How to Build a Skateboard Deck

Skateboarding is a popular hobby that many enjoy. It also works well as a low-impact form of exercise. Skateboards can be purchased from a variety of stores, but true enthusiasts love building their own. Learning how to build your own skateboard deck is a satisfying accomplishment.
The main part of a skateboard is the deck, which is the long piece of wood that the trucks and wheels are mounted to. This may seem complicated at first, but once your materials are together and you begin working on it, you will find this to be an easy way to learn some basic woodworking techniques.
This plan can also be adjusted for longer or shorter boards, according to your own personal liking.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Sharpened pencil
• 1 skateboard deck mold
• Maple Veneer: 2 sheets at least 5x5
• 8 12-inch wood clamps
• Hand-held jigsaw
• Wood rasp
• Sander, or several sheets of coarse sand paper
• 1 large container of wood glue
• 1 vinyl sheet, 20 gauge thick or other thick vinyl
• bladder with vacuum attachment
• Vacuum with hose attachment
• Rubber mallet
• Plastic mesh
• 1 large piece of cardboard
• Paint, transfers, decals, or stickers of your choice for decoration

1. Cut seven sheets from the maple veneer that are 34 by 11 inches.
   Three should be cut with the grain running lengthwise, the rest width-wise. Use sandpaper or a sander to smooth out any ridges or wood burs on the freshly cut edges.

2. Glue one of the boards that has the grain running width-wise to a lengthwise board. Next, glue these boards to another width-wise, and stack all three on top of the deck mold.

3. Place the boards and deck mold into the plastic mesh.
   Then place the meshed boards into the vinyl sheet.
   Attach the vacuum hose to hose attachment on the vinyl sheet/bladder and turn on vacuum to suck out all of the air.
   Make sure the glued boards are holding up against the board press and do not slip as the air is being removed from the bag.

4. Hit the curves of the board with the rubber mallet to ensure there are no air pockets and to help establish the curve.
   Once the air is removed, seal the bag and let it sit for four hours.

5. Remove the seal of the bag after the four hours has passed. The glued boards should be bent to the same shape as the deck mold and should resemble the familiar shape of a skateboard by now.
   Repeat steps two through seven using the final four boards that were cut out of the maple veneer. At this point, there shouldn't be any remaining boards.

6. Cut a template to the desired shape of the board using an old skateboard or any custom measurements. Trace the template onto the newly curved maple veneer boards.
   Use the jigsaw to cut the maple veneers into the shape traced from the template. Smooth any imperfections using the sandpaper.
   Your deck is now complete and ready to be turned into a skateboard by attaching the trucks, wheels, and decorations.

Tips & Warnings

• When putting maple veneers into vinyl bag, make sure they don't slip off the top of the mold while you are removing the air. If they do, your skateboard deck could turn out crooked and you will have to start all over again. Don't use an old skateboard as your mold, since they are usually not sturdy enough to help bend the veneers into the shape you need for a proper skateboard deck.