How to Sand a Skateboard

A skateboard says as much about a skateboarder as the clothing he wears, which is why many skateboarders design their own skateboards. You can purchase a skateboard with a painted graphic, but designing your own allows you to make a uniquely personal statement. Whether you are building a skateboard from scratch, refurbishing an old skateboard or redesigning the graphics on the board, you will need to sand the skateboard. Sanding gives skateboards a smooth finish and gives paint and glue a surface on which to bond. You can sand the board by hand or use a palm or belt sander.

Things You'll Need

  • Wrenches
  • Screwdrivers
  • Adhesive remover
  • Clean brush
  • 80-grit sanding block
  • 120-grit sanding block
  • 180-grit sanding block
  • 220-grit sanding block
  • Paint
  • Grip tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the wheel trucks with the appropriately sized wrenches and screwdrivers for your skateboard; set the hardware aside. Depending on your skateboard, the trucks might be fastened with a combination of screws, nuts and bolts.

    • 2

      Peel away the grip tape on the top of the board. You may need a small amount of adhesive remover to loosen the glue.

    • 3

      Sand the edges with an 80-grit sanding block to achieve a rounded shape. Alternatively, you can use a piece of sandpaper wrapped around a wooden block or a palm sander outfitted with a piece of 80-grit sandpaper.

    • 4

      Brush the dust away with a clean brush. A clean, wide paintbrush works well for this.

    • 5

      Repeat the process of sanding the edges and brushing the dust away with the 120-grit, 180-grit and 220-grit sanding blocks. When you finish, the edges should be smooth and perfectly rounded.

    • 6

      Sand the top and bottom of the skateboard with the 80-grit sanding block with long even strokes, following the grain of the wood. Sanding against the grain will prevent you from achieving a smooth surface.

    • 7

      Run your hand over the board to ensure that the surface is sanded evenly. Continue sanding any areas of inconsistency until the entire board is even.

    • 8

      Repeat the sanding process on the top and bottom of the board using the 120-grit sanding block, then the 180-grit sanding block and finishing with the 220-grit sanding block.

    • 9

      Paint a graphic design on the underside of the board and coat with two to three layers of protective polyurethane.

    • 10

      Measure and apply a new sheet of grip tape to the top of your board, being sure to push out all air bubbles as you go. You can purchase pre-measured sheets of grip tape with graphics from many skateboard shops and online retailers.

    • 11

      Replace the trucks on the bottom of skateboard.