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Building a longboard

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hamburgerburglar
Posts: 51 - Karma: 10
hey guys does anyone have any tips on building longboards?  Wood, wheels, etc..

any help appreciated
May 4 2010 11:00AM
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Mackin_Jack
Posts: 214 - Karma: 31
what type of board do you want? Downhill, freeride, or a cruisers?
May 4 2010 11:11AM
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PASKIINGSUCKS
Posts: 9097 - Karma: 777
I would also like some info on this. I've got a table router at work and would like to rip out a deck but not sure about it needing some shaping or are flat decks good too??
May 4 2010 11:11AM
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hamburgerburglar
Posts: 51 - Karma: 10
i'm looking for a primarily cruiser, but that can bomb hills smoothly...  any info on powersaws/sanders needed would also be appreciated


May 4 2010 11:12AM
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Mackin_Jack
Posts: 214 - Karma: 31
Your gonna want your deck to have a good flex with some pop in it, the stiffer it is the better it is for bombing hills and the worse it is for cruising, for sands any power sander works just make sure to start with the rough and end with the fine grid. For wheels, retro big zigs are dope, and trucks go with the bear 852's, you can flip the hanger for downhill and crusiing.
May 4 2010 11:24AM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
Well you will need to press the board so you can build the concave into the mold. I suppose you could find a really stiff piece of laminate and just cut it out, but then it will have like no flex.
May 4 2010 11:29AM
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PASKIINGSUCKS
Posts: 9097 - Karma: 777
How thick and how many ply would you say a normal longboard is. I've got high grade plywood in 5/16 , 1/2, and 5/8. Assuming I take the easy route and just make a flat deck, would i want as thick as possible??
May 4 2010 11:30AM
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Mr.LemonPie
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 1,625
Most plywood isn't good enough. I make and sell longboards, what I use is Baltic birch and fiber glass, the thinner the wood the better.

I also wouldn't just take the easy way out and make a flat deck, especially with one sheet of wood. You can do things like screw pieces of wood together to make a makeshift clamp, and use things like bags of concrete to make a ghetto press.


silverfishlongboarding.com is an awesome forum, and there board building section is the best resource there is.
May 4 2010 11:36AM
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Booyaka
Posts: 3 - Karma: 10
Plywood contains many small voids. After some use the wood will soften and break. To get a solid board you need a nice solid piece of oak or some other hardwood. Or veneers, molds and a press. Band saw, jig saw, belt sander, hand power sander are all tools which can be used.
May 4 2010 11:38AM
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PASKIINGSUCKS
Posts: 9097 - Karma: 777
Alright thanks man I'll check out that forum. We use finnish birch here but I'm thinking 5/16 would be much too thin. Are you using a steam box of some kind once you clamp the deck???
May 4 2010 11:40AM
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Mr.LemonPie
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 1,625
I use 1/8, no steam box, just a mechanical press, and titebond three. 5/16 is alright. 3 layers will do fine most likely. Always hop on and such to make sure the flex is good before you ride off.
May 4 2010 12:03PM
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bitchtitsbob
Posts: 167 - Karma: 25
When getting trucks, DEFINITELY go with Originals. They're unreal and carve like a dream... best things I've ever ridden.
May 4 2010 12:16PM
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NWPA
Posts: 2309 - Karma: 165
get some orangatang wheels!! those things cruise dude
May 4 2010 2:54PM
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B.Pol
Posts: 1750 - Karma: 59
Please do not go with Originals, they aren't the best quality. And everyone says they are such good carvers, you can get the same carving ability in an amazing truck like paris with the right bushings.

And to OP: you will regret trying to sand a solid piece of wood into a board. You just can't do that and enjoy ridding it. Also if you are thinking of doing this to save money check out my thread we make boards for cheap! Plus we use all the best meterials.
May 4 2010 5:29PM
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leahey
Posts: 2548 - Karma: 32
I don't recommend it unless you have a good press to use. It will end up to be a waste of time unless you use like 7 layers of veneer.
May 4 2010 5:31PM
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bryant
Posts: 273 - Karma: 31
it really is its kind of like the newschoolers of long boarding but imo not as well put together
May 4 2010 5:42PM
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LAME.
Posts: 5795 - Karma: 2,446

lol This weekend we will be making 5-10 decks. We are charging $40 for deck and $100 for complete.

Pm me if you interested.

May 4 2010 6:01PM
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deathcookie
Posts: 1800 - Karma: 1,196
http://users.telenet.be/Toothless/Toothless/pages/instructions/instructions_index.html  This site seemed pretty good.  Make sure you use baltic birch, not just plain birch.  I built one out of plain birch and it broke so Im hoping to try again.
May 4 2010 6:14PM
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strongmark
Posts: 3278 - Karma: 883
or ventures.  or indys.  or any other truck thats made for actual skateboarding.

push mongo for me up a hill in front my house so i can laugh at you like i do the rest of you wrongboarders and your foolish 12 foot long pieces of scuzz.
May 4 2010 6:28PM
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JuliusJ
Posts: 3778 - Karma: 2,106
harder than you think to build one and correctly balance it but its a fun project
May 4 2010 8:23PM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
silverfish for the win

Email LongboardLarry. If you don't know who he is, straight up google him. Handmakes boards like this monster:

Click for larger image
May 4 2010 8:26PM
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willyg0808
Posts: 4231 - Karma: 1,364
pm CTD .  his stuff is rediculous
May 4 2010 9:14PM
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