Fingerboarding is a great way to improve your climbing capability and finger strength. A lot of people are now looking forward to owning a fingerboard. If you’re looking for it, you can either buy a pre-assembled model or make one yourself.
There are many ways to make a fingerboard, so in this article, we’ll give you a complete guide on how to make a fingerboard at home. However, if you’d prefer one pre-assembled, see our previous article on the best fingerboards.
Table of Contents
How To Make A Fingerboard
To make a fingerboard, simply follow the step by step guide shared below; otherwise, you might get confused and make mistakes. Let’s get started.
Step 1: Gather Materials
In order to make a fingerboard, you must first gather the materials you will need:
- Wooden Board
- Tape measure
- Ruler or a straight edge
- Circular saw
- Jigsaw
- Paint or wood sealer
- Sandpaper
- Stencils for lettering
- Paintbrush
- Assorted screws
- Nails and bolts
- Thin plywood or MDF
Step 2: Cut the Board to Size
To cut the fingerboard, you will need to measure it. The best way to do this is with a tape measure. Before beginning, make sure the tape measure is straight and accurate. Fingerboards should be cut to a length of at least 18 inches, but not more than 24 inches.
Step 3: Preparing the Deck
After the board has been cut to size, the wood for the fingerboard needs to be prepared. The first step is to sand the wood until it reaches the desired finish. Using this method, you can smooth out any rough edges and make the board more uniform.
Then, you can paint the wood or seal it as you wish. After that, you can add any desired features, such as stencils or lettering.
Step 4: Assembling the Fingerboard
Now that the wood has been prepared and finished, it’s time to assemble the fingerboard. Put the thin plywood or MDF on the back of the board and screw it in place.
Make sure you use screws that are slightly longer than an inch. The wooden frame can be added as soon as the plywood or MDF is attached. You should cut the frame to a comfortable size for you to hold and work with.
Step 5: Playing Your FIngerboard
Now that your fingerboard is assembled, it’s time to start playing your fingerboard. Make sure you practice regularly and think about how much you will enjoy it! Moreover, you can learn various tricks, such as how to kickflip on a fingerboard and how to ollie, which we have already discussed in our previous article. You can check that out as well.
We have shown you a few steps without giving you a detailed description, so you can better understand what to do and when. Let’s go through each step briefly in order to avoid any mistakes.
How To Drill The Holes In Tech Deck?
- You’ll need to measure the distance between the holes in your tech deck and print out the drill bit chart. You will have to drill two holes for each string on your tech deck.
- Use a handheld drill and a bit corresponding to the drill bit chart to drill the holes. According to the chart, be sure to hit a pilot hole first and then drill the holes further apart.
- After you have drilled all of the holes, use a screwdriver to tighten the screws that you have installed in the tech deck.
Paint the Board
You can paint your fingerboard to make it look attractive and cool by following the steps below.
- The first step is to clean the board with soap and warm water. Scrub any dirt or residue off the board.
- Then, mix two paint parts into one part of water and spray the mixture onto the board. Be sure to coat the board evenly.
- Allow your fingerboard to dry before you use it completely.
How To Assemble A Fingerboard?
Assembling a fingerboard is the most time-consuming process of making your own fingerboard. It involves a few key steps, and if you follow these, your board will be correctly assembled and ready for use.
- It is first necessary to remove the original screws from the tech deck if you’ve already installed it. If you want to attach the deck in the correct order, you will need to label and date each screw.
- Place the tech deck on the baseboard. Be sure that the edges of the tech deck are flush against one another.
- Last but not least, replace the screws you removed in step one and tighten them evenly using a wrench.
FAQ’s
The most popular choice for making a fingerboard is maple, but many other types of wood can also be used. Among all of the varieties of wood, maple is the most affordable, the most durable, and the longest-lasting.
There are typically five ply fingerboards, but the number can vary depending on the size and type of board.
If you find making fingerboards expensive, you can also make a paper fingerboard using one of these methods:
Prepare a piece of paper the same size as your fingerboard.
Attach the multiple papers to the back of the fingerboard.
Use a hole punch to make holes in the fingerboard.
Before making holes, you can add the cheapest grip tape too to make it look more realistic and provide a better riding experience.
Adding the low-cost trucks and wheels will make it a complete fingerboard.
Paint or stain the paper to match the fingerboard color scheme.
If you plan pre assembled fingerboard or assembled yourself you should know about all the fingerboard brands for a better decision.
Conclusion
Fingerboard making and assembling can be a fun and easy project, but only if you follow a step-by-step process. You can make a fingerboard quickly and easily if you follow the steps outlined in this article.
I am James Buckridge, the founder of skateboardidea.com. Skateboarding is my passion, and I have years of teaching experience in this field. Our vision and mission is to provide you with accurate information on everything related to skateboarding. Catch me on Twitter & Pinterest.