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Skateboard Decks
Choosing a skateboard deck can be the most important part of picking a complete setup. Most skateboard decks are made of glue and wood but some are made of composites, aluminum, nylon, Plexiglas, fiberglass, foam, and other artificial materials. They are usually decorated by screen-printing. Skateboard decks come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. The most important item for skateboarding is obviously the skateboard which is made up of the deck, trucks, wheels and bearing.
The skateboard deck comes in different sizes and the one you choose would be determined by the amount of control you can exercise and the kind of tricks that you would want to perform. A smaller deck is slightly easier to control and perform flip tricks with while the larger deck is easier to carve and affords greater stability especially when you are a novice. Not only does the width of the deck vary but also the length. Another characteristic is that all skateboards decks curve up slightly instead of being totally flat. This concavity strengthens the deck and the degree of concavity allows for a better grip. This however is not binding for there are people who prefer lesser concave. The grip tape on top of the deck is sandpaper like stuff, which helps you to get a better grip.
The Manufacturing Process
Most skateboard decks are constructed with a seven-ply cross-laminated lay up of Canadian maple. But depending on an individual’s preference, other materials such as bamboo, Kevlar, carbon fiber and aluminum are also used. Ordinary decks are usually 7 to 10.5 inches wide, but vary depending on the type of skater. Vert skateboarders use a wide deck to provide stability while street skaters use a smaller version. The length of a skateboard deck is usually between 28 and 33 inches long.
- A piece of maple wood undergoes a treatment that allows it to be peeled into thin sheets of wood called veneer that are then delivered to the deck factory. They are stored in a climate-controlled environment to ensure the moisture content is optimized. Too much moisture is not good for the manufacturing process.
- Each veneer is then put into a glue machine by hand. This machine evenly coats each veneer with water-based glue specially designed for wood.
- After being coated, the veneers are numbered and stacked according to grain and level of use. Each skateboard is made of seven layers of veneer. The first, second, fourth, sixth, and seventh layers have the grain running from the nose to the tail of the board. The third and fifth have the grain running from side to side. These stacks are put into a two-part mold inside a hydraulic press. The mold creates the nose, concave, and tail of each skateboard. The resulting laminate sits in the press for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. The longer the time, the more naturally the wood and glue set.
- After the laminates are removed from the press, eight holes for the truck mount are drilled by hand with a drilling rig.
- A worker takes the newly drilled board and, with a previously made template, hand-shapes each deck with a band saw. The deck is hand sanded and coated with paint.
- After the deck is dry, a decorative design is imposed by screen printing. The decks are then dried and ready for shipment.
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