s like calling Nike a skateboarding brand
@@joshgross8741 Y'all need to stop gatekeeping. By your standards Vans isn't a skateboarding company because they made tennis shoes initially. You make skateboarding products, you're a skateboarding company.
@@AnttiBrax Not gatekeeping. Simply said, "It is a bearing brand." The major bearing companies are SKF, FAG, NTN and NSK. Try any of those in 608. They will all have steel cages and be built to higher standards at CLEAN factories. Hence in the video they give dude shoes to wear. To keep the factory clean. Also tribology is the study of bearings feel free to educate yourself. A good place to start is Hambini on youtube.
I bought some SKF (Ishod ones) and they felt noticeably faster than anything else I've tried out of the box
nahh you're imaging things
I believe you did but I also believe that the bearing doesn't make much difference as long as it's properly greased. The wheel makes or brakes the speed. The brrrrr sound from dozens of tiny flat spots is lost velocity.
This is in fact reality.
that giant bearing OMG
what a great piece, thank you jenkem!
Great channel love the content 💯
I had SKF bearings on my first Alva Jef Hartsel board in the 80's. I had no idea that they made boards in the 70's tho, that was interesting to see.
Haven’t skated since 1995 but this was an epic vid. Ending audio mix was 100%.
skf was hands down the best skate bearings in the 90's. Best regards, an old skater.
mud drilling motors in the oil field used to use em a lot to replace parts
That skatepark in the mountain is so rad.
Greetings from Stockholm, you are doing pretty good Göteborg!
I work at a machine shop in the US that does work for skf
SKF the kings of bearings
this is so COOL, i've used SKF for ever till economy went to shit in my country and i really miss them :(
Ball bearing was invented here so not strange the best ones are made here :)
Bones Swiss Ceramics for me, but this little film and everything in it was so good! Thank you everybody!
Great piece!
Jenkem turning into old school vice and I’m here for it 😍
Such a good video
Great video. Nice info about the company I knew so little about but have been always thinking that they produce the best bearings. Also fun video, combining Swedish engineer talking about bearing standards, good skateboarding and interesting history of the company and Gothenburg the city and it's skate scene.
Good stuff.
I'm surprised a bearing manufacturer, that makes bearings for pretty much anything you can think of, also has a skating divison lol
Why didn't they show "Actionpark" in Burgårdsparken?
SKF and NTN were the bearings of choice for us back in the day - 90's to early 2000's
How did they compare to Bones Swiss?
I use SkF in my zonda.
Love this stuff Jenkem!!! I always buy brand new bearings modus black $20 range (aud) and pop the shields off. Never bother about the abec myself either. The bearings last a long time. Happy go skateboarding!
used to order skf bearings off irvineman's ebay account lol first order had to be 15 years ago at this point
For me the big question is not the abec thing but "do bearings without grease or oil roll faster?" (And what other famous brands are made at skf.)
As a non skater, I had no idea SKF had and is doing these stuff again! That company is like one of the biggest in Sweden, huge really!
Oski shredding my local park at 2:50🔥
Damn this is dope!
Another great video Jenkem. #1 skatemedia
You guys need to do another one with Quantum Bearing Science. They're doing some really interesting stuff as well!
No. Bearing companies just get cheap eastern bearings and color them. SKF is an actual industrial bearing company that is marketing to skaters. The difference is resale vs manufacturing. Major bearing companies make 608 bearings that are used in skateboards. They will have less friction, higher load bearing and steel cages. NTN, FAG, NSK, SKF try any of those.
@@joshgross8741 It is true that Quantum bearings buy from a factory in Asia, however, Quantum do not just colour their bearings. They coat the balls and races in a diamond matrix coating that drastically reduces friction. They also use a nano-ceramic lubricant. I don't know whether they will last as long as a quality bearing from the big name bearing manufacturers but I can tell you they blow SKF and Bones Swiss (WIB?) out of the water in terms of sheer speed. Steel cages are also considered undesirable now for skateboarding as a quality nylon or PEEK cage is faster and lighter. SKF skateboard bearings have a nylon cage and most of the industrial manufacturers also now make 608 bearings with nylon cages.
Loving the high quality niche skate content, keep em coming ♥
I love the video, cheers from Gothenburg!
No one is gonna comment on that guys excellent accent?
They make the best seals also
i need at least 30 min more... beside that, the most important question...they are better than swiss bones?
They're the industry leader since forever, so I'd say yes to that.
Apparently WIB (the original manufacturer of Bones Swiss) stopped making 608 bearings and the quality of Swiss has dropped significantly. My last set of Swiss were average. I'd buy SKF over Bones Swiss now.
Gotham?. I heard they also make bearings for Batman.
Soooooooo Swiss is not where its at after all huh?
Never really was, the magic of packaging and branding.
Depends. Who manufactures their bearings? Anyway, they never succumbed to the ABEC scam so in my books they're still good. I'll buy them as soon as they include spacers...
@@AnttiBrax Bones Swiss were made by Swiss company WIB. However here is a quote from RockN'Ron who used to supply incredible bearings: "WIB bearing doesnt make 608's anymore. WIB had been making Bones Swiss Bearings since 1983, now Bones Swiss are made by someone else and the they are not as good. So I hope Bones works it out and gets their quality back up to what it once was". Interesting. My recently bought "Super Swiss 6" are much better than the Bones Swiss I have so I recommend those. And all of the Swiss line include spacers.
Sick video
Good Job
My father-in-law used to work there at SKF when my wife was a child. She used to get balls of different sizes to play with
but are they better than swiss bones ceramix??? And are swiss ceramix worth the money??
Name your kids Glenn
GBG Änna! 💓
Great vid!
They have facilities in Chicago and the CTA has pallets of these in all of their terminals
good work jenkem
Awesome 👍🏻
Simply the best quality long lasting high speed bearings on the market at a reasonable price.
Their logo font is the most metal shit ever
“Skateboarding bearings are a very small and insignificant part of our company” proceeds to show their massive skatepark inside a god damn mountain……
Skf is gangster!!
Jenkem uploads the best video’s
I also like how in a video that totally has nothing to do with Rodney Mullen, he still makes it in there, even if he's out of frame