This longboard is for the lucky ones who have access to a CNC router and want to use it. I'm including my rhino file for cutting the outline, as well as the ai file for the stencil I used for the design of the board that can be laser cut, or cut by any CNC tool.

This process was the best for me, it saved time and money, and the board came out looking so professional.

Step 1: Materials

-Plywood or Baltic Birch ranging from 1/8'' to 1/2'', the thinner the easier it will be to bend, but more layers

-CNC router

-Clamps

-Wood glue

-Sanding machine

-Outdoor resin

-Fiberglass cloth

-Laser cutter (for stencils)

-Wood Stain

-Spray Paint

-Acrylic paint

-Trucks and wheels

-Screw driver

-Clear grip tape (optional)

You can get everything on this list on amazon.

(would recommend going elsewhere for your wood and cnc tools tho, obviously)

Step 2: Cut

Experiment with speeds to get the one that causes the least amount of chips on your board. I cut out three and just chose the best two to use out of the three.

If you're using 1/2'' wood and up you only need one layer,
1/4'' you can use 2 layers 1/8'' go to 3 or 4, any lower than that, just keep stacking your deck until its the thickness you like

If you're not using plywood, rotate every other layer 90 degrees, so adjacent layers have their wood grain perpendicular to each other.

This board is 40'' tall and at its widest 8.5'', down by the tail its 5.2''

Use this website to understand how the different parts of a longboard can affect how it rides:

longboardv4.3dm
Download

Step 3: Adding Flex

After you take your best cut boards and stack them, evenly spread wood glue on both boards and sandwich them together.

Make sure they are aligned.

Use blocks of wood and clamps to bend your board into the shape you want, nothing fancy.

This simple clamp & scrap wood rig was so easy to throw together with whatever was lying around, it worked well too.

Keep in mind where you want to put your trucks and wheels and make sure that area is flat!

Flex is good for shock absorption when riding. Also for tricks (longboard tricks are really clunky-cool and amazing, go youtube it, get inspired).

Let it dry overnight

Step 4: Sand

Get rid of any uneven alignments, lips & extra glue by sanding over the sides, and sand the surface to prep for painting.

Step 5: Add Design

I spray painted the darker part on with dark brown spray paint using the laser cut stencil, the mid-tone is medium wood stain, and I let the original plywood peek through for the lighter part.

To get a professional look I didnt free-hand any of this. I used tape and a stencil for perfect straight lines. I kept the tones earthy to match my style.

LB stencil.ai
Download

Step 6: Paint to Your Heart's Desire

You can use any paint, because its going to be under a layer of resin and fiberglass cloth. (you can collage, too)

I used acrylic paint. It doesn't go on the shiny finish of the wood stain too well, but I got it to work after a few layers.

I added little spirit dudes, keeping in mind where the trucks and wheels are going to cover up the image.

Step 7: Add Fiberglass and Resin

Lay the fiberglass cloth over your board and then pour on the resin, evenly distribute it. (Use a brush or card or paint roller or whatever, just know that it wont spread itself even)

The fiberglass cloth will become transparent after the resin is on it. Depending on how much resin you use it could be like glass (resin completely covers fiberglass cloth), or it could have some weave texture to it (the texture of the fiberglass cloth). You can do as many layers you feel the need to. I did one on each side.

Be neat. If you are messy and need to sand a large part of your board, it will make your board look cloudy, not glassy clear. The sides are going to be sanded off when it all drys, so let the fiberglass cloth hang off your board.

Let it dry overnight.

Step 8: Sand More, Add Trucks & Wheels

Sand the sides back down to get rid of extra fiberglass cloth, its important to wear a mask with this sanding part.

Make sure your trucks are centered before you screw them in. You want control over your board.

Try to get them far apart from each other without going onto your tail or hanging over.

Mark where the bolts will go.

Drill holes that are a bit smaller than the bolts then screw the bolts in, put your risers and trucks on the other side and screw on the bolts. Don't tighten as much as you can, but make it fairly tight.

Next put the bearings in the wheels and the wheels on your trucks. Tighten.