How to Make Your Own Skateboard Manual Pad

Manuals require a lot of balance, and while manuals off of flat ground can impress, doing the same trick on a manual pad can astonish. Building your own manual pad should take roughly 30 to 60 minutes. You can then take it around with you due to its lightweight portability. Whether you want to test your balance or use it as part of an ollie to a manual trick, a manual pad adds an extra level of difficulty to skateboarding tricks.

Things You'll Need

  • 3 8-foot 2-by-6s
  • 4-foot-by8-foot sheet of 3/4-inch plywood
  • Box of 2 1/4-inch wood nails
  • Measuring tape
  • Hammer
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Saw
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the length of one of your 2-by-6 pieces of wood using your tape measure. Divide that number in half, then measure the 2-by-6 again and mark it at that number. Cut the piece of wood along that mark to make two equal-length pieces.

    • 2

      Measure the two remaining full-length 2-by-6 pieces with your tape measure. If they have different lengths, mark the longer one with the measurement of the shorter one and then cut it to make two pieces of equal length. For example, if one 2-by-6 measures 97 inches and the other 96, cut 1 inch off of the 97-inch piece.

    • 3

      Lay the four pieces of wood on their ends and create a box. Place the two longer pieces on the sides with the two shorter pieces at the top and bottom in between the side pieces. This will create an 8-foot box that measures about 4 feet in width.

    • 4

      Nail through the tops and bottoms of the side pieces of wood into the shorter pieces to secure the box frame using wood nails. Use two or three nails in each corner to ensure your box stays secure.

    • 5

      Place the sheet of plywood on top of the box frame. Nail all four sides of the plywood to the frame using the wood nails. Space your nails roughly 4 to 6 inches apart.

    • 6

      Clean up any extra supplies and test your pad. Stand on it and apply extra weight by jumping. If the pad does not break, take it out and manual off it.