How to Build Your Own Homemade Skateboard From Scratch

With the tricks skaters are attempting these days, broken skate decks are a common occurrence. At $30 to $50 a pop, the cost of skateboarding can add up fast. If you are a skate enthusiast and want to save yourself some money, making your own skateboard is possible with commonly available materials and a few basic electric tools. The process will take about two days to complete. In addition to reducing your skate expenses, you will learn to appreciate skateboarding more.

Things You'll Need

  • Jigsaw
  • Seven pieces of 30-by-10-by-1/17-inch veneer wood
  • Wood glue
  • Paint roller
  • 12 pieces of 2-by-4-by-30-inch wood
  • Four pieces of 2-by-4-by-18-inch wood
  • Two skateboard decks
  • Nails
  • Car jack
  • Hand router
  • Sander
  • Sandpaper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the 30-by-10-inch veneer pieces on the ground side by side and apply an even amount of wood glue to the surface of six of them. Use a paint roller to even out the glue and stack the layers of veneer, placing the one without glue as the top layer.

    • 2

      Lay three pieces of 2-by-4-by-30 inch wood next to each other and nail them together to serve as a frame base. Place four pieces of 2-by-4-by-18 inch wood at the corners of the base in an upright position to serve as the legs of the frame. Attach the legs to the base with a hammer and nails. Nail three pieces of 2-by-4-by-30 inch wood together and nail them to the legs to create the roof of the frame. Add another layer of three pieces 2-by-4-by-30-inch wood to both the base and roof to double up the thickness of the frame.

    • 3

      Place your unshaped veneer deck between two skateboard decks and place them directly on the base of the frame. Place a car jack on top of the decks and wind the jack up until it reaches the roof of the frame, causing the deck to become pressed and take shape. Leave the board in the press for 24 hours.

    • 4

      Remove the deck from the press and use another skateboard to draw an outline on the board. Cut out the shape of your deck with a jigsaw. Sand any rough edges of the board with hand router and sandpaper. Paint the board and allow it to dry.

    • 5

      Use another skateboard deck to mark the holes for the trucks with a marker. Drill the holes with a 3/16-inch drill bit. Attach the trucks and wheels.