Trimming Fiberglass From a Skateboard

Fiberglass decks have pop.

As a material for skateboard decks, fiberglass has pluses and minuses. It's strong and light, and it has what skaters call "pop," meaning that a board that is all or partially fiberglass launches well into tricks. On the downside, fiberglass is messy to work with when wet and rock-hard when dry. Sanding or cutting cured fiberglass also produces hazardous dust. Trimming fiberglass from a skateboard as part of a repair or customization is best accomplished with a power tool and the proper safety precautions.

Things You'll Need

• Hard, flat work surface
• Screwdriver or Allen wrench
• Skate tool or socket wrench set
• Painter's tape
• Marking pen
• Jigsaw
• Fine-cut carbide jigsaw blade (fiberglass-cutting blade preferred)
• Clamps (optional)
• Dust mask
• Safety glasses
• Epoxy-based filler (optional)
• Plastic putty knife (optional)
• Sanding block
• Fine-grit sandpaper

Instructions

1. Place the skateboard on a hard, flat work surface. Remove the trucks using a screwdriver or Allen wrench and a skate tool or socket wrench. Put the trucks in a safe place.

2. Put painter's tape on the bottom of the board along the line you want to trim, covering the intended cut line, to help prevent splintering. Draw a line on the tape with a marking pen to indicate the cut line.

3. Install a fine-cut carbide blade in a jigsaw. Use a blade designed for cutting fiberglass if possible. Follow the instruction manual for the jigsaw to set the blade speed and orbit for fiberglass materials if the saw has those features. In general, cut fiberglass on a low speed setting with low or no orbit.

4. Put on a dust mask and safety glasses. Clamp the board to the work surface or hold it firmly. Start the saw and begin trimming the board using low speed. Follow the cut line, advancing the saw slowly. Allow the blade to do the work instead of trying to force it to cut faster.

5. Remove the tape once trimming is complete and check the edge. Fill any gaps in the laminate by pressing an epoxy-based filler into them with a plastic putty knife. Use a sanding block equipped with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the edge of the board. Reinstall the trucks.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have grip-tape on the top of the skateboard deck in the area you want to trim, use painter's tape there as well to prevent splintering.

• Use a dust mask or respirator rated for hazardous dust when working with cured fiberglass and epoxy.

References

• Exploratorium: Skateboard Science
• Inside Woodworking: Jigsaw Blades Review
• Boatbuilding: Standard Practices for Working with Fiberglass

Resources

• Silverfish Longboarding: How Mauiline does it without a vac-bag