Build your own skate longboard
Editor’s Note: Spend some time with Pop and create something cool. “Handy Dad” by Todd Davis outlines 25 projects for fathers and sons to tackle together. (Chronicle Books, $24.95 softcover. All ages.) Click here to purchase.
Here’s an excerpt from the book’s Skate Longboard project. Read a preview below and click the bottom link for a PDF of the entire craft!
From pages 74 and 75 of “Handy Dad”:
Have you ever noticed how many roads there are in your neck of the woods? Everywhere you look, there are smooth, sloping asphalt waves—I mean, slopes—just waiting to be carved up. Get into a crouch or put your toes on the nose. Feel the flow as you—I mean, your kids—carve back and forth across the blacktop with the sun on their faces and the wind in their hair. Actually, let’s not kid ourselves. I have a feeling you’re going be “borrowing” this board to relive those early glory days of skateboarding yourself.
Materials:
- 4-foot 1×7 Brazilian Ipe wood (This sounds like an odd size but it’s actually a factory-cut measurement. Look for Ipe wood at your local specialty lumberyard.)
- 2 super-wide 10-inch skateboard trucks (I like Independent-brand trucks, myself.)
- One set of super-soft street wheels (Yup, they come 4 to a set.)
- Eight bearings built for speed
- 4 feet clear grip tape, 10 inches wide
Fasteners:
- 1 1/2-inch skateboard mounting hardware, for bolting the trucks to the deck
Tools:
- Measuring tape
- 4-foot level or straightedge
- Pencil
- Carpenter’s square
- Felt-tip pen
- Drill with 3/16-inch and 1/4 -inch bits
- Band saw or jigsaw with wood blade
- Electric sander with a few sheets of 60-grit sand paper
- Screwdriver
- Utility knife or pocketknife
- Socket wrench with 1/2-inch, 3/8-inch and 9/16-inch sockets
So fun during the summer.
i really like this idea i made one and it works great
trucks are too spendy
i heart longboards
woohoo
I like my longboard but my mom would not let me even though I know how to ride it.I learn how to ride it at my friend’s house.
I wish i could long board. It looks so fun and fast and everything, but i just cant do. I do however, LOVE to ripstik.
you can do it if u really try its like surfing!!!!
Oooh I love to ripstick too! Rock on bro!
i do too!
So do I!!!
I can’t ride regular skate boards or longboards,,,,,,,,
Yet.
i love skateboarding
I like longboarding but there like a millon bucks. so i just made one.
i always wanted a longboard but my mom in dad did not hav enouch money graices sincerly, michael 2012
This is a great idea! I really like longboards, but building one is a lot cooler.
i alwas wanted a long board so i really hope i can do this
“(0.0)”
R A W R
If you cut 2 groves in the bottom of the board and then use some very strong wood glue put 2 peices of wood that are the length of the board in the groves this will make your board way stronger and will last you a long time.
i have got that book. its awesome!
i just don’t know were to get those super wide trucks
Bustin is a really cool brand, so is jati. My personal fav is a jati jiro with 46 degree gunmetal trucks, zelous berrings, and venom 72 mm 80a cannabales
My friend bought an awesome longboard. The one you build just might break.
Yes my nickname is a joke. Also I made mine out of metal…it’s a little heavy but it is insanely strong pulse you can bend it to any shape you want you can cut pieces out and all kinda of stuff
i use a real board not a long board i hate long boards
too bad for you
I can’t wait till I make one of these.
It ma be cool.
i just bought a longboard
Brings back memories. Mine was about 41/2 feet. I used my brothers short board for the pattern and ripped off, I mean used, the trucks and wheels from my sisters short board. It was a rush. Great Memeories. Thanks