How to Silk Screen on Grip Tape

Decorated skateboards are mobile pieces of artwork. And as expressive as it is to decorate the bottom of your board with stickers, it is equally as eye-catching to decorate the grip tape on top of your board. Carving designs into the grip tape is a popular decorating method, but this can weaken the tape, causing it to peel off quicker and causing you to have less control and balance when you skate. Silk screening--a method used for T-shirts and posters--is a way to design your grip tape without sacrificing the function of your skateboard.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 sheet grip tape
  • Silk screen frame
  • Screen printing ink
  • Fabric with desired decal/design
  • Art squeegee
  • Water-resistant tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fasten the fabric with your desired design into the underneath-side of the silk screen frame with water-resistant tape, making sure the tape is touching both the fabric and the frame. The fabric should be pulled taught to ensure that your design prints perfectly.

    • 2

      Open the screen frame, and place a sheet of grip tape inside, with the design on top. Your screen should look like a picture frame with a piece of grip tape stuck in the middle of it.

    • 3

      Holding the screen printing frame so your design is right-side up, lift the bottom of screen 2 inches and hold it there while pouring two to three spoonfuls of screen ink into the opposite side of the frame. Keep the frame elevated so the ink doesn't spread to the rest of the design yet.

    • 4

      Spread the screen ink, using an art squeegee, over the entire image and fabric screen, while still hold the screen frame up.

    • 5

      Lower the silk screen frame, and carefully remove the grip tape from the frame. Set your grip tape out to dry.