How to Make a Longboard

Ever wanted a longboard but didn't buy one because they are so expencive now you can make your own for really cheap.

Step 1 Parts

Wood Glue
1/4" plywood
Fiber glass matting
Fiber glass resin
longboard trucks

Comments

[Selshiekh]

Hey how much fiberglass resin did you use on it? b/c i want to make the board and I don't have the resin so I don't want to buy too much and then just have the can in my basement for years

[slimjimnixon]

would u suggest a good kind of wood for a guy who just doesnt wanna mess with fiberglass

[wsx587]

honestly if you glue it right you dont need fiberglass... it may take a few tries to get it right... i broke 3 but the boards i currently ride are great with just a little flex

[bob.the.devil]

i don't think you can really skip fiberglass and have a dependable board. but if you really just CAN'T use any i would go with the most flexy (not brittle) hardwoon you can find, maple maybe, and you will need more layers and it will be more stiff than a normal longboard (so pumping will be hard) if you do it without fiberglass i would suggest either a pintail of a shorter freestyle (like almost normal skateboard size)

[knex man123456]

what trucks are those?

[slimjimnixon]

and were can i find the fiberglass

[bob.the.devil]

local hardware store (you can get it at home depot but support local stores first)

[aDoing]

Does this kind of boards snap easily?

[Ninjanator]

no

[Nickster65]

What's the fiberglass for?

[samdaman]

its to produce a btter finish for the bottom of the board and to a certain degree also strengthen it

[mitch and sean]

So that when it bends it doesn't snap

[The nerdling]

i made one and it is the best!
i will son post pics of it

[The nerdling]

see my 'ible

[The nerdling]

i have found so cool trucks , they are the coolest

[estab]

1.is the fiberglass nesecery if you are using strong maple plywood
2. will old reg board trucks work

[cap n crunch]

1. plenty of people do it without fiberglass i think you would be fine
2. longboard trucks are wider and taller giving you more maneuverability
its your call

nice 'ible most people only make it 1/2" giving it more flex but less strength

[Kryptonite]

Nice job! I'd love to see some pictures of you riding it.
Thanks for posting :D

[ker-boom101]

Is the board strong enough to support drop through mountings?

[HelmetShayy]

Can i use a polyester resin ? Or must i use a fiber glass resin ? Which is better and what are their differences?

[snowluck2345]

Usual polyester resin is fiberglass resin. Epoxy resin is much better and stronger. It also doesn't absorb water.

[Clayton H.]

what would make it stronger is if you fiberglassed between the wood laminates and used fiberglass cloth.

[Ninjanator]

well i dont think it needs to be stronger because me and my brother where both standing on it (close to 300 pounds together)

[Stormed Wolf]

did you add any concave at all?

[Ninjanator]

no but you could when you are gluing the layers together by putting a board underneath and clamping it

[Stormed Wolf]

Thanks, I've been looking at a bunch of different how-to articles, and i'm just taking all the best ideas and putting them into one board

[Ninjanator]

there have been comments about it not being safe and injury could occure from riding it but i assure you it is safe if you have followed my steps. my design isnt the best but you can make your own design and yes im new to longboarding but my board is strong enough i have tested it with 300 pounds and have gone on 3km rides from my school to my brothers sure you could by a premade deck to be "safe" but then that will cost you quite abit compared to my deck for the trucks just buy some. if you want i could post a picture of how much weight it can handle or video of riding it

[Toastalicious]

The way you built the deck isn't safe. I mean yeah, it could support your weight, but you need to make some cut outs or wheel wells. Otherwise you may get some wheelbite, which isn't fun at all.

[Ninjanator]

i dont get any wheel bite so its safe and im not telling anyone that they should make their board the same shape as mine

[mrelement]

about how much does this cost

[Ninjanator]

it costed me about $20 because me and my friend made two boards for $40

[hairybacon]

Hey death. What kinda wood ja use? Was it home depot stuff or somethin else.
Plz reply

[Ninjanator]

it was some home depot stuff for like $9 a board. board = 24" 48"

[paperclip32]

Alot of people use Baltic Birch.Good stuff.

[salomon1996]

this is so cool!!! i'm just getting into skateboarding, i ripstik, but i think that skate boarding would be fun, so i was looking at skate boards, and they are outrageously expensive!(same with long boards)(not walmart type ones) would you recommend what type of trucks to use? and how similar are long boards to skateboards? and do you know if you can do tricks on them? if so, what kind? and could you say how you put that star on? looks cool! anyhow...GOOD INSTRUCTABLE!! 5*! hope i can make it! :D

[jjjjake]

bustinboards.com is a great place to look

[Nigal]

you asked about trucks, but you might as well get the whole story

get a 180 mm reverse kingpin truck, you can't go wrong with Paris, Bear or Randal.

the wheels are the most important thing, Seismic, Earthwing, Retro, ABEC11 and O-tang wheels are always safe bets

the deck doesn't really matter, but a short, solid topmount is my preference.
also stay clear from sector 9 bamboo boards they are of poor quality and split along the glue lines. homemades are great. build your own press or but a kit from roarockit. I made my first board and have yet to own a factory made one

bushings are versatile, they are the cheapest modification you can make and completely change the way a board handles

[paperclip32]

Hey man.
Since this is your first time,I strongly suggest that you buy a premade deck.Trying to make one yourself without experience will get you hurt..Complete longboards made by Sector 9 and Loaded are great for beginners.
Not to mention that the writer probably doesn't know much about longoarding,since he used trucks smaller than the board and the board shape it all wrong.
In terms of tricks,there are different types of styles.
-Downhill(riding down a hill)
-Sliding(sliding the board)
-Slalom(weaving in and out of cones)
-Dancing(this is where the majority of the tricks are.Dancing is very complex,but it usually involves looking cool)

In terms of similarity,longboards are pretty different.They are much easier to ride due to the large wheels and longer boards,but are heavier than skateboards.Longboarding is somewhat more relaxed,though it can get intense if you're DH-ing.
So,I welcome you to the sport of longboarding!

[julian24]

Id more go for a sector nine board, there the best budget boards, loaded is to expensive, your paying for the name. If youu dont like it then your stuck with this $400+ board. You can get sector nines for $300 or less.

[ker-boom101]

Loaded boards are overpriced but that doesnt mean you wont like your board.
As long as your not planning to do any major dh, i can almost gaurantee your will like a loaded board. I've had a dervish for a bit over a year, though biased in my opinion loaded boards are ridiculously fun to ride. Loaded boards are focused on dancing and carving, and some sliding. so if your interested in those types of longboarding i would for sure recommend a loaded !