As a skateboarder, setting off to a skate park isn’t continually going to be a choice, so you need to build a skateboard ramp close-by that you can simply use your tricks. It can be incredibly fulfilling to make your own ramp and can be customized to match your skateboarding requirements. Before you start making your DIY skate ramp, you should consider the kind of ramp that best suits your space. Think about where you will be using and storing your ramp to ensure that it fits in the region that you need it as well.
Materials needed
- Plywood – 4×8′ with a 3/4″ thickness
- Masonite – 4×8′ with a 1/4″ thickness
- 1 5/8″ screws
- 2 1/2″ screws
- Steel – 10 × 4′ with a 3/16″ thickness
Tools
- A tape measure
- A pencil
- A drill
- A circular saw
- 3/16″ drill bit
- 3/8″ drill bit
Create a blueprint
Make a blueprint to personalize your design. Getting your thoughts on paper is an ideal approach to get a feeling of how involved this task would be. It will likewise enable you to work out any functional issues regarding measurements.
- Find professional ramp plans online
- Try not to purchase costly design software. Search online for free blueprints, also consult your friends that knows design, or go to your neighborhood hardware shop to begin off on the correct foot.
- Try not to be afraid to be imaginative with your design; notwithstanding, ensure not to start building unless you are okay with your final design. Starting and stopping could drain your resources and cause undesirable frustration.
- When you are personalizing, some experimentation might be required yet be mindful so as not to act without aim. For instance, in the event that you experiment and hurriedly remove a few feet instead of an inch at once, you may have to start over the whole project again. This can particularly be true when making curved ramps. In case you are on a financial plan or a novice, go for a blueprint that goes in line with your needs and, after building the first ramp successfully, you should consider customizing the second ramp.
Foundations
Foundation for ramps are highly essential but most of the times, overlooked. Be it indoor or outdoor you need a decent connection with your preferred ground for a robust ramp. You don’t have to attach the ramp to the floor or ground though. If constructed, they wouldn’t move unless you move them. You need to keep the outdoor ramps portable as they can get wet and rot if they have improper contact with the surface of the ground. You might need to move one day and bring the ramp with you. It may even be against the rule to build a permanent ramp.
Begin with the sides
Learning how to make a skateboard ramp, you have to understand that you can build as big as the available space. So go for it if you can! Try to sketch the bigger model before you start making it so you could cut all the wood to the right length. Begin by cutting the sides of the ramp. The two sides can be cut from a piece of plywood, and they ought to measure 5ft 6” in length. For the back of the ramp, it should be around 1ft 6”, while the tallness of the front should be just 1 ½ inches. Ensure to always measure the length of your wood twice in order not to make mistakes.
Connections
Connections are the way you put the different parts of the skateboard ramp together. Some people use two deck screws. Bracing and secondary support offered by other parts add more stability to the ramp. The impacts made from skateboarding are not that massive. If you’re aiming to strengthen the structure, at that point, there are a couple of alternatives. Use joist hangers, screw blocks in underneath the primary horizontal beams, and you can also glue the joints.
Add plywood
The application of plywood depends on the size of the ramp you’re making. When you place it on the frame that you made, ensure that one end covers the entire frame while the other end touches the ground surface. Place the screws around an inch apart on the plywood surface to secure the whole plywood. If you are making a bigger ramp, two pieces of plywood might be required.
Sealing the ramp
Gluing and sealing the ramps in all the appropriate spots is very critical. These are necessary and fast things you can do that will ensure the ramp lasts longer than many others. Try using white glue for a decent stability. When setting up and working the ramp in, make sure to do it with glue. You may utilize white glue to set the connections. Make sure that everything is to your taste.
Finish the surface of your ramp
Regardless of whether you are utilizing the most astounding quality skatelite or more financially savvy plywood, ensure to protect your materials from weather always. Skatelite is safe from the rain and sun, however, laying a tar paper underneath it will shield the plywood from getting drenched by any water that may get in through cracks. In case you are using plywood or masonite, protect the surface from rainfall with a water-resistant paint. Make use of Polyurethane or Spar Urethane Paint. Spar Urethane works best but also the most expensive. Polyurethane doesn’t protect as much as Spar Urethane does but comes in different colors.
Attach the steel
The masonite wouldn’t touch the ground, so this is the place where you interface the sheet of metal so your skateboard wheels could smoothly roll onto the ramp. Before placing the screws, drill holes so it could be easier to secure.
Learning how to make a skateboard ramp is straightforward, mainly if you abide by the steps mentioned above. Before you start, ensure that you consider your particular skateboarding style for you to make the most suitable ramp for you. Do not hinder your skateboarding abilities because of your narrow-minded thoughts when it comes to making ramps. Design, and build a ramp which you’ll love. Be sure to visit our site regularly for more awesome guides 😉