Creating a wooden snowboard from scratch is by no means an easy feat. You’ll need a good design and a bunch of power tools to make it work.
But, a DIY wooden snowboard is certainly doable. In fact, it can be an enjoyable project that will make you feel proud as you ride your snowboard come wintertime.
Follow this woodworking guide to make your own wooden snowboard from scratch.
Materials Needed:
• Plywood (Maple, Birch, or Pine)
• Fiberglass
• Black P-Tex plastic
• Epoxy with hardener P-Tex polyethylene plastic
• Steel Edge
• 7mm inserts
• Snowboard bindings
Equipment Needed:
• Snowboard Press (with heat blankets, metal sheets, top mold, and bottom mold)
• Drill Press
• Table Saw
• Jigsaw
• Wrench
• Angle Grinder
• Caliper
• Clamps
• Belt Sander
• Wood Glue
Procedure:
1. Determine the size of your snowboard according to your height, weight, and snowboarding skill. Create a snowboard design based on your custom measurements. You may draw the shape on a cardboard piece, or you may use computer-generated designs using CAD software.
2. Trace the design on a piece of wood and cut. This will serve as your template. Lay the wooden template on top of the maple, birch, or pine wood board. Cut the board according to the length of the template, but leave a bit of allowance on the ends.
3. Cut an ample amount of boards that will go a bit past the width of your snowboard.
4. Glue together the wood strips using wood glue. Clamp the wood pieces together to even out the glue and to tighten the bond of the wood strips. Once dried, scrape any remaining glue off your board.
5. For the sidewall, measure the side dimensions of the snowboard against the black P-Tex plastic. Then, cut the plastic accordingly.
6. Lay the snowboard base template on the base material, which is the P-Tex polyethylene plastic. Cut accordingly. Leave some allowance for the steel edges as you cut the plastic.
7. Carefully bend the steel edges to the base material, then cut the ends with an angle grinder. The ends must be at the middle of the tail and tip of the board.
8. Glue the tabs to the base material with superglue, then clamp in place until it dries. Use a binding hole pattern that you prefer. Drill a hole with the diameter and depth on the insert base, then drill one more hole with the diameter of the insert all the way through.
9. Cover the magnetic part of the 7mm inserts with tape, then secure to the board with epoxy.
10. Lay the snowboard template on top of the fiberglass. Cut two fiberglass layers (should be a bit wider and longer compared to the template).
11. Place one cut fiberglass sheet on top of the P-Tex plastic base. Spread an even amount of epoxy on top of the fiberglass. Ensure that the wooden core isn’t on top of the steel edges. It must fit snugly inside the base. Sand it down a little using a belt sander if it doesn’t fit inside the base.
12. Spread epoxy on both sides of the wooden core, then add another cut fiberglass sheet on top of it. The core must fit into the sidewall and the base.
13. Vacuum-seal the layers together. Use the snowboard press to cure the pieces together. Start by placing the layup in the following order:
• Bottom mold
• Metal sheet
• Heat blanket
• Metal sheet
• Vacuum-sealed snowboard
• Heat blanket
• Metal sheet
• Wooden sheet
• Top mold
14. Turn the heat blankets 180 degrees and leave for around 2 hours. Afterwards, remove board from the press, then cut the excess fiberglass with a jigsaw.
15. Use a drill press and a ½-inch Forstner bit to drill out the inserts. The insert’s magnetic tops must come out as you drill.
16. Attach your snowboard bindings using manufacturer’s instructions.
Your new wooden snowboard is now finished and is ready to use!
Learning how to build a wooden snowboard from woodworking plans might be a laborious process, but the end result is amazing and you’ll feel highly accomplished riding your DIY snowboard outdoors.
With the right tools and materials, your snowboard will come out just fine. So why don’t you give it a try soon?
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