As well as the Real popslickle deck and Bones bearings mentioned in my previous posts, the guys over at SkateAmerica.com have hooked us up with some Shorty’s Silverados… Now i know what you’re probably thinking, what can be said about hardware that you don’t already know? We are only talking about nuts and bolts after all… Aren’t they all the same?
In function, certainly… All hardware is pretty much the same. But I think it is worth us all paying homage to Shorty’s Silverado hardware, in fact no, to Shorty’s as a whole, not just their hardware.
This small company, small at least by today’s corporate skateboarding standards, has been a mainstay in skateboarding since it was started (by the ever illusive Tony Buvalos) in the early 90’s, going largely unappreciated in comparison to a lot of the big names, most notably in comparison to Powell and Bones, with whom Shorty’s has something of an ongoing feud due to historical bad blood with George Powell. This is documented quite well on both Shorty’s website, and on their Facebook/Instagram pages. While Nike, Hypebeast, and Supreme have infiltrated the scene Shorty’s hasn’t tried to fight back… They’ve just kept doing what they do, and have been doing it better than anyone!
Let’s spare a moment to look back at some of the products that this company has brought to skateboarding over the years and why you should pick up Silderado’s rather than whatever hardware your shop offers for free/cheep. Shorty’s have had a hand in everything you need, Curb Candy wax, Black Magic Grip Tape, Black Panther Bearings, Doh Doh bushings, and let’s not forget accessories- anybody remember the Muska backpack? Silverado hardware was innovative but at the same time solved problems nobody even knew existed at the time, including being able to know your board is the right way around! Lets not forget that when Shorty’s started skateboarding was filled with gimmicks like the dreaded bridge bolt, or U-bolts… *shudder*
“Just get shop hardware” people say time and time again on our forums, but here are a few reasons you should order Shorty’s Silverado’s instead.
Silverado’s are the original “directional” hardware, back when some skaters were still riding U-bolts (ask your Dad) Shorty’s were busy creating the bolts we all use today.
Almost all Shorty’s hardware comes half threaded, why thread a bolt the entire length when you’re not even going to use half of that thread? By only threading half of the bolt they are stronger than fully threaded bolts.
Silverado’s come with a smaller countersink heads than most other bolts. The countersinks are the conical holes drilled into your deck for mounting your trucks. By making the countersink heads of the bolts smaller you are less likely to have griptape mounds around your bolts (which i personally find really annoying), and will put less stresses on your deck around the bolts. Silverado’s come in 7/8″, 1″, 1 1/8″, and even 1 1/4″ for you longboard slags. In each length they come in either Phillips and Allen heads.
When you buy a set of Silverado’s you get 2 shiny silver bolts, and 6 regular black Shorty’s bolts. Depending on where you buy them you will also get a sticker – but which sticker you get depends on when and where you buy them. 1″ is perfect for most set-ups, although if you’re riding trucks with really thin base plates (like Forged Indy’s for example) you should probably go for the 7/8″s… You don’t have to. If you are intending to use riser or shock pads however you should definitely go with 1″ or 1 1/8″s.
I’ve recently been to my local skateshop to pick up some bolts to put together a board made from left over parts and have picked up a set of Shorty’s “color tips” bolts, which come in a variet of different colours. So if you want something more interesting than black and silver hardware you can combine a pack of Silverado’s with a pack of color tipped bolts to create whatever blend of colours you want – red, white, and blue, rasta colors… Whatever you fancy. They’re super cheap so are a great way to personalise the top of your deck without the effort of custom grip jobs.
They still have the same smaller countersink heads that Silverado’s come with, as well as being half threaded for the same strength and weight advantages previously discussed. The only thing i would add regarding the coloured tips is that they paint can, and will chip off them – which wouldn’t happen with an anodized metal bolts (like those offered by Creature)… Something to bear in mind.
Silverado bolts and other Shorty’s hardware is available from our buddies over at SkateAmerica.com, if you are part of the Shake Junt epidemic getting mad hyped over coloured hardware, why not try some next time you set up a freshie, these are the originals and the best (in my opinion) – from a company that forms part of skateboardings vanguard of skater owned businesses who do it for the love.
