Skater’s Tips To Build A Perfect Skateboard

Have you ever been curious about the process of creating your own skateboard? We are excited to help you along the journey of crafting your very own skateboard. Skateboarding isn’t just a sport. Skating is a lifestyle and passion shared by millions of skateboarders around the globe. If you are into this lifestyle, then you probably have decided to build your own skateboard; customizing your skateboard decks to your skate preference and riding style. If you want to pursue that sports and fitness interest, then this entry is for you and your skateboard.

In this article, you will learn the steps on how to make a skateboard in an easy way. Start with the top basic knowledge on selecting the right materials for your skateboard, designing your skateboard decks with your own unique board style, cutting and shaping the skateboard with precision, sanding and finishing for that smooth skateboard ride, assembling your skateboard with care, and finally testing it out for pure joy! The journey of assembling a skateboard will bring joy and fulfillment to your sports and fitness goal.

Skateboarding making: A man with mask and gloves makes a skateboard.
Source: pexels.com

Constructing a skateboard is more than just crafting an object; it’s about bringing your sports and fitness vision to life. Whether you’re a seasoned skater or someone who just wants to build your own skateboard and experience the thrill of creating something unique with your own hands – We are here to help every step of the way – from start to finish of your sports and fitness journey.

Things You Need:

Make sure to shop and have all these set of resources for your board. Don’t forget the glue and a wheel too.

  • Skateboard Deck (Material: Maple Wood, Shape: Popsicle)
  • Skateboard Wheels (Diameter: 60mm, Hardness: 78a)
  • Skateboard Trucks (Width: 7.75”, Axle Type: Standard)
  • Skateboard Grip tape (Style: Perforated, Color: Black)

So what are you waiting for? Let’s put all things to make your skateboard dreams a reality!

Skateboard 

We believe in the joy and satisfaction of crafting a skate with our own hands and have had the pleasure of watching our own skateboard creation come alive, starting with skate cutting and skate sanding the materials and then assembling the skate pieces. We’ll start from here.

The skateboard consists of several parts, such as the deck, trucks, truck holes, grip tape, wheels, and bearings. Each part can be specified based on your exact needs and skate preferences, such as the skate deck material, the inches of skateboard, size of the skate wheels, its truck holes, size of bolts, and the type of skate bearings. At the end of the day, it’s all about the joy and satisfaction of seeing our creation come alive. We can now hit the streets and show off our custom-built skateboard. Let’s get out there and ride our masterpiece!

Choosing The Materials 

We understand that when it comes to skateboarding, aesthetics are important, but selecting the right materials for crafting your board is even more essential. That’s why we highly recommend prioritizing material sustainability and conducting a thorough durability assessment. By carefully considering these factors, you can choose new skateboards and learn to skate in a way that ensures your board not only looks good but also performs well and is safe for your skateboarding adventures.

Skateboard making: Man measuring the skateboard inside the room and making sure the skateboard is shaped correctly.
Source: pexels.com

 

When choosing materials to make a skateboard, focus on a strong deck, quality parts, durable hardware, and grip tape to provide good traction, like sandpaper.

When it comes to choosing the materials for creating, you have to consider not just their performance, but the durability and safety. Moreover, factors such as the weight of the board, its size, the materials used, and its overall design are important.

Build And Craft Your Skateboard Deck

The first step is sketching a new design, letting our creativity flow, and then considering how our skateboarding style might influence this desired shape design. Creating your own custom skateboard deck for street skateboarding and choosing the perfect skateboard wheels and grip tape, along with essential protective gear like knee pads and wrist guards, is all about creating a board that not only looks good but also aligns with your unique skateboarding needs and personality. Don’t forget to visit your local skate shop for the best selection of components to build your own custom skateboard.

Sketching Design

It’s time to let your skateboard imagination run wild and let your creative juices flow as you sketch out the skateboard of your dreams! When designing a skateboard, it would be best to cater it to your skateboard riding style. Once the skateboard sketches are ready, it’s time to dive into the details of personalizing this skateboard from your unique style. We should keep in mind the skateboard’s length, width, skateboard materials, skateboard color, and skateboard shape. Additionally, it’s important to think about how the skateboard’s design should reflect the type of skateboarding style it is intended for.

Design Consideration

Let’s dive into the specifics of your skateboard style and explore how it can be reflected in your skateboard design. Whether you’re into downhill skateboard racing, mastering skateboard tricks at the skatepark, or cruising the streets, your style of skating is a reflection of your individuality and passion for the sport.

  • Take time to consider skateboard parts that complement your unique skateboarding style and preferences. The deck shape, wheel size, materials, and terrain suitability of your skateboard all play a vital role in providing the perfect fit for your skating needs. Use a guide to find the best components to add in place.
  • By customizing your skateboard, you can ensure that every element caters to your specific style, making it easier to execute your favorite skateboard tricks, carve through turns with precision, or enjoy smooth rides through urban landscapes.
  • With a personalized skateboard, you can truly express yourself and elevate your experience to new heights. Whether you’re a seasoned skater or just a newbie in skateboarding, having a skateboard that aligns with your style will enhance your connection with the sport and amplify the joy you find in skateboarding.
  • As you consider the design of your skateboard, think about the type of skating you do most often. Do you prefer to race downhill or do skateboard tricks? Are you a street skater, or do you prefer the skatepark? Each of these elements will impact the design of your skateboard, so it’s important to consider them carefully.

Cutting And Shaping The Board

As we delve into the world of cutting and shaping our own skateboard, safety is paramount. We’ll be walking through the precautions that need to be taken while cutting the board to avoid any accidents or injuries.

Once we’ve got our rough shape cut out, it’s all about fine-tuning that shape into the perfect deck for shredding up the streets.

Safety Precautions 

  • As skateboarders, it’s essential to remember safety is a priority, and creating a clean and precise line during the skateboard building process ensures a well-built and reliable skateboard.
  • Ensure you have all the necessary power safety tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) to complete your skateboard project successfully. This includes gloves, goggles, and earmuffs, which are all necessary to protect your health from potential dangers while building your skateboard.
  • Once your safety is taken care of, you can focus on building your skateboard deck. We can’t stress enough how important it is to use the right safety precautions when cutting the skateboard deck. The cutting process of your skateboard deck involves careful precision and includes materials such as wood, fiberglass, and plastic.
  • To ensure your newly built skateboard is a success, we highly recommend investing in quality tools, such as saws, drills, and routers, and following any safety instructions on the PPE packaging. Using the right tools, including a reliable drill, ensures precision.  A drill also adds efficiency in building your skateboard.

Fine-Tuning The Board’s Shape

Fine-tuning the shape of your skateboard, including adjusting the trucks and ensuring proper alignment of the bigger wheels, is where the real magic happens on the ground. This process is about personalizing and giving life to your board, as well as exploring different deck curvatures, experimenting with nose and tail variations, adjusting nose width for comfort and control, and modifying the wheelbase for maneuverability.

Sanding And Finishing 

You’ll feel a real sense of accomplishment when you start sanding and finishing your skateboard by using sand paper, giving it that rewarding experience of a professional look. It’s all about mastering the right sanding techniques to get that smooth surface.

Then, select various finish types such as polyurethane, lacquer, or varnish to protect and enhance the appearance of your deck.

Finishing Touches

Now that you’ve made your deck smooth and shiny, it’s time to start lining it with grip tape and assembling the hardware for your skateboarding adventures. First, we’ll apply the grip tape to ensure a secure foothold. Next, we’ll start assembling the truck to make sure the wheels are firmly attached. It is worth mentioning that wheel size and hardness should align with your skating style and preferences.

Skateboard making - skateboard middleman
Source: unsplash.com

 

Finally, we’ll test it out to see how well your skateboard performs! It is important to have a reliable skateboard setup that can handle the toughest tricks. Creating a skateboard comprises decks, skate trucks, skate wheels, skate bearings, and other skate accessories. With the right tools and technique, you can make sure your board is ready to hit the street or the skatepark.

Testing Your Skateboard

  • Having the right skateboard can make a huge difference in your life. That’s why, after you build your custom-made skateboard, it’s important to test the skateboard and make sure it meets all your creating needs.
  • Evaluate the skateboard’s durability and how well the skateboard handles different terrain types. With the right skateboard, you can have the confidence to take on the streets and experience the freedom of skateboarding.
  • To ensure that your newly built skateboard is reliable and stylish, check how the skateboard responds to twists and turns and different terrain types. Is the skateboard durable enough? Does the skateboard handle your skateboarding stunts and tricks well?
  • Testing your skateboard can be fun by trying out games, practicing tricks in a straight line, or riding in a large, open space.

Conclusion

We’ve come to the end of our journey together, starting with selecting the finest materials and proceeding to execute a custom design.

We believe in the joy and satisfaction of creating something with our own hands. We’ve had the pleasure of watching our own skateboard creation come alive, beginning with cutting and sanding the materials, assembling the pieces, and finally, testing our masterpiece!

FAQs:

Can You Build Skateboards At Home?

Yes, you can assemble a skateboard at home using materials and tools available at home improvement stores. You’ll need a skateboard deck (the entire board), skateboard bearings, wood glue, and an axle nut to assemble the trucks. A skate tool will be useful for adjusting and tightening components, and a paint roller can help apply grip tape to the deck.

Do Girls Build Sturdy Skateboards?

Absolutely! Skateboarding is a sport that can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their gender. Girls can skateboard just as well as boys and excel in the sport. It’s all about having fun, expressing yourself, and challenging yourself to progress in skateboarding. Anyone can do that with the right attitude and determination.

Can You Make Longboards Out Of Solid Wood?

While it is technically possible to make a skateboard out of solid wood, it may not be the best choice for optimal performance. Solid wood decks can be heavy, less flexible, and less responsive compared to modern skateboard decks made of multiple layers of high-quality plywood. Using solid wood may work fine for certain applications, but for most skateboarders, a deck made of laminated plywood with the right amount of flexibility and strength is a better choice for achieving the desired performance and feel while riding.

Can You Make Longboards Out Of Plastic?

Making a skateboard entirely out of plastic is not recommended as plastic lacks the necessary strength and rigidity to provide a stable and safe riding experience. Skateboards require materials with a good balance of flexibility and durability to withstand the impact and stress of tricks and maneuvers. Using plastic alone would not provide the necessary performance and stability that riders need for skateboarding.

How Do Longboards Get Their Graphics?

Skateboards get their graphics through a process called screen printing. In this method, the desired graphics are transferred onto the board’s deck using a screen with the graphic pattern and ink. The screen is pressed against the skateboard deck, and ink is forced through the screen to create the design on side or any part of the skateboard.

How To Create a Longboard Wheel?

Making skateboard wheels is a complex manufacturing process that involves specialized machinery and materials. It typically requires injecting urethane into molds and curing them under specific conditions to create the desired hardness and shape of the wheels. This process is carried out in factories by skateboard wheel manufacturers and is not something that can be easily done at home.

How To Create Beautiful And Great Longboards?

  • To make a skateboard, you should not skip this step by step process. Begin by selecting boards’ deck among the various types of skateboard decks available.
  • Use a band saw or utility knife to cut the skateboard deck to your preferred cut or shape and sand the edges.
  • Then, attach the skateboard trucks to the deck using bolts and an Allen key, making sure the skateboard wheels face upwards.
  • Finally, press and install the skateboard bearings into the wheels and add harder wheels if you prefer a faster ride while skateboarding.
  • Double-check all components from skateboard decks, skateboard trucks to skateboard wheels, and ensure your skateboard is in good condition before giving it a test ride to verify its performance.

What To Look For When Making Beautiful Longboards?

When making a skateboard, it’s important to have some basic knowledge about skateboard components and their functions. Look for a skateboard deck that suits your style and riding preferences, ensuring it’s made of quality materials like maple wood. Check the trucks and wheels for sturdiness and smoothness, and use a belt sander to smooth any rough edges on the deck. Test-ride the skateboard to ensure it works fine and provides a comfortable ride with good stability and maneuverability. From now on, you will ride your own skate.

What Material Should I Use For Skateboard?

To make a skateboard, you will need a skateboard mold, a mold made from metal pieces or foam molds. The skateboard deck is commonly made from multiple layers of maple wood or Canadian maple, which is strong and durable. The skateboard’s construction is often done using a vacuum bag process, where the layers are pressed together tightly to remove all air bubbles and ensure a solid bond.

How To Build Skateboards For Beginners?

  • To assemble a skateboard for beginners, start by selecting a suitable skateboard deck that works fine for beginners and offers a bit more control, ensuring the bigger wheels suit your preferred skateboarding style.
  • Choose skateboard trucks with a bearing slide facing upwards for stability and easy maneuvering. Ensure the skateboard has the right grip tape and suitable wheels for skate parks, and make sure all components are well-assembled for a safe and enjoyable skateboarding ride. Repeat the process if you need to build another one.

How Should I Design My Longboard?

What Are The Right Materials To Use When Designing Longboards?

Last Updated on July 3, 2024 by Raymond Sy Tamco

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