Good Ways to Customize a Blank Skateboard

Skateboard decks are made out of seven layers of thin wood. After being glued, pressed and shaped in a molding machine, skateboard decks are ready to be sold. While a plain, blank deck is boring, you can customize your board by painting, drawing designs and marking the deck. Customizing your skateboard deck is a way to express yourself and to show creativity.

  1. Griptape

    • Griptape is a sticky adhesive, with a rough sand paper surface, that is applied to the deck of a skateboard. Necessary for skateboard decks, griptape allows the rider to stay on the board and to grip the deck of the board while performing tricks. Traditionally, griptape is black, but you can customize your board by purchasing colored griptape. It also comes in cool, original designs like cheetah skin, army camouflage, tiger stripes and many more.

    Paint

    • Painting a deck with wood paint is easy and fun. Cover a table or flat surface with newspapers and lay the deck flat on the newspaper, with the side you want to paint face up. Make sure the trucks are removed. Use a roller or a brush and go to town on your board. Paint any design that you can think of. A simple way to make an original design is to paint the deck a solid color, then splash different colors onto the deck. Let your deck dry overnight, attach trucks and you are ready to skate.

    Spray Paint

    • Spray painting your board will give you quick results and can be accomplished with a very thin layer, keeping your board sleek and slick. Lay out some newspaper and lay your skateboard with the griptape side face down. Lay out stencils on your deck and give it a quick coat of spray paint. Add as many colors and stencils as you want, then wait at least 20 minutes before putting your trucks into place.

    Markers

    • Markers come in just as many colors as paint and spray paint, and look just as cool. You can use a black permanent marker to draw designs directly on the deck. Black on wood grain makes an interesting rustic look. If you want brighter designs, use different color permanent markers, switching up the thickness to give it more of an art look. Markers are especially good to use because they do not add any additional layers of paint to the bottom of the deck. If you are one of those skaters that feels that additional layers of paint negatively affect the performance of your board, markers are the best option.