For my final project, I plan on making my own skateboard deck using a homemade press and mold. I’ve loved skateboarding for many years now and have dreamt of making my own board since the first year I stepped on a board. In middle school, I had created a small deck out of a 3/4″ sheet of plywood but unsurprisingly, it had no lateral concave or kicks and did not ride well at all. This time I will be doing it the right way. Decks are usually made with 5 – 7 plies of North American maple wood. They are glued together in a large press for 24 hours to force the wood into the correct shape. A board’s shape depends on its width, length, wheelbase, kick steepness, and lateral concave. All of these aspects can greatly change how a deck feels and what it can be used for.
(1) A homemade deck press (2) A skateboard deck mold (3) A mold with wooden plies inside
I will be drawing upon the aesthetic of 80s vert and pool skating. However, functionally, I plan to construct a deck that is more akin to a modern-day street deck. In the 80s, vert and pool skating ruled the scene. Vert decks were extra wide and had exaggerated tails and more pointed noses. Most decks had lengths comparable to today’s standards but a longer wheelbase provided more stability when landing large airs. Street decks today are much blunter in shape. While still not symmetrical, the nose and tail look much more similar than on a vert deck and they have similar kick angles as well. These decks are skinnier and have shorter wheelbases. The modifications actually decrease the rotational inertia, making street decks easier to spin and flip.
(4) Vert skating (5) Street skating
I hope to create a deck with a shape and graphic reminiscent of the days of pool and vert skating from the 80s. I plan on cutting a coffin shape similar to the vert decks above but with a slightly more rounded tail. I will shrink the width and wheelbase of my deck, providing greater control for flip tricks and grinds. All of these dimensional aspects are dependent upon the quality of the mold I create.
(6) Vert decks (7) Street decks
Skateboard graphics vary widely. Each brand has its own style and look. However, it seems many street decks today are getting more and more wild and gimmicky. With embossed logos, foil finishes, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle collabs, many skaters yearn for something simple. For the graphic on my deck, I want something simple and understated similar to the vert boards shown on the left. I will likely use some combination stencils and spray paint to make up a graphic.
(8) Multiple decks being pressed at once
I believe that creating the mold will be the most difficult and time-consuming aspect of this project. I’ve already purchased two 12-foot 2x8s and plan to begin cutting out my concave profiles this week. If all goes according to plan, by the end of the semester I would love to pass out some homemade decks to my friends. In the future, I will use my homemade press and mold-creating experience to create new shapes and truly dial in my homemade decks.
(1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcdVgQr8FRQ
(2) https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models/industrial/tool/ready-to-be-milled-mold-for-skateboard-decks
(3) https://pointdistribution.com/deck-overview/
(4) https://asaworldtour.com/spx/skate-vert-competition/
(5) https://skatenewswire.com/stevie-williams-turns-40/
(6) http://vertisdead.blogspot.com/2016/08/small-room-skateboards.html
(7) https://creatureskateboards.com/
(8) https://www.customskateboards.com/skateboard-press