How to Make a Skateboard Without Machines

Start with the deck. The deck needs to be very durable, so use a hard wood like maple. If you can't find a solid piece of maple at least 6 inches thick, then laminate a number of maple sheets together to reach this dimension. In this case, use a strong glue, and hold the sheets tightly together with clamps.

Choose the length of the board, keeping in mind that longer decks are more susceptible to breaking in the middle. Most decks are 29-33 inches long.

Decide the deck's shape. All boards are long rectangles with rounded edges. It is a good idea to borrow another skateboard to trace an outline. Most boards are 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 inches wide.

Draw the outline of the skateboard using the above measurements. Use the jigsaw to cut it out, then, with the sandpaper, sand the flat surfaces and borders until they are smooth.

Decorate and paint the board. While some only paint the visible part of the board, others decorate every inch. Use spray paint to personalize it. When the paint has dried, apply the clear coat to finish the board.

After the clear coat dries, flip the board over so the bottom faces up. Center the trucks on the board. They should be neither too far from the middle, nor too close together. Screw the trucks into the board with the included screws, making sure the screws do not go all the way through the board.

Attach the wheels to the trucks. Wheels come in different sizes, so make sure the wheels will fit with the trucks. Push the wheels to the ends of the truck's axle. There should be two wheels per truck, one on each side. Some trucks come with wheels, which streamlines the process.