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Homemade Longboards

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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
Curious if anyone here has made a long board or skateboard completely from scratch. if so, post up your work and your methods of creation.
Apr 29 2012 5:15PM
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ZachMcCarthy1
Posts: 469 - Karma: 432
i made a few off a cut out from my dervish and they work great if you do it right
Apr 29 2012 5:17PM
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RileyZap
Posts: 420 - Karma: 27
My friend has been making and selling them for about a year now. They turn out really nice. His company is Yeti Longboards. You could contact him on Facebook and I'm sure hed answer any questions you have.http://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/profile.php?v=feed&id=100002640411482&__user=1156002400 . All the boards are in the mobile uploads section I believe.
Apr 30 2012 11:48AM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
I enjoy longboarding too much to ride some piece of shit I made myself. I'll leave it to the pros who can build something that will actually be fun to freeride.

maybe if i was into cruising or carving...
Apr 30 2012 11:58AM
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45.
Posts: 3164 - Karma: 170
The build process and technology behind longboard building is far from complex. Unless you ride strictly composite or bamboo boards, you could easily make your self a very nice BB or Maple board with some practice.
Apr 30 2012 12:03PM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
but being able to pick up a quality board for less than it costs to buy the raw materials is the main turn off.

honestly, I considered building a foam core composite board before I considered building a hardwood deck.

Definitely not bashing those of you who do build your own boards, it's definitely a sick hobby, it's just not for me.
Apr 30 2012 3:22PM
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JakeAssBeatClap
Posts: 6673 - Karma: 2,537
Inb4 hotassbeatclap's longboarding hate....


Just kidding, but I remember seeing a video on fuel tv like a year or two ago, and some board maker showed how to make your own press using just wood and clamps.

I assume it would be easier to shape a simple long board than a skateboard just because of the concave shapes a skateboard has but i do know, most boards (skateboards) are 7 ply canadian maple. With strong wood glue, and routed.

I will look for the video if i can find it I will post it it was really informative.
Apr 30 2012 3:26PM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
longboards get really funky with concave, rocker, drops, micro drops, gas pedals, w's, tubs, and all sorts of sourcery not really found in skate decks.

it's all a matter of how much work you want to put in.

and yes I agree that low speed longboard freeriding is kind of lame, high speed freeride is more my style, nothing like bombing some hills and throwing huge standies. pushing around a parking lot doesn't really do it for me... long board or short.


Apr 30 2012 3:34PM
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SwagasaurusRex
Posts: 635 - Karma: 333
I agree with this. I love local companies and people who make them, It just isn't for me. I would not trust something I make to take me 30 mph down a hill (I am just starting to get more into DH and freeriding now) so I will leave it to people with practice, and support them financially along the way.
Apr 30 2012 3:34PM
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JakeAssBeatClap
Posts: 6673 - Karma: 2,537
Oh no LB's get crazy in concaves, that's why I said a simple long board. I guess I shoulda made that more clear, but yeah there are wayyyy more technical long board shapes than a normal skateboard. But I haven't the slightest idea how you would make those with out a legitimate skateboard press hahah

Yeah, I assume you're referring to the other thread I posted in? Yeah I have nothing against people who long board one of my good buddies recently went pro as a long boarder for Arbor, but he does high speed shit down enormous hills that make my testicles shrink and my sphincter tighten. I agree though, slow free ride stuff isn't nearly as interesting in my eyes.
Apr 30 2012 3:39PM
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
+k for all who replied. glad to get some good feedback. Im thinking of starting up a longboard company. the main selling point of my boards is similar to what knockaround sunglasses has done. make em so cheap that it isnt a huge deal to replace em if they break, get run over, chewed by your dog, ect... I wanna sell my decks for 50 bucks out the door to anyone(more if you add in trucks, wheels, grip, ect.) idk if anyone is cheaper on the market right now. (i havent done my research yet) but 50 bucks is a damn good price for a handmade deck IMO.

thoughts?


Apr 30 2012 7:22PM
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Mr.DarthVader
Posts: 1322 - Karma: 556
my friend is making one in his transportation tech class right now, its pretty sweet
Apr 30 2012 7:29PM
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SPskier543
Posts: 2413 - Karma: 324
it will cost $50 or over to make a decent longboard with layering veneers and what not. under $50 will get you nothing more than a slab of regular plywood cut into a shape of a board
Apr 30 2012 7:38PM
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JIBpsy^^
Posts: 2851 - Karma: 36
I make love to hamburgers.
Apr 30 2012 7:41PM
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Forcillo
Posts: 3801 - Karma: 3,580
Click for larger image I made these with my friend. Took 7 plys of maple, sandwiched them in between 2 layers of fiberglass and pressed it
Apr 30 2012 7:51PM
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
lol. where do you buy your supplies?
Apr 30 2012 7:51PM
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Lucas
Posts: 4881 - Karma: 1,575
I would ride it
Apr 30 2012 7:54PM
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ThaBug
Posts: 59 - Karma: 11
My woods teacher made a press for them there like 30 bucks and we make them all the time and there pretty nice
Apr 30 2012 8:02PM
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whoa-dere
Posts: 10596 - Karma: 7,103
I made a press and then a deck in shop class, it was fun. You HAVE to get the right materials, Baltic birch, titebond 2 glue, etc. Click for larger image More pics of board and the press in my profile
Apr 30 2012 8:44PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
i've posted this before but... 4 layers of 1/8" baltic birch and top and bottom layers of formica, 36.5" long, 30" wheelbase axel to axel, 9.75" width, .5" tub concave with a wide flat spot in the center. Pressed with a vac bag/foam mold. Although I somehow broke the kingpin in my paris and of course they have to use the funny knurled ones. A normal hex one won't fit without a bit of grinding...




That's my latest. Look through my pictures if you want, I have a few of my others in there.
Apr 30 2012 9:14PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
I've never ever had that feeling. As in, I've never been riding one of my boards and though "hope this doesn't break." I've been up to about 40 on that formica board and it's rock solid. I could see why people would doubt themselves though.
Apr 30 2012 9:24PM
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SwagasaurusRex
Posts: 635 - Karma: 333
The thing is that your board you made looks like a tank, and I am sure it is stable as no other. I am not incredibly good with shop related things, as I only took a trimester of it previously this year. I just don't think I would want to put my safety in what I make haha. And random question, and tips for foot position to help handle wobbles? I currently put my front foot facing pretty straight forwards (maybe 10 degrees off) and my back foot at about 35 degrees from straight forwards. Anything I should change?
Apr 30 2012 10:49PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
I don't think that matters. One kid I ride with, who races and is pretty good, has his front foot almost straight and his back foot almost straight on this lump he made under his grip near the back of the board. My front foot is slightly angled and my back foot is almost straight, I think. Just get good at balancing in whatever stance is comfortable for you.
Apr 30 2012 11:29PM
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
Just put like 90% of your weight on your front foot. You should have so much weight on the front foot that you can shift around your back foot from rail to rail easily. Wobble rarely comes from the back truck.
May 1 2012 12:16AM
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Sinuous
Posts: 439 - Karma: 82
Message CTD. He's been making some rad boards for a while now and is starting to sell customs. Here's a few pictures of his masterpieces.
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May 1 2012 12:23AM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
foot position isn't nearly as important as weight distribution. Most of your weight should be situated over the front of the board and you should really only be using your rear foot to balance yourself at high speeds. Another misconception is that tightening your trucks is the solution to wobbles. you can ride a board with loose trucks as fast one one with cranked trucks if your technique is good.

watch the claremont boys to get an idea.


inb4 s9 hate
you can hate on S9, but don't hate on their downhill division.
May 1 2012 3:31AM
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T.DUB
Posts: 343 - Karma: 36
i am currently working on marty mcfly's skateboard/longboard cruiser from back to the future, shaping is done i just have to add a graphic
May 1 2012 10:35AM
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