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Simple Longboard
From MAKE Magazine
This project first appeared on the pages of MAKE magazine.
Making your own custom longboard is simpler than you think.
- Author: Mark Frauenfelder
- Time required: 2 Days
- Difficulty: Easy
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Last year my 13-year-old daughter asked for a skateboard, so I gave her my 20-year-old board (which wasn’t seeing much use). She liked to ride it along the bank of the Los Angeles River, and I would ride with her on a Razor scooter. But after a while, I started to miss having a skateboard, and I thought it would be fun to make one.
I put it off for a few months, until I saw a video of Lloyd Kahn, the well-known maker and former geodesic dome guru, cruising down a gently sloped street (makezine.com/g
I went online to look for plans. There are many plans and kits available, but they seemed overly complex for what I was setting out to do. I simply wanted a 4-foot-long board that wouldn’t sag too much when I stood in the middle of it. My solution was to make a board with a hump in it.
Here’s how I did it.
Tools (continued)
Relevant parts
- Plywood (2), Baltic birch, 1/4" thick, 48"x8"
- Grip tape
- Skate trucks (2)
- Skateboard wheels (4)
- Glue, Gorilla, wood
- Tape
- View:
- Paginated
- Full width
Edit Step 3
— Clamp.
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Using multiple clamps, pinch the boards together. Do not disturb the setup for 24 hours.
The next day when I removed the boxes of books, the 2 pieces of wood stayed bent. I flipped the boards over, stood on the hump and bounced up and down a bunch of times to make sure it could support my weight without breaking. It passed the test.
Edit Step 4
— Mark.
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Next, you need to draw a template of the end of the skateboard. Naturally, it helps if you have a board on hand for reference. I drew a template using Adobe Illustrator.
Cut out the template, and tape it to one end of your new board.
Then use a pencil to transfer the shape to the board. I used the same template on both ends.
Edit Step 6
— Add trucks and wheels.
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Next you need to add the trucks and wheels. I bought a set from Amazon for about $35.
Install them on the board and test it out in on the pavement.
I discovered that when I leaned into the skateboard, the wheels came in contact with the wood. The skateboard would come to a screeching halt, sending me sprawling.
So I used the band saw to cut some clearance arcs for the wheels. This did the trick. Now I could make turns without having to worry about the wheels jamming into the wood.
Edit Step 7
— Finish.
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I painted a design on the bottom of the skateboard and sprayed on several coats of polyurethane.
Finally, you will need to add grip tape. I added clear grip tape to the entire top surface of the skateboard. (I found out that I don’t like clear grip tape, because it gets dirty really fast. Next time I’ll use black grip tape.)
This guide has been completed 17 times.
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Guide
Hey John, as long as you have those cutouts on the side it really shouldn't matter how big the wheels are. I used 76mm wheels. Here's the package I bought: http://www.amazon.com/LONGBOARD-Package-...
Love the design you painted on the underside. V. fun and cool. What was your inspiration?
I really like the work of Jim Flora. He was a jazz record art director in the 1940s and 1950s. He was really good at making visually exciting designs using just a few colors. Here's a link to some of his work: http://jimflora.com/gallery/recordcovers...
I was so excited to try this project myself when I read the article, so I did. But tonight whenever I took my clamps off and tried to stand on it, it did not hold my weight and I even heard it start to crack - and that was only with about half of my weight on it (I'm a mere 150 lbs). My 6 year old daughter tried it and it help up enough, but it still bowed a lot more than I thought. The only thing that I veered from the creator's project was that I couldn't find "Baltic" birch plywood, only birch plywood and I did not use Gorilla "wood glue", but just gorilla glue. Would those two things really have made such an impact?
Adam Scott, · Reply
Hey Adam, sorry it didn't work out for you! A couple of questions:
1. How thick was the plywood?
2. Did you use a generous amount of glue?
3. Could you send me some photos so I can inspect it?
4. If you are coming to Maker Faire, please bring it with you so I can have a closer look.
Please don't get discouraged. We will figure it out!
Adam, I think I ran into the same problem as you. I bought the Birchwood plywood from the HomeDepot. But I think Ben Klebe had it correct that we should really buy the Baltic Birch. I am heading out to get some of the Baltic Birch from my local WoodCraft store. I will respond back to let you know if this is successful.
Very cool project! Made one for my son and am making a second one. Really a sweet ride!
Some pics:
Mike Adair, · Reply
Thanks for sharing your pics with us, Mike! I just blogged it on Makezine: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/05...
Cheers!
Very cool design! I just finished my first for my niece to take back to school. She is a huge Dr. Who fan.
I'm so excited to build this with my friend this summer, but was wondering what truck number you used - on amazon, the 35$, 76 mm trucks can be purchased with either 6.0 or 7.0 trucks.
Isaac Bruce, · Reply
I'm not sure which ones I got. I would get the larger ones, though.
I've found Titebond III glue to be more effective for longboards. Also, the Baltic Birch is crucial to this project. The "birch" handypanel is just that, handy. However, this "plywood" is not solid and contains a composite in between the two layers of whatever type of wood you have. You can find Baltic Birch at Woodcraft stores.
Any way you could attach a file of your "curve"? And I was just wondering how far the trucks are down from each end? I'm a kid and I am almost done with this project and want to get it all squared away before September.
Hi Ben, don't have the curve handy, but you should be able to make one easily with a compass.
The center of the truck axle is seven inches from the end of the board (both ends).
Good luck!
How do you know where to put the wheels?
Yes, Baltic birch from a lumber store makes all the difference in the world. It's tougher, springier, and all around better. Don't go to Home Depot, they won't have what you need. I broke a couple boards figuring that out. Also, use more glue than you think and use the binder clips he shows.
@Mark, this is a phenomenal project! Worked great, not difficult, well-described, everything. I made a longboard with my little sister for her birthday, it was a huge success. Thanks so much for posting! Photos of the result at the link below.
Hey Tom I was just wondering how did you make the ends of your longboard? I am a thirteen year old making this simple longboard and I really like your design! Is there any way you could reply back how you did them or a digital template?
QUESTION: What was the size of the wheels because the wrong size screws up the board. Thanks