How to Make Skateboards
Thanks to Pro Skaters Tony Hawk, Ryan Sheckler and Rob Dyrdek, skateboarding is popular. But buying a skateboard can seriously crush your wallet. Making your own custom skateboard can serve as a fun project as well as keep some money in your pocket.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Unfinished deck
- Ruler
- Trucks with wheels attached
- Paint or natural wood stain
- Drill
- Sandpaper or machine sander
- Grip tape
- Old t-shirt or rag
- Wood stain and/or paint
- Paintbrush
Instructions
-
-
1
Purchase an unfinished skateboard deck at your local skate shop. Make sure the deck is made of hardwood and is durable so it does not break when you do tricks.
-
2
Make four pencil marks where you are going to place your trucks. Use a ruler to ensure the holes are straight and in alignment. Trucks should be purchased with wheels already attached.
-
-
3
Match up your drill bit size with the size of the screws on the trucks. You will make make four holes onto your deck on the right side, and four on the left.
-
4
Attach the trucks to your board by lining up the holes and drilling screws securely. Do not tighten the screws too tight to be certain you do not crack the wood. Now you will need to sand your board. Using a coarse sandpaper or a machine sander, begin smoothing out your board.
-
5
When your board is completely smooth, using your old t-shirt or rag, apply the natural wood finish to the board. If you are going to paint your board, do not apply the wood stain; instead, begin painting. Allow 24 hours for wood stain and/or paint to dry.
-
6
Apply the grip tape to the top side of the board.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you wish to apply decals to your skateboard, do so after adding the grip tape.
Make certain the alignment of your trucks is straight to avoid skating out of alignment. This can be dangerous. Always test your board out for safety before riding it.
