Roller Derby #10 Look-a-Like Vintage Skateboard

by travisderose

16K20515

Intro: Roller Derby #10 Look-a-Like Vintage Skateboard

I love the look of old vintage skateboards and have always wanted one for myself. I particularly like the Roller Derby #10, the first skateboard ever to be sold. But these are hard to come by, expensive, and not really that rideable. So I figured why not recreate the Roller Derby #10 with modern trucks, wheels, and bearings so it has that vintage look but can still be ridden. So that's exactly what I did and you can too! So let's get to it...

Please know that if you're interested in purchasing one of these from me, check out the etsy listing here.

STEP 1: Things You'll Need

Supplies You'll Need:

  • a plank of wood
  • white spray primer
  • red spray paint
  • spray clear coat
  • a "Roller Derby #10 Skate Board" vinyl stencil (You'll need a vinyl cutter to make this stencil or contact me and I can probably make one and send it to you)
  • Trucks (I used these 3" Penny trucks)
  • Wheels (I used these wheels because they look like metal wheels which were used on the original Roller Derby #10)
  • Bearings (Use whatever you prefer)
  • Skateboard bolts and locknuts (can be found at most hardware stores)

Tools You'll Need:

  • Jigsaw
  • power sander
  • sand paper
  • drill with drill bit
  • screwdriver

STEP 2: Cut Your Deck

The Roller Derby #10 has a deck size of about 19" long by 4 1/2" wide. The plank of wood I had is about 5 1/4" wide so I decided to leave it there because I though it would fit better with the size of my trucks and wheels. I also made it a few inches longer at 21".

Use a compass to mark off a semi circle for the nose of the board. I also rounded the corners on the tail.

After cutting, sand the entire board to your liking.

STEP 3: Drill the Mounting Holes

Before you paint, you'll want to drill your mounting holes. I used this template here. Simply find the centerline of your board, line up the template, and drill your holes. Use the trucks to find the appropriate size drill bit.

I placed my holes fairly close to the nose and the tail because this is how the original Roller Derby looked.

You can then also counter sync your mounting holes so your screws fit flush with the board. Do do this you can use a counter sync drill bit. Or if you don't have one of those, a larger drill bit works great too. Simply drill down into each of the mounting holes about 1/4" with the larger drill bit.

STEP 4: Priming Your Board

Ideally, you'll want to set up a place where you can spray your board from all angles and where it can hang and dry safely. I rigged up my board with a metal rod pushed through a mounting hole, tied to a string, suspended from a pole (check out the photos). It worked very well so I recommend something similar to this.

Spray a few light, even coats of your white primer over your entire board. Let this dry for at least 24 hours and then we can get to applying the stencil and spraying some color!

STEP 5: Applying the Stencil

So you're gonna need a "Roller Derby #10 Skate Board" Stencil. I cut mine using a vinyl cutter which worked great. Call around to some local shops and they may be able to help or contact me and I can help you out.

Apply your stencil to your board (I used the mounting holes to help with the placement). Make sure all the edges are down and everything is flat so a nice finish is achieved with the paint.

STEP 6: Spraying the Color on Your Board

Now for the fun part! Start spraying your red paint onto the board. Be sure to do light even coats so the stencil pulls off nicely. Do not rush this part, take your time and apply the red in many light coats until the board is completely covered.

Next is to take off your stencil, this part can be a bit tricky. Start removing your stencil right after you apply your last coat of red paint. I found that using tweezers was the easiest way to remove the vinyl from the board. Red on white is a difficult color combination but it can look beautiful with patience and planning.

After your stencil is off, feel free to go back and do any quick touch ups to the red or white paint on your board. Then you'll want to apply a few light coats of clear coat. This protects the paint a little bit more and adds a nice finish. I didn't want to put grip tape on mine because the original boards didn't have grip tape.

Let your board dry for at least 24 hours (I let mine sit for 48 hours to be safe) until you put on your trucks and wheels.

STEP 7: Gawking at Your Awesome Vintage Skateboard

You're done! You now have a totally rad board that has that vintage look and vibe but also rides as well as a modern board. This thing is a blast to ride and is a nice (and cheaper) alternative to the plastic penny boards you see everywhere. I take mine to class and work all the time and it's easy to throw in my backpack or stash under a desk.

I get attention with this board everywhere I go; you're not gonna get that with your everyday penny board. Some have asked me if I think the paint will hold up to riding it everyday. My answer is that the paint will probably wear through eventually but I think it's part of the look. When you search for photos of these, most of them are all worn through with exposed wood and I think it's looks awesome! It just shows that this is a board to be ridden, not hung on a wall.

So I hope you enjoy my creation and feel the urge to create one yourself. I wish you the best of luck; it's a pretty simple and fun project.

If you're interested in purchasing one of these from me, check out the etsy listing here.

Check out my website to follow me and check out more projects like this at travsdesk.com and follow me on Instagram @travderose and Vine at Trav DeRose

-Trav

15 Comments

cfuerte coria 8 years ago

i cant find the "roller derby" logo anywere

Air_Assassin 9 years ago

My friend has the real thing, and got it for 5$.

Air_Assassin 9 years ago

My friend has the real thing, and got it for 5$.

mjmatatula 9 years ago

nice! i'm going to try to make this, but then with rollerskate trucks and wheels...can you make a vid of how it rides?

cam.nc 9 years ago

what type of wood did you use?

raffinant 9 years ago

Great Job! About how thick was the board itself?

spendew 9 years ago

I'm probably gonna make one of these, but i don't know if I'm gonna paint it like that or at all

hailey784 9 years ago

Homemade and updo ones r good but I went to ebay and out of a lot of em was 400+ dollars but I found. Few Roller Derby # 10 vintage skateboards very cheap.

ahauta 9 years ago

I love it so much! I want to try it myself.

KRA5H 9 years ago

"and not really that rideable" The steel (or clay) wheels were terrible! if they ran into the smallest of pebbles you got stopped dead in your tracks and you flew of the front of the board. Those old-timey trucks weren't very maneuverable either so, it was harder to steer around those road rash causing pebbles.

travisderose 9 years ago

Ha yea that's what I hear! Glad I got modern technology

seamster 9 years ago

Very nice! I thought you'd just apply a white vinyl decal on top of the red paint, but this way is so much better. I really need to get a vinyl cutter!

travisderose 9 years ago

yea I thought about that but I figured the vinyl would probably peel right off