Concrete Fingerboard Skate Park

 by peterthomsen
Featured
This is a super simple project that has been a huge hit. Here's a quick overview. Check it.

Our nephew wanted a TechDeck half-pipe for his birthday this year. We thought we'd kick it up and build him his very own real concrete fingerboard bowl park. The goal was to create a unique park from materials we had on hand. At 60 lbs., this park weighs a wee bit more than our nephew.

Materials:
tub/form (we used scrap 3/4" plywood and spray glued some plastic film to it)
bowl(s)
caulking
styrofoam
ready-mix concrete
spray silicone or some type of mold release
and of course, duct tape
 
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Step 1: 1. Create the form

Create a negative mold of your desired park shape.

We built a tub from scrap 3/4 plywood and spray glued some plastic film to it. To create the bowl shapes, we used 1 larger wooden bowl and 2 smaller glass bowls. The transitions/gaps where shaped from a few chunks of styrofoam and duct tape.

Note: The mold needs to be smooth, so the concrete can release when cured.

We used caulking to make smooth transitions and rounded corners. Use your finger and a little water to smooth out generous beads/globs of caulking. Let the caulking dry overnight before pouring concrete.
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danx_the_drummer says: May 29, 2012. 5:58 PM
that is for play with Beyblades YA-HA!!!!
peterthomsen (author) in reply to danx_the_drummerMay 29, 2012. 11:32 AM
that's a great idea! thanks.
PotatoCoffee says: Feb 28, 2012. 8:02 AM
Very good job, Nice deck!
reref says: Jan 25, 2012. 8:44 AM
Nice one. Five stars!
dylankunaikennedy says: Jul 23, 2011. 12:28 PM
did you make the banana board tech deck or buy it? plz respond
peterthomsen (author) in reply to dylankunaikennedyJul 23, 2011. 4:05 PM
it was purchased
dylankunaikennedy in reply to peterthomsenJul 25, 2011. 10:56 AM
where and how much?
THE total BEAST in reply to dylankunaikennedyAug 12, 2011. 8:53 AM
target/ toys r us for like $5 but idk if they still carry them
peterthomsen (author) in reply to dylankunaikennedyJul 25, 2011. 11:53 AM
sorry I don't know. it is my nephew's.
dylankunaikennedy in reply to peterthomsenJul 25, 2011. 1:57 PM
o ok thanks anyway
Sakrete says: Mar 18, 2011. 10:30 AM
Excellent Instructable. Great choice of Concrete :)
tech deck123 says: Jan 23, 2011. 1:05 AM
awsome looooool
splatman says: Jan 13, 2011. 6:46 PM
Reinforcing it with mesh would help. Use poultry netting or hardware cloth, shaped to follow the contours on top. When pouring the concrete, make sure the mesh/netting is not in contact w/ the mold, so it won't show in the finished product.
Another layer of mesh along the bottom, and/or some rods, to reinforce it from the bottom as well.
One way to use less 'crete, (and make it lighter too,) is hide chunks of Styrofoam in the thick parts. Just make sure they don't surface when you tap the mold during the air-purge routine. Tying them to the mesh may help. Another way is to screw small boards across the top of the mold, with legs holding down the Styro-chunks thru the 'crete. When done air-purging, unscrew said boards, remove the legs, and fill in their "footprints".
Or let the Styro-chunks surface (cut holes the bottom re-mesh for this), and remove them after the 'crete's set.
If you wish to reduce the amount of 'crete needed (or get more volume), but don't care about weight, use rocks from your backyard in place of the "Styro-chunks".

You can make your concrete a different color by using pigment. Pigment may be pricey, so you may want to leave that out.
http://www.directcolors.com/concretepigment/
or buy it at a hardware store.
toiletmamba says: Dec 14, 2010. 8:24 PM
lol looks beast
Plan0 says: Sep 7, 2010. 12:53 PM
dude this is freakin awsome, think you could make anything else out of concrete?
gl0rious says: Sep 1, 2010. 1:25 PM
were did you get that wicked 80s board?!!??
Jebotepatak says: May 12, 2010. 8:11 PM

Wonderful work masters just wondering how heavy is the concrete park?
This would be a perfect excuse to buy a tech deck!! =)

Thank You
 

GianniMora says: Apr 20, 2010. 6:45 PM
 thts pretty sick!!


                  -M
andrewdover says: May 3, 2009. 12:44 PM
You guys rock. One of the best instructables I've ever seen......I love those Banana Board or Old School Skateboard TECH DECKS!!!
dcfingerboards in reply to andrewdoverJul 17, 2009. 11:01 PM
I have a banana board for sale 15$ 5 plies of veneer, cross plied, 3 birch, 2 african mahogandy
munger17 in reply to dcfingerboardsFeb 5, 2010. 7:37 AM
 ill by it
DungMachine in reply to dcfingerboardsAug 24, 2009. 4:12 AM
ok. how and where?
M4industries in reply to DungMachineOct 22, 2009. 1:24 PM
You can have it DungMachine
But seriously I want one of those!
roge says: Jan 7, 2010. 5:11 PM
this is so cool just finished making one
peterthomsen (author) in reply to rogeJan 7, 2010. 10:39 PM
 right on. i'd love to see photos. can you add a pic to the comments here?
NickZa says: Jan 6, 2010. 8:31 PM

hey this looks good, i like it :D

valoskater8745 says: Dec 27, 2009. 6:55 PM
 nice like rice
baramunchies says: Mar 24, 2009. 6:43 AM
did you pour the concrete again and a bit thicker? seems like making the mold is most of the work.
raymond123 in reply to baramunchiesMar 27, 2009. 11:08 AM
can you buy me a tech deck
cambigfoot in reply to raymond123Dec 4, 2009. 7:54 PM
WTF
legano in reply to raymond123Dec 2, 2009. 6:13 AM
i got like, 10 for $2 each at Toys R Us in the bargain bin, i don't think you need people to buy them for you :\
ultrauber in reply to raymond123Aug 25, 2009. 9:38 AM
randomSausage
sharlston in reply to raymond123May 4, 2009. 8:12 AM
buy 1 ur sen
dombeef in reply to raymond123Apr 5, 2009. 2:55 PM
Huh?
changuito07 says: Nov 6, 2008. 1:54 PM
too hard
mrdepo96 in reply to changuito07Oct 22, 2009. 10:53 PM
 what did you expect? Great instructible!
Aleksandr Skotbot says: Sep 21, 2009. 7:30 PM
10 years ago or so, I had a tech deck with the trucks removed and the bottom coated in felt, so I could play with it in school. (:
DungMachine says: Aug 24, 2009. 4:11 AM
I like it. I would make it. if only I had cement...
roboff says: Aug 9, 2009. 10:43 AM
very cool if u have the cement
baramunchies says: Mar 24, 2009. 6:41 AM
some steel reinforcement would have helped, but i guess you know that by now.
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