Home >> Toys >> Other Toys

How to Make Your Own Finger Ripstick

The RipStik is a caster board -- or a skateboard split into two sections and connected in the middle with a bar so the board resembles two joined paddles. Riders who want to practice tricks in the off-season can make finger RipStiks, which are miniaturized versions of the larger boards that are controlled with your fingers instead of your feet. You can create and cut the design from wood and use re-purposed wheels from standard fingerboards.

Things You'll Need

6 inch square of balsa wood, 1/8 inch thick
Ruler
Utility knife
Sandpaper, medium grit
1 inch long dowel rod, ¼ inch diameter
Grip tape, 6 inch square
Scissors
Wood glue
2 fingerboard trucks with wheels

Instructions

- 1
  Measure and draw a 1 inch vertical line on the right side of a 6 inch square sheet of 1/8 inch thick balsa wood. Measure 1.5 inches to the left of the line's midpoint and draw a dot.
- 2
  Connect each end point of the line to the dot with two curved lines that create a half-oval shape. The width of the oval should measure no more than 1.5 inches. This is the nose of the RipStik.
- 3
  Measure and draw a second 1 inch vertical line beneath the first. The lines should be vertically aligned, but their end points should not touch or overlap.
- 4
  Draw the same oval shape as the one above it. Draw a ">" at the midpoint of the rounded side. The notch measures 1/4 of an inch from the top starting point of the notch to the point of the notch. The half-oval should resemble a "Pac-Man" or a pie with a slice missing. This piece will act as the tail of the RipStik.
- 5
  Cut out both shapes with the utility knife. Cut the excess wood out of the ">" on the tail piece. Sand any excess wood from the edges of the shapes with medium grit sandpaper.
- 6
  Place each shape on the back of a 6 inch square sheet of grip tape. Trace around the shapes and cut out the grip tape using scissors.
- 7
  Peel and stick the grip tape onto the shapes. Cut around the perimeter of the nose and tail with a utility knife to remove excess tape.
- 8
  Place both shapes grip tape side down so their straight ends are parallel to one another. Allow ¾ of an inch of space between the two shapes.
- 9
  Cut a ¼ inch diameter round dowel so it measure 1 inch in length. Apply a pea-sized amount of wood glue to the inner ends of both shapes. Place the dowel rod into the glue and allow it to fully dry. The rod will connect the two shapes to create the RipStik deck.
- 10
  Apply a pea-sized drop of wood glue to the top of a fingerboard truck with attached wheels. Attach the truck to the center of nose of the deck so the wheels are parallel to the dowel rod. Attach a second truck to the center of the tail. Allow the glue to dry.
- 11
  Flip the RipStik over. Place your index finger on the nose of the board and your middle finger on the tail to begin performing tricks.

Other Toys