How to Make Your Own Ripstik

A ripstik is a type of caster board, or wave board, which you can use to propel yourself. While a skateboard has one piece of wood attached to wheels, waveboards have two independently moving platforms -- one for each foot -- connected by a metal bar with a spring inside. The separate platforms make the ripstik easier to maneuver and propel than the one-piece skateboard.

Things You'll Need

  • 20-by-16-inch plywood
  • Jigsaw
  • Tape measure
  • Drill
  • Drill bit
  • Hacksaw
  • 4 pipe clamps
  • Metal pipe, 12 inches long, 1-1/2 inch diameter
  • Metal pipe, 8 inches long, 1-1/4 inch diameter
  • 5 Hacksaw blades
  • Scrap aluminum
  • Scrap lumber
  • 2 Rotating caster wheels
  • 2 In-line skate wheels
  • Pencil
  • Textured tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use the saw to cut two foot pads from the plywood. While many ripstiks have teardrop-shaped pads, triangles or rectangles can work also; however, teardrops have the most flexibility with rotation while providing stability.

    • 2

      Use a tape measure to find the vertical midpoint on each pad and draw a light line along it with pencil. Measure the widths of the pipe clamps and make marks for four drill holes, one for each screw into the clamp. Drill the holes in both pads. The bit size for the holes depends upon the size of the ends of the clamps.

    • 3

      Use the hacksaw to cut the thicker pipe in half. Use the clamps and screws to attach those pieces to the two boards. Cut the hacksaw blades in half with the hacksaw and slide them into the narrower pipe. Cut the scrap aluminum into two rectangles and screw them into the pads just beyond the end of the pipe. Slide the pads onto the ends of the narrower pipe. Drill holes into the protruding ends of the hacksaw blades and screw them into the pads.

    • 4

      Make two wedges with your scrap wood, cutting at a 20-degree angle. These need to be vertically centered on the board, but about two-thirds of the way toward the opposite end from the pipe. Screw the caster wheels into the wedges and screw the wedges into the pads. Take the caster wheels out and replace with skateboard or in-line skate wheels.

    • 5

      Apply the textured tape to the top of the pads.