How Skateboards Are Built

A skateboarder can't skate without a skateboard deck. This chunk of wood is specially shaped so that the skater can remain in full control over the tricks that he or she does. But how are these decks made? Well, it starts with the wood.

A regular skateboard deck is made out of a maple tree. Maple trees are chopped down and then processed in a processing plant. A handful of rectangular strips of veneer are created out of the maple tree. These strips of veneer will be stacked to create the skateboard deck.

Once the wood has been shipped to the manufacturer, the pieces are thoroughly inspected. If a piece is too imperfect to create a skateboard will be tossed out or recycled. The pieces of veneer are then arranged into different piles, one with the grain going along the length of the rectangle, and the other with the grain going against the veneer.

The pieces of veneer are then run through a machine that applies glue to the thin sheets. This glue is just your basic, water based wood glue. It holds quite well after getting out of the press, and ensures that your skateboard won't fall apart.

With glue on the veneer, the strips are stacked to create the beginning of a skate deck. Most skateboard decks are seven ply skate decks. This simply means that 7 layers of veneer have been stacked to make the deck.

Then, the strips of veneer are layered to give the maximum amount of strength to the deck, with the first strip being a layer of veneer where the grain goes vertically along the deck, and the second strip being one where the grain runs horizontally.

Once the veneer has been layered correctly, it's ready to go into the skateboard press. Depending on what type of deck is being made, the layered veneer will be pressed in different presses. An old school shape and a new school shape have to be pressed with different machines, because the noses and tails are quite different.

The skateboard press converts the regular looking pieces of veneer into something with a bit more shape. Once they're pressed, the skateboard decks are set out to cure for twenty four hours or longer. If the skateboards weren't left to cure before further processing, they would likely warp and not be skateable.

After they have dried, the decks are processed. Many skateboard manufacturers shape a board using a device that uses a finished board as a template for cutting the excess wood from a skateboard deck.

After the skateboard has been shaped, the holes are drilled for attaching trucks. A device similar to the machine above is used for this. By using one skate deck as a template, skateboard manufacturers can create many skateboard decks that are almost identical in form and size.

After shaping the deck, the edges are rounded manually by a worker. Many skateboard manufacturers own a sanding wheel that the workers use to sand down the sharp rail on the deck. This makes the deck look cleaner, and also prevents injuries to skaters and other things by removing the sharp edges of the deck. Rounding the edges also helps prevent the skateboard from splintering if it runs into a wall or something similar.

The deck is not complete without a graphic. Skateboard manufacturers screen print deck graphics onto a piece of plastic, and then transfer the graphic to the deck with heat. The extra plastic is removed to reveal the graphic on the bottom of the deck.

After the graphic has been transferred to the board, the skate deck is treated with a varnish that will help to protect the skate deck and also the image on the bottom. This lacquer also gives a nice shine to the deck, and brings out the color of the wood. The deck is then placed in a box and sent out to one of the many skateshops around the world, for a lucky skater to purchase and enjoy.

The Author has been a skater for quite a long period of time. He loves longboarding, trickboarding, and everything in the middle. If you're looking for an online skateboard shop after reading this article, please check out http://www.the-skateboard-shop.com/