How to Make a Longboard
If you are curious How to Choose the Right Longboard, this article will assist you in Making your own longboard is a great way to get the exact board that you want. How to Make a Longboard a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs are available for you to choose from, as well as truck, wheels, and bearing options to be used on your board.
With a little bit of planning and some basic woodworking skills, you can make a high-quality longboard that will last for years.
Our goal in this article is to provide you with a step-by-step guide to assist you with the design and construction of your own longboard.
Furthermore, we will provide you with some tips on how to choose the right tools and materials for the job as well.
Let’s get started!
What Longboard Tools You’ll Need?
A longboard deck | Wheels |
Bearings | Trucks |
A drill | Grip tape |
A measuring tape | A saw (if you’re making your own deck) |
A jigsaw (if you’re making your own deck) |
Building a longboard is a fun and rewarding experience. Not only will you have a one-of-a-kind board, but you’ll also be able to customize it to your specific riding style. With a few simple tools and some basic woodworking knowledge, anyone can have a homemade longboard.
How to make a longboard Planning and Preparation?
Choose Your Deck
The first step in building a How to Make a Longboard is to choose the right deck. There are a few things you need to take into consideration when selecting a deck, such as size, shape, and flex.
Size
How to Make a Longboard come in a variety of sizes, from mini longboards that are just a few inches longer than a standard skateboard to giant longboards that are almost twice as long. How to Make a Longboard ,It is important to take into consideration your height and style of riding when determining the size of the board you need.Our recommendation is that you start out with a mid-sized board if you are just getting started.
Shape
How to Make a Longboard come in two main shapes: pintail and drop-through. Pintail boards have a pointed nose and tail and are great for cruising and carving. Drop-through boards have a hole in the middle of the deck, which lowers the center of gravity and makes the board more stable at high speeds.
Flex
How to Make a Longboard also come in a variety of flexes, from stiff boards that are great for racing to flexible boards that are better for cruising and carving.
It is important to note that the optimal flex of the board will be determined by both your weight and riding style. For those just starting out, we recommend that you stick with a board that has a medium amount of flex.
Pick Your Wheels
The next step in building How to Make a Longboard is to choose the right wheels. There are a few things you need to take into consideration when selecting wheels, such as size, hardness, and contact patch.
Size
Longboard wheels come in a variety of sizes, from smaller wheels that are great for cruising and carving to larger wheels that are better for downhill racing.
Again, depending on your riding style and height, you will need to determine the size of the wheels that you need. Ideally, you should go with small wheels if you’re just starting out your skateboarding journey.
Hardness
Longboard wheels also come in a variety of hardness levels, from softer wheels that grip the road better to harder wheels that slide easier.
The hardness of the wheels you need will again depend on your riding style. If you’re just starting out, we recommend going with a medium-hardness wheel.
Contact Patch
Basically, the contact patch represents the actual part of the wheel that actually comes into contact with the ground.
Longboard wheels come in a variety of contact patch sizes, from small patches that grip the road better to large patches that slide easier.
Based on the type of riding that you do, you will need to determine what size contact patch you will need. Again, a medium-sized patch is recommended if you are just getting started.
Assemble The Bearings, Trucks, And Wheels
The next step in building How to Make a Longboard is to assemble the bearings, trucks, and wheels. This is a relatively simple process, but there are a few things you need to take into consideration, such as axle size and kingpin type.
Axle Size
The axle is the metal rod to which the wheels are attached. Longboard trucks come in two different axle sizes: standard and mini.
Standard axles are great for larger wheels, while mini axles are better for smaller wheels. The size of the axle you need will depend on the size of the wheels you’re using.
Kingpin Type
The kingpin is the metal bolt that holds the trucks together. Longboard trucks come in two different kingpin types: standard and reverse.
Standard kingpins are great for cruising and carving, while reverse kingpins are better for downhill racing. The type of kingpin you need will depend on your riding style.
Add The Grip Tape
The next step in building a longboard is to add the grip tape. As its name suggests, the grip tape is a gritty, adhesive material that is applied to the top of the deck to improve traction and stability.
There are a few things you need to take into consideration when selecting grip tapes, such as size, shape, and texture.
Size
Grip tape comes in a variety of sizes, from small sheets that are great for custom shapes to large sheets that are better for covering a larger area. The size of the sheet you need will depend on the size of the deck you’re using.
Shape
Grip tape also comes in a variety of shapes, from rectangles that are great for covering a larger area to custom shapes that are better for covering a smaller area.
The shape of the sheet you need will again depend on the size of the deck you’re using.
Texture
Grip tape comes in a variety of textures, from rough textures that provide more traction to smooth textures that provide less traction.
Depending on the style of riding you use, the texture of the grip tape you’ll need will vary.
As a beginner, we recommend starting off with a mid-level tape that will give you good traction and hold well.
Procedure to Make a DIY Longboard
Step 1: Prepare The Deck
If you’re making your own deck (diy longboard deck), the first step is to cut the plywood to the desired shape and size.
You can do this with a saw or a jigsaw. Once you have your deck pieces cut out, it’s time to drill the holes for the trucks.
To do this, you’ll need to measure the width of your trucks and mark the center of each truck hole on the deck.
After that, to make the holes in your trucks, get a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the width of your trucks and drill the holes in them.
If you’re not making your own deck, you can skip this step.
Step 2: Attach The Wheels
It is time now for the trucks to be attached to the wheels, which will take a while. In order to do this, first, you need to insert the bearings into the wheels.
Then, thread the axle of the truck through the bearing and screw on the nut to secure it in place.
Repeat this process for all four wheels.
Step 3: Add The Grip Tape
Once the wheels are attached, it’s time to add the grip tape. In this way, you’ll be able to remain on the board much more easily.
It is as simple as peeling off the backing of the grip tape and sticking it to the top of the deck.
Make sure to press it down firmly so that it adheres well.
Then, using a sharp knife, trim off the excess tape around the edges of the deck.
Step 4: Assemble The Bearings
Next, the bearings need to be assembled. This can be a bit tricky, but it’s important to make sure that the bearings are properly seated on the wheels.
To do this, first, insert the inner race of the bearing into the wheel. After that, you will need to tap the outer race of the bearing into place, either with a bearing press or a hammer.
Finally, insert the bearing seal into the outer race of the bearing.
Step 5: Mount The Trucks
Afterward, you will need to mount the trucks in the appropriate locations once the bearings are in place. To do this, simply place the truck on the deck and insert the hardware through the holes that you drilled earlier.
Then, tighten the hardware in place with a wrench.
Step 6: Test It Out
Now it’s time to test out your longboard! Before you ride, make sure to check that the trucks are tightened properly and that the wheels spin freely.
The time has come to hit the streets if everything looks good.
Tips and Tricks
- If you’re making your own deck, use wood for longboard called plywood, that’s at least 7-ply for durability.
- When cutting the plywood for your deck, be sure to use a sharp blade to avoid splintering.
- If you’re having trouble sliding your bearings into the wheels, try using a bearing installation tool.
- When gripping the tape to the deck, be sure to press down firmly to avoid air bubbles.
- Use caution when riding your longboard for the first time. Take it slowly at first, and then work your way up to the larger hills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Building your own longboard( How to Make a Longboard ) is a great way to get into the sport. It’s also a fun project that you can do with friends or family. By following the steps in this article, you’ll be able to build a high-quality longboard that will last for years to come.