How To

How to Make a Skimboard

How to Make a Skimboard
Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(38 Ratings)

Use a piece of plywood and a few power tools to make a quick and easy skimboard.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Borrow a skimboard from friend or go to a shop and look at skimboard shapes. If you can, bring in a big piece of paper and trace a board, or at least write down the dimensions. This will be your template.

  2. Step 2

    Get a piece of plywood big enough to accommodate your template. The higher quality the wood, the better your board will turn out.

  3. Step 3

    Trace your template onto the plywood.

  4. Step 4

    Use a skillsaw to cut out the template. If you don't have a circular saw or access to one, your local hardware/lumber store is often willing to do the cutting for you, especially if you buy the wood from them.

  5. Step 5

    Apply a router to the edges of the board. The more you can round it off, the better.

  6. Step 6

    Sand the entire board on both sides. This is very important. Make sure it's very smooth.

  7. Step 7

    Treat the board to a heavy waterproofing lacquer.

  8. Step 8

    Sand and lacquer again. Repeat until you feel the board is finished. Three coats will usually be good enough.

  9. Step 9

    Test the board by shoving it onto wet sand and seeing if it slides.

Tips & Warnings
  • You can stain or paint the board before you lacquer it to give it some extra style. Put an extra-heavy first coat of lacquer over your dried paint or stain job so you don't lose it when you re-sand.
  • This board will not function as well as a store-bought board.
  • If you have a belt sander, sand the bottom of the board away around the edges, especially at the nose and tail of the board. This gives its shape some rocker.
  • You can also sand the middle of the top away to make it a little concave.
  • Be careful using power tools. If you're not sure about using them, ask for some help.
  • Sand the board completely or you'll end up with a nasty splinter.

Comments  

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rcskim said

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on 2/14/2009 Curse my darn computer and multiple comment posting!!! GRRRR! Sorry!!!

rcskim said

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on 2/14/2009 If you're really interested in making a nice board visit http://inlandskimboarding.blogspot.com/2008/08/makingbuilding-skimboard.html Great tips and information!

rcskim said

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on 2/14/2009 If you're really interested in making a nice board visit http://inlandskimboarding.blogspot.com/2008/08/makingbuilding-skimboard.html Great tips and information!

rcskim said

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on 2/14/2009 If you're really interested in making a nice board visit http://inlandskimboarding.blogspot.com/2008/08/makingbuilding-skimboard.html Great tips and information!

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on 8/14/2007 OK I WORK AT AN ARCHITECTURAL GLAS METAL AND WOOD COMPANY I DO AUTOCAD DRAFTING AND PROGRAM AND RUN A CNC WATERJET I CAN DRAW UP A SHAPE, CUT IT ON THE WATER JET, LET IT SIT OVER NIGHT, COME BACK IN THE MORNING AND APPLY THE LACUER AND THEN 1/8TH POLYCARBONATE. I HAVE QUESTIONS THOUGH ABOUT SHAPE AND WHATEVER ELSE I NED TO KNOW IF IT WORKS OUT GOOD I WILL MAKE ONE FOR WHOEVER GIVES ME THE ADVISE I NEED MAYBE EVEN GO FURTHER THAN THAT

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eHow Article: How to Make a Skimboard

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