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How Skateboard Decks Are Manufactured
Once the wood has been shipped to the manufacturer, the veneer strips are inspected. Any pieces that are too imperfect to create a skateboard will be tossed out or recycled. The strips of veneer are then sorted into different piles, one with the grain running along the length of the rectangle, and the other with the grain going against it. The strips of veneer are then sent into a device that applies glue to the thin sheets. This glue is just a normal, water based wood glue. It bonds very well after being removed from the press, and ensures that your skateboard does not peel apart. Once the glue is on the veneer, the strips are stacked to create the beginnings of a skate deck. Most skateboard decks are 7 ply skateboard decks. This just means that seven layers of veneer have been layered to create the deck. Next, the strips of veneer are layered to give the most strength to the board, with the first piece being a layer of veneer where the grain runs vertically along the board, and the second strip being one where the grain runs horizontally. Once the veneer is layered properly, it is ready to be processed in the skateboard press. Depending on what kind of skateboard is being built, the wood will be processed in different presses. An old school shape and a new school shape have to be pressed in different presses, because the concaves are very different. The skateboard press turns the flat pieces of veneer into something with a little bit more shape. After being pressed, the skateboard decks are left to cure for twenty four hours or even longer. If the decks were not left to cure before further processing, they would most likely warp and be unskateable. After drying, the decks are processed even more. Many skateboard manufacturers shape a board with a machine that uses a completed deck as a template for cutting the excess wood off of a skateboard deck. After the skateboard has been shaped, the holes are drilled for attaching trucks. A machine similar to the machine above is used to do this. By utilizing a single skate deck as a template, skateboard makers can build lots of skateboard decks that are almost identical in shape and size. After shaping the deck, the edges are sanded manually by a worker. Many skateboard manufacturers own a sanding drum that the workers use to sand down the sharp rail on the deck. This makes the deck look cleaner, and also helps prevent injuries to skaters and other objects by removing the sharp edges of the deck. Sanding the edges also can keep the skateboard from cracking if it runs into a wall or something similar. The skateboard is not complete without a picture on the bottom. Skateboard manufacturers screen print deck graphics onto a thin strip of plastic, and then transfer the image to the deck with heat. The left over plastic is removed to reveal the graphic on the base of the board. After the graphic has been applied, the skateboard deck is covered with a coating that helps preserve the board and also the image on the bottom. This lacquer also gives a pretty shine to the deck, and brings out the color of the wood. The skateboard is then boxed up and shipped to one of the many skate shops skater to purchase and enjoy. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Lazar Rodriguez has been skating for quite a long time. He enjoys longboarding, trickboarding, and everything in the middle. If you're looking for an online skateboard shop after reading this article, please check out www.the-skateboard-shop.com/ |
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