The Handmade Skateboard, 2nd Edition
The Handmade Skateboard, 2nd Edition
Make a Statement by Building a Skateboard from Scratch…
The definitive book on building custom skate boards of all shapes and sizes is revised, expanded, and better than ever. From a high-performance street deck to a vintage pinstripe cruiser that will turn heads everywhere you go, this second edition of The Handmade Skateboard delivers all you need to know.
When you make your own skateboard from scratch you have the opportunity to create something that is perfectly tailored to you: a deck that matches your height, your weight, your center of balance, your skill level and your intended use. More importantly, making your own skate deck allows you to design a perfect deck to fit your personal style, making a statement about who you are. There’s nothing wrong with choosing off-the-shelf and mass produced, but who doesn’t prefer to stand out? Be different. Be one of a kind. That’s what you get with a custom handmade skateboard. Whether you’re an accomplished woodworker or an absolute beginner, The Handmade Skateboard guides you step-by-step through building five skateboard designs—from a simple hack board built in a few spare hours to a high-performance street deck pressed from seven layers of high-quality maple veneers. A design guide covers everything you need to know about sizing and shaping your deck and choosing the right trucks and hardware. And detailed photos, illustrations and clear written instruction throughout provide all the information and motivation you need to make your own skateboard from scratch.
Take a Look Inside The Handmade Skateboard…
Praise for The Handmade Skateboard…
“Like a canoe-building manual for dry land, Matt Berger’s elucidating treatise will elevate your skateboard shop skills from ‘ollie’ to ‘goofy-foot kick-flip’ with panache. Build yourself a stylish vehicle that requires no fuel beyond bacon, vanquishing the traffic and the claustrophobia of conventional conveyance.” — Nick Offerman, actor, comedian, woodworker, and author of Good Clean Fun and Paddle Your Own Canoe
“When my dad, brothers and I opened Val Surf in 1962, we had decided to include skateboards in our product offering thus making us the world's first legitimate skateboard shop. The skateboard has evolved so much since then, so it's great to see a new generation of skatemakers head back into the garage shop to build their own decks. A copy of The Handmade Skateboard would be a very helpful tool to guide them along.” — Mark “Wally” Richards, President and Co-Founder of Val Surf Boardshop and early skateboard pioneer
”I know Matt Berger from the woodworking world so I expected this book to be an excellent resource for the ‘how-to’ of deck building. What I didn’t expect was the healthy dose of history and cultural perspective, leaving me much more informed and appreciative of the skateboard movement and the thought that goes into even the most modest skateboard design.” — Marc Spagnuolo, aka “The Wood Whisperer”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matt Berger
Matt Berger, Californian designer and builder of everyday objects, is a lifelong hobby enthusiast and workshop adventurer. He makes his living helping companies design and build digital products, and makes a passion out of helping others design and build physical objects in his garage workshop and local maker spaces. Matt earned his stripes in the woodshop as an editor at Fine Woodworking magazine, where he launched FineWoodworking. com, and produced and starred in how-to videos for the Web site. Matt applied all the skills learned and practiced at the Fine Woodworking shop to create a series of workshops teaching students of all ages how to build a handmade skateboard. That turned into his first book, The Handmade Skateboard, and the DIY brand SK8Makers. With his second book, The Handmade Teardrop Trailer, Matt is still enjoying the great outdoors but expanding his DIY ambitions to a much bigger project.
Also Available: The Handmade Teardrop Trailer
