How to Make a Longboard From a Longboard Blank

Longboarding began in Southern California in the 1970s as a way for surfers to "surf the pavement" when bad weather kept them off of the ocean. Longboarding allows the rider to "carve" down roads at tremendous speeds much like you would carve down a mountain on a snowboard, or a wave in the ocean. Preassembled longboards can be quite costly but making one at home is possible with the right tools. However, the deck of a board can be quite a difficult task to build properly which is why purchasing a blank deck is a smart option. Blank longboard decks come ready to be assembled at a fraction of the cost of an assembled one.

Things You'll Need

  • One roll of grip tape as long as your board
  • Electric sander
  • Drill
  • 2 Longboard trucks
  • File
  • Adjustable wrench
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sand the edges of the longboard blank. Although these blank decks come presanded you want to ensure that the edges are a smooth as possible.

    • 2

      Turn the board onto its back and mark where the holes for the trucks will go with your marker. It is vitally important that the trucks are centered, so use a straight edge to line the trucks up perfectly.

    • 3

      Drill the holes through the board for the trucks. Use a drill bit that is sized the same as the screws for the trucks to ensure a tight fit.

    • 4

      Cover the top of the board with your strip of grip tape by removing the paper bottom and sticking the tape to the board. File the overhanging edges off of the board.

    • 5

      Attach the trucks and tighten the screws with your adjustable wrench.