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How to Customize a Hoverboard

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Updated June 27, 2022

Hoverboards offer kids and adults the freedom of personal transportation, offering a self-balancing alternative to walking, jogging, or riding a bicycle. Some riders may be wondering how to customize a hoverboard, to let their individuality shine through. We are here to help.

How to Customize a Hoverboard

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: Varies

Total Steps: Varies

Tools Needed: skins, straight edge, washi tape, X-acto knife, cleansing wipes, spray paint, painting tape, and more

Hoverboard Customization Ideas

Here are some relatively easy to implement customization options, so you can really make your hoverboard pop as you ride it around town.

Hoverboard Skins and Stickers

Hoverboard skins, otherwise known as hoverboard decals, offer a simple way to make your device stand out from the rest. These stickers are available in a wide variety of design and color options and look good while you’re doing tricks on your hoverboard. Before purchasing a skin or decal, make sure that it is fully compatible with your hoverboard. This can usually be done by conducting some simple measurements. Here are simple steps on how to affix a hoverboard skin.

Clean the hoverboard thoroughly. Use a cleansing wipe to fully clean the exterior of the device, removing all dirt and grime. This will ensure that the skin can be applied evenly.
Remove the skin from the packaging and affix it to the hoverboard. Work slowly and carefully as you firmly press the decal onto the surface of the device.
Remove bubbles and inaccuracies. Take a straight edge and smooth out any air bubbles that formed during the installation process. Keep smoothing over the hoverboard’s surface until you are satisfied with the results.

Tip: Before purchasing a skin or decal, make sure that it is fully compatible with your hoverboard

Design the Hoverboard Yourself

If you can’t seem to find a decal that suits your fancy on Amazon or elsewhere throughout the Internet, you can always work up your own design. You can always affix traditional stickers to a hoverboard, as well as colored duct tape. Here are some general tips to help you get the design you want.

Gather your tools. If you are going to be applying colored duct tape, or if you plan on cutting stickers to suit your preferred design, make sure to have an X-acto knife and related tools.
Work slowly and use caution. If you are covering your hoverboard with stickers and tape, you will want to exercise caution to avoid covering creating any overlap, which can impact the overall efficacy of the board.
Finalize the design. Once you are pleased with your handiwork, go through with the X-acto knife and carefully cut around any essential components. This includes footpads, LED lights, and lithium-ion battery charging ports.

Tip: You can always affix traditional stickers to a hoverboard, as well as colored duct tape

Painting a Hoverboard

If stickers and decals are not suitable, you can apply a full paint job to your hoverboard. Beware, this step is not reversible, so exercise extreme caution as you proceed with the painting process. Here are some helpful tips for anyone learning to paint their hoverboard.

Use spray paint. We highly recommend against using traditional brush-based paint, as spray paint will offer a more desirable end result.
Tape off crucial areas. Once you have chosen a spray paint color, be sure to go around and cover any areas you do not want to be painted with tape. This includes any LED lights, wheels, charging ports, and more. Make sure you learn how to take apart your hoverboard’s wheels before you start painting.
Let it dry. Once you have completed the painting process, give the hoverboard some time to dry off.
Repeat until finished. Apply another layer and let it dry once again. Repeat this process until your hoverboard is looking utterly fantastic.

Tip: Beware, this step is not reversible, so exercise extreme caution as you proceed with the painting process

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoverboard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-balancing_scooter

https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4371&context=sspapers

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xqV9qMsOD0

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju3Z0u_ksbg

How to Customize a Hoverboard FAQ

What things do you need to customize your hoverboard?

Depending on the type of customization you are going for, a number of different tools may be needed. These include spray paint, duct tape, stickers, an X-acto knife, and more.

What are some of the alternative methods of customizing a hoverboard?

In addition to affixing a full-body decal, there are several alternative methods of customizing a hoverboard. People can spray-paint the board or create their own design using traditional stickers and duct tape.

What precautions do you have to follow while you design your own hoverboard?

While customizing your board, there are some common-sense precautions to take. If painting, be sure to tape up any essential components before starting, such as charging ports and LED lights. If affixing a decal, be sure to go around with a straight edge to remove any bubbles and deformities. It’s important to learn how to properly clean your self-balancing scooter before and after you start any project.

Should I use glue while customizing my hoverboard?

We strongly recommend against using glue while customizing a hoverboard with wheels, as glue can cause harm to a board’s internal components and ruin the overall hoverboard riding experience. If you’re customizing a hoverboard as a gift, take some time to learn how to ship a hoverboard safely before sending your custom board off to its lucky recipient.

Lawrence Bonk

Lawrence Bonk is a copywriter with a decade of experience in the tech space, with columns appearing in Engadget, Huffington Post and CBS, among others. He has a cat named Cinnamon.