Altoids Tin Longboard Slide Gloves

This Instructable will show you how to make a pair of longboard slide gloves. Your sliding surface will be the lid of the tin.

Slide gloves are used in longboarding and skateboarding for powersliding tricks. Slide gloves allow the rider to place his or her hands on the ground during a trick for additional maneuverability and the ability to do different tricks. Examples of slide tricks can be seen in the last step of this Instructable, or on Youtube.

*Note - These gloves are for low-level sliding tricks. Do not, under any circumstances, use these gloves for hardcore downhill powersliding. These gloves are not for extended useage. If they are used too much, the metal in the Altoids tin cover will thin out and sharpen and eventually bust out on you in the middle of a slide. (See the last image for clarification) We don't want that. So if you're really into powersliding, get some heavy-duty slide gloves.* 

The making of this Instructable is best accompanied by Ol' Dirty Bastard's 'Shimmy Shimmy Ya', any song by Matt and Kim, Reggie Watts, or You Oughta Know by Das Racist. Put on some choice tunes.

Step 1 Supplies

The supplies you will need are as follows:

- Two Altoids tins of any flavor (I prefer wintergreen, but that's just me)

- A blunt metal object such as a nail with a large diameter, a Phillips head screwdriver, A drill bit, etc. 

- A hammer (This doesn't have to be large. It's only to poke holes in your Altoids tin with the blunt object)

- Two long-ish, durable shoelaces

- Scissors, any size

Comments

[TheHawkeye]

Add some magnesium strips, and you've got yourself a pair that makes sparks!

[somewhatgoodish]

Ah! I had forgotten to add that! Thanks so much!

[Cann0n]

That's not safe. For flatland sliding, just bust standies. I don't want to sound like a mean person; I'm just concerned for the individuals that would attempt this. The pressures and friction involved in sliding are plenty to crush a tin container. String is not a sure and safe way to strap this device to ones self. It takes about the same amount of time and money to make real slide gloves and for the price of 2 Altoids containers, dollar store gloves, super glue, and free samples of corian (from a big hardware store) or moms old cutting board would suffice.

For serious sliding, don't use these. Go with any grade Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) slide pucks designed for downhill skateboarding. Slide gloves should be considered as safety gear. To apply emphasis toward my point of view, one wouldn't strap a bucket on the head and call it a helmet and trust it to protect (do it's job).

[Winged Fist]

These look really dangerous! I'm sure with the right amount of pressure, the Altoid tins could collapse and become mangled shards of razor sharp tin... As someone who has had a severed ulnar nerve and artery, I wouldn't recommend these "gloves" if you want to continue to have 100% use of your hands! But if you must, at least fill them with styrofoam so they wont collapse so easily.

[Patman27]

Agreed. As creative a hack as this is, it's still extremely dangerous. One slip-up with the tin and you've got the equivalent of a knife digging into your palm (or fingers) at speed. Besides, sliding isn't easy to do at low speeds - the faster you go, the easier and smoother it becomes (hence why factory-made pucks are self-lubricating). For the sake of safety and sliding form, it's best just to start out with store-bought pucks (or cutting board) attached to a handmade slide glove.

[smallenginetech]

Be careful and watch the cans for wear, if they catch while your sliding you could break your fingers the way you have them tied on.

[zazenergy]

This is awesome! Great hack; featured.

[somewhatgoodish]

Thanks! I appreciate it!