making skateboards

Discussion in 'Mid Atlantic' started by absurfer, Jan 4, 2009.

  1. absurfer

    absurfer Active Member

    44
    Sep 10, 2008
    has anyone ever made a deck if so how do you bend the wood and where do you get the materials.
     
  2. mexsurfer

    mexsurfer Well-Known Member

    662
    Jul 14, 2008
    Uuh

    I think that you soak the wood for a while in warm water, then put it in a concrete mold and it will stay in its shape
    I THINK
     

  3. Xtreme*Liquidshredda

    Xtreme*Liquidshredda Well-Known Member

    226
    Sep 16, 2008
    I tried this last year for a school project so I have lots of experience with it and let me tell you one thing; don't get your hopes up. If you're trying to make a board to cruise around on, go for it. Get some maple wood and shape and saw it; it's pretty obvious. O, and sand it a lot. That'll work fine for a little while and its cool because you made it. But if you're looking to make a high performance board (for example like an almost, plan b, element) that you'd buy for 50 dollars in the skateshop, forget about it. To make those boards the companies get a huge heated processor that pretty much molds and burns the decks into place. That machine costs thousands of dollars and literally shapes the decks into the perfect size by pressing down against the wood on both sides for weeks. (Think about it, how else would they all be cut and shaped so identically).

    Anything using water can get tricky. If the weight isn't exactly evenly despersed throughout the board, you'll end up with a warped peice of crap. Believe me, i tried so much stuff. I soaked the wood for days and put weights on it while it was wet so it would bend; it really doesn't do much at all.

    In the end either make a cool custom shape with no rocker OR JUST BUY ONE!
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2009
  4. chong

    chong Well-Known Member

    81
    Jul 5, 2007
    7 plys of canadian maple per deck blank, glue, sometimes epoxy, 3-4 blanks placed on a plaster mold at same time, hydraulic press holds mold forms concave and nose and tail kicker. Blanks placed in molds for 24 hours or more. Molds can be custom built. Glue and epoxy dry and cure and make and help blanks hold shape and concave. DIY boardmakers exist, it aint rocket science. Same technology pretty much for the past 15-20 years. CNC cutting and routing shape the blanks. Paint or sealant. SIlkscreen graphics.

    Any other layers substituting wood, etc. is nothing but gimmickry.
     
  5. eshore

    eshore Well-Known Member

    564
    Jul 22, 2008
    Dude i was going to make a skateboard but hten i figured that it was not even worth it because of all of the money spending on the press. It will cost you alot of money plus it will take time. Chong was right when he said seven layers of plywood. THe board you would make would probaly be very heavy and even though it is cool to make your own board you still didnt make the trucks, bearings, and wheels so its not as cool as you think. If you are looking to build, build a longboard or raill/kicker/or something else
     
  6. ocripcurrent

    ocripcurrent Well-Known Member

    798
    Feb 27, 2008
    What, You've never seen the "How It's Made" on the skateboard? I'd imagine trying to make a longboard by hand would be easier if that's what you're aiming for
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2009
  7. DOUG BIXBY

    DOUG BIXBY Well-Known Member

    55
    Mar 29, 2008
    longboard skateboards for sale

    i am loking for someone to sell or make me a 40 - 43 inch longboard skateboard. please email me with info thanks
     
  8. windswellsucks

    windswellsucks Well-Known Member

    520
    Oct 20, 2007
    just check out gravityboard.com they have clearnce sales posted on their forum all the time, i scored some sick brand new decks for $30 ea
     
  9. eshore

    eshore Well-Known Member

    564
    Jul 22, 2008
    Man I paid a lot more like 180 for my gravity
     
  10. eshore

    eshore Well-Known Member

    564
    Jul 22, 2008
    windswellsucks i just looked and they dont have an online store. WHere did you go?