skateboard deck manufacturing process
The skateboard manufacturing process starts with a solid Canadian maple tree – ideally grown through sustainable foresting…
1)The maple tree is cut down, roughly chopped and the pieces sent to the skateboard factory.
2)At the factory the delivered maple logs get sawn into smaller pieces.
3)These are put into customized tanks and soaked in preparation for the veneering process.
4)The logs are peeled into long thin sheets of wood.
5)The sheets are cut into veneers slightly bigger than a skateboard deck.
6)Special dryers pull most of the moisture out of the veneers – maintaining the exact amount of moisture (7-8%) in the wood is crucial for making durable skateboard decks.
7)The dried veneers are thoroughly inspected and tested for consistency and moisture content.
8)The veneers that passed the inspection are sanded evenly and smoothly as every sheet needs to be exactly of the same thickness for a faultless deck.
9)Each veneer gets coated with waterbased glue and a high grade catalyst.
10)(To make one standard skateboard deck) seven veneers are stacked with the grains alternating (first layer running from nose to tail, second from side to side and so on).
11)The stacks are placed in a skateboards manufacturing mold mounted into a hydraulic press.
12)The laminated stacks are pressed for a predetermined time until the glue has set and the mold has shaped the nose, tail and concave of the skateboard deck.
13)The stacks are removed from the press and eight holes for the mounting bolts are drilled simultaneously.
14)Using a template a skateboard manufacture worker cuts the final deck shape out of the laminated stack.
15)The deck is hand-sanded to make sure all edges are round to prevent chipping and the outside layers are smooth for a good quality print.
16)The sanded deck is coated with sealant and dried.
17)A skateboard graphic is imposed either by screenprint, heat transfer foil or spray paint.
18)To protect the graphic the deck is coated with a final clear varnish.
19)A logo and serial number are lasered on top of the deck.
20)Eventually the deck is shrink wrapped and packed for shipping.