How to Build a Fingerboard Ramp
Fingerboard ramps are fun little accessories that make your hobby seem more like real skateboarding. You can make your fingerboard air out and do tricks over obstacles with kickers and launch ramps. With half pipes and quarter pipes, you can air out, do a trick, and then land back down on the ramp and keep riding. If you can learn how to build your own fingerboard ramps, you can create your own personalized miniature skate park, and make your ramps as big or as small as you want.
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Things You'll Need
- Block of wood, 7 by 7 by 16 inches
- Block of wood, 6 by 6 by 8 inches
- 2 blocks of wood, 4 by 4 by 4 inches
- Vertical band saw
- Compass
- Medium-grit sandpaper
- Pencil
- Paper
Instructions
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Half Pipe
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1
Set a compass to six inches and draw a 12-inch circle on a large piece of paper. Cut the circle out and cut it in half. Throw one of the halves away.
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2
Set a 7 by 7 by 16-inch block of wood on a table with the largest side facing up. On the top edge of the block, use a ruler to measure two inches in from each of the top corners, straight across, and make a mark with your pencil.
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3
Align the flat edge of the half-circle up with the top edge of the wood in between the two marks you made. Trace the outline of the arch onto the wood with a pencil.
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4
Take the block of wood to a vertical band saw and set it on the surface with your drawing facing up. Guide the block with your hands carefully through the blade and follow the curve of your outline. Discard the extra wood.
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5
Fold a piece of medium-grit sandpaper in half twice and use short, circular motions on the incline of your half pipe fingerboard ramp to smooth out any rough spots left by the band saw blade.
Quarter Pipe
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6
Set a compass to six inches and draw a 12-inch circle onto a large piece of paper. Draw two straight lines going through the center of the circle, one horizontally and one vertically, and cut out one of the quarter pieces.
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7
Align the corner of your template with a corner on the largest side of a 6 by 6 by 8-inch block of wood and hold it in place, making sure the straight edges are even with each other. Trace the outline of the arch onto the wood with a pencil.
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8
Set the block on the band saw surface with the drawing facing up. Guide it through the blade and follow your curved outline carefully. Discard the extra wood.
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9
Use a medium-grit sandpaper to smooth out the incline of your quarter pipe fingerboard ramp using short, circular motions.
Kicker Ramp
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10
Draw a straight line for your incline from the bottom corner to the opposite edge of a 4 by 4 by 4-inch block of wood. The higher you make your incline, the higher your fingerboard will be able to jump. Lowering the incline will compensate for a greater distance jump.
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11
Place the block of wood on a band saw with your incline sketch facing up and guide it through the blade, following your straight line closely. Discard the extra wood.
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12
Use a medium to fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out the incline.
Launch Ramps
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13
Draw a line that gently curves upwards from the bottom corner to the opposite edge of a 4 by 4 by 4-inch block of wood. Create a lip at the end by spiking your incline up sharply. The bigger the lip is, the higher your fingerboard can jump.
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14
Take the wood to a band saw with the incline sketch facing up and cut along the curves of your line carefully, discarding the extra wood.
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15
Clean up and smooth out your launch ramp's incline with a medium to fine-grit sandpaper.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Use relief cuts to get around the tricky curves of half pipes, quarter pipes, and launch ramps.
The ideal incline angle for a kicker ramp is between 30 and 45 degrees.
Experiment with different angles and create several different ramps for your fingerboard to use for various obstacles.
Decorate and customize your fingerboard ramps by applying three to four thin layers of acrylic paint, allowing 10 to 15 minutes of dry time in between each coat.
Always wear the appropriate personal protection equipment and take the necessary precautions when operating a band saw.
Be sure to sand everything evenly to avoid warping the shape of your incline.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit skateboard over two barrier image by DianaStrizhigotskaya from Fotolia.com
