Alternative attachment of skateboard trucks, boa technology

This is my first instructable, so it probably won't be so great. And my drawing skills are not good, but here it goes. For this project i wanted to be able to have a skateboard that i could fold up into a suitcase or some small case, store in my backpack after skating to class, then whip it out after class, assemble it quickly and be on my way. I tried many different ways for the foldable part to work and well basically failed many times, spent more money than you would believe on that, so thats still in the works (let me know if you have any ideas on how to get that part to work). But in this process i found a pretty useful way to attach trucks to a skateboard, which allows for easy changing of trucks and wheels, and i've found works just as well as nuts and bolts but is 20x faster for changes made once set up and leaves the board still very functionable compared to a standard skateboard (the boa dials could get messed up from boardslides ect., but if your good nobody really slides that part of the board anyways)

Step 1: The materials

for this project there are a few crucial materials that are needed. the boa reel system i took of some snowboard boots. the boa website shows how to remove the lacing and replace it. getting the boa part off of the boot took some work. of course you need a complete skateboard too, small screws, and some type of saw. check out the pictures for a better explanation.

Comments

[benedict688]

I don't understand why people keep trying to make these folding boards and random sh*t. skating has been around for many years now and the reason you don't see production boards like this is because it doesn't work. Simple is better, and if you really need a board thats more portable, get a smaller board. I have seen and rode a board that was 15" long, good luck makin a board that will fold up that small and still work.

[killerjackalope]

hmm nice instructable but the boa technology can be improvised as used for roof boarding. basically a truckless skateboard is needed but I used to skate to my mates to do this and the screws were a pain till I came up with high strength cord through the original holes and the trucks holes, the trick to making it stable was a piece of wood in between that spanned the width of my board, stopping the trucks from tilting as much. then the cord went through the three hole sets and mad something ridabl for 5 miles (minimal tricks) but I used a slipknot and any strong bit of junk as a tool for tightening. roof boarding BTW is fun and dangerous but I might make an instructable on it....

[sharlston]

please do

[NinJa_RaiZer]

Sorry, but if you attach the reel with screws, why not mount the trucks with mounting hardware???

[gbosbiker]

for the BOA system why dont you put hinges on that line where you made the cut and on the underside you put a locking device that holds it in place.

[cruz1]

dude, its a skateboard, leave it whole, stop thinking and skate

[sethrod]

wow thats soo cool!!

[Radioedit420]

ok heres where i get laughed at. My friend snapped a bolt hole on his truck so we just zip-tied(cable ties, temporary handcuffs or w/e) his trucks on. if you could carry a blade wit you and a pack of ties id say you got a solution right there. :::::::;:;:;:::;;;;;:::::::::;::;;:;;:;;:;;:;;;;;;: Im still in highschool i put mine in a locker : P

[creative skateboards]

i always was trying to make this idea, but more for getting home from the bus stop causes i have a long walk to my house. anyway, i always thot u cood just cut a board in half, and get a door hinge, hinge the,m together on the bottom, that way when u stand on it, the hinge wont fold when pressure is applied. just an idea, now are you going to use this for tricks or just riding. i am going to just ride home. but i am interested in your method of the snowboard slide in. tell me if you get this thing to work. thank you

[lemonie]

I'd always thought that a skateboard needed a bit of spring to it. Fairly tough, but with the ability to flex rather than break. If you introduce folds you'll spoil the flexibility, and as a consequence performance. However, if this is for simple trundling (no stunts) I guess you want heavy piano-hinge with locking bolts? Also something like FrenchCrawler's suggestion for detachable trucks.

[crapflinger]

possible ideas for collapsing the board (sorry i'm not a boarder)..would be instead of making it foldable...maybe have a tellescopic rail underneath the board...that would have holes in it to stick a bolt through to lock it in place? that way you would just remove the bolt and slide one end down towards the other? don't know how to accomodate for the deck though... other idea would stil employ a rail system underneath but not telescopic..maybe you could cut two sections from the deck (shouldn't need to be more than an inch wide) and allow for more of a "z-fold" type of orientation? but still using bolts or pins to hold the board in the extended/folded positions?

[a-sam]

This looks pretty sweet I WOULD try it out, but I would probably mess up my deck.

[onemisterchristian]

As far as a foldable skateboard goes, the closest you'll probably get...google stowboards.

[Mad Anthony Wayne III]

Hey those stowboards loook preeety sweet. Might pick one up myself.

[trebuchet03]

I personally prefer a long board and apparently a lot of people on my campus do too :P

It's a cool idea - but as far as class is concerned... We just lean the board against the wall by the door or put them next to our seats :P But then again, Engineering professors really don't care too much when it comes to things like this (and attendance for the most part :P).

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As for this design.... I'd be concerned about the boa reel itself. They are designed for laces on shoes and boots - things that don't see such a load. Sure the site says "bet you can't break one" which to me, sounds like a challenge. Of course, "concern" means test the sh!t out of it.

Would the folded height be too high if you left the trucks attached? Here is what I'm thinking - leave the two inboard bolts attached. Then cross the boa cables over and then into the boa reel. I really don't know what shear force those bolts are under so I can't help you with figuring out what you'll need to keep it stable....

[PetervG]

I have a longboard being shipped to my house as we speak. Its a Urban Assult from Landyachtz and it should arrive on Tuesday.

[Starstryke25]

You wouldn't be able to do tail slides or use the tails at all with that current design. Ever consider a slide lock type system where a 1 piece slides into another and then locks down with the truck bolts? there's gotta be a way to do it so it's stable.

[FrenchCrawler]

I thought of that when I first read this, I figured he could make something like this: The board itself would have two "rails" to hold the trucks (the trucks would of course be removeable). The rails would be large empty metal squares (kind of like several modiffied right angle brackets) bolted down to the board. They would have a long overhanging lip going towards the middle of themselves. One side would be open to allow the trucks to slide in and then would be closed somehow.... Haven't quite figured out how to close them though.... but it's a start.

[leahculver]

Cool idea. More photos would be great!

[PetervG]

I don't really understand anything. The pictures of the "boa" things are bad. Sounds neat, it would like it if it was was for longboards.