bearings, whats easier for maintenance ?rubber or Metal shielded ?
#2
Theres really no point it maintaining your bearings. It is best to just get a bunch of cheap rubber sealed bearings and replace them pretty regularly. If you take the shield off, only to put back on after re-lubing them, you will destroy the tight seal and allow dirt or sand to get into the bearing causing them to fail or break into a million pieces.
#3
Sometimes I can't remove a metal sheild at all. Sometimes I spend a lot of time trying to get under the retaining ring/spring. I think the rubber seals are easier to get out. Of course sometime I mangle a rubber shield.
Oh...and "re-use" is the sincerest for of recycling. Now go hug a tree. Ha ha!