How to Make a Skateboard at Home

Making your own skateboard at home allows you to customize your board and design it exactly the way you want it. Most parts to a skateboard are easily exchangeable so you will be able to experiment with the board until you get the desired result. Building your own skateboard at home requires patience as well as the tools necessary to complete the job.

Things You'll Need

  • One 1/2-inch thick sheet of plywood
  • Band saw
  • Router
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Wheels
  • Trucks
  • Power drill
  • Nuts and bolts
  • Grip tape
  • Wrench
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buy the necessary supplies required to make your skateboard at home. You need a piece of plywood for the deck. The plywood should be roughly 15 millimeters (1/2-inch) thick. Birch plywood is a good material because it has ideal strength and flexibility. You can buy the trucks, wheels with bearings, nuts, bolts, and grip tape at any local skate shop or online.

    • 2

      Trace the outline of your deck on the plywood in preparation for cutting it out. The deck should be between 7 1/2 and 8 inches wide and between 31 and 32 inches long. Cut out the tracing of the board with a band saw. Use your router to smooth and round the corners. If you do not have a band saw you can use sandpaper.

    • 3

      Drill holes in your deck where you want to put the trucks (the metal brackets that connect your wheels to the deck). You will need two trucks to complete your skateboard. The holes should be drilled in the front and back of the deck about 2 to 3 inches in from either end. The trucks need to be just a bit smaller than the width of your deck. If your deck is eight inches, then your trucks should be between 7.775 and 8 inches. Connect the trucks to your board with the nuts and bolts. Fasten the nuts and bolts securely with your Philips screwdriver and wrench--the trucks are the only things that hold the wheels in place.

    • 4

      Attach the wheels to the trucks. You need four wheels to make a skateboard at home. The wheels attach to the side of the trucks with the included hardware. Wheels come in different shapes and sizes depending on the style of riding you plan on doing. Small wheels, less than 55 millimeters, are used for tricks while large wheels, more than 55 millimeters, are used for cruising.

    • 5

      Place grip tape on the surface of the board. Grip tape will prevent you from slipping off the board and help you maintain your footing when doing tricks or riding.