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

Step 2: Gluing the Wood

Take your three layers of 1/4" plywood and glue the first two layers together. Once the glue is dry you can glue the third layer on. Dont forget to clamp your wood or if you don't have any clamps plie a bunch of heavy stuff on top.

Step 3: Design

Now you have to come up with a design for your longboard. You can copy other designs or make your own unique one. first draw your design on a large peice of paper and then trace that onto your wood. you can fold your paper in half and draw half the design and cut it out so you have a symmetrical shape.

Step 4: Cutting and Sanding

Now that you have your design on your wood you can cut it out. I used a jig saw to cut mine but you can use whatever works for you. sand it all nice and smooth so there is no rough edges. when this step is finished you have the start of your longboard deck.

Step 5: Fiberglassing

Now it's time to fiberglss the bottem. take your fiberglass matting and place it on the bottem of your long board deck. mix the resin according to the instructions that came with it. Apply the resin on top of the fiberglass matting and let is dry according to the instructions.

Step 6: Sanding Again

Sand the excess fiberglass matting off once the resin is dry and any rough spots you dont want.

Step 7: Paint and Grip Tape

If you want you can paint your longboard or draw a cool design on it. then you can put the grip tape on you can even make a design in the grip tape.

Step 8: Drilling Holes

Measure and mark the holes for the trucksand then drill them. Use the trucks as a template.

Step 9: Mounting the Trucks

Mount the trucks it's probably the easiest step and pretty self explanitory just put the bolts through the holes you drilled and tighten the nuts on the other side. You can buy your tucks but i modified some old 80s roller skate truck to work because thats what I had.

Step 10: Go Riding

There you go you have a brand new longboard and it didn't cost that much. Go out ride it, show it off, do whatever you want with it its's yours.

Comments

[Shantorian3d]

I was just wondering- could i use the trucks off my old skateboard for this?

[Sameokia]

Yes, but your board wont ride anywhere as smoothly as it would with longboard trucks.

[Chahe_Chance]

So i happen to be a long boarder who likes concave. how would you go about that? just add an extra layer and sand in the middle or...?

[Sameokia]

I ususally prop it up and put a large weight in the center for a couple hours. Then i scrape off some wood in the center

[MissSunbeam]

What type of plywood and glue did you use?

[daguito]

i'd recommend using roving (like fabric) fiber and not matting, it will help strengthen it more.
You can also put a piece of stamped cloth (a hawaiian shirt for example) as last layer, so the longboard will be "stamped" instead of painted on the back.

[rauur]

i just made mine its awsome but i skipped the fibreglass and its fine!!!!

[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

[seanthesheep101]

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