This project takes an ordinary skateboard deck and turns it into an attractive skateboard lamp using only UL certified components.
At first, you need a pair of twin sockets with female threaded connectors attached to metal plates attached to their porcelain bodies. Cut some 12-inch lengths of wire and remove half an inch of insulation at both ends.
Power
Make a one-of-a-kind light fixture for your home with just a skateboard deck and some UL-certified components using this DIY project. Not only is this DIY task quick and inexpensive, it can add a personal touch to any room in the home while recycling an old skateboard you no longer use!
Ben Stone was tired of discarding his worn down skateboards from his youth memories; so instead decided to turn them into an artful lighting fixture as a reminder of those wonderful times spent skating.
Ben created his lamp using a bulb socket designed for standard light bulbs and wall mount fixture that attaches securely to any skateboard deck. For its prototype version, Ben utilized UL certified components hidden by custom molded parts; to assemble his skateboard lamp he simply sandwiched its deck between socket and mount components.
After cutting and stripping off half an inch of insulation from each of the wires in his power cord, he connected them to socket terminals with female connectors inserted through metal plates on either side.
He then ran two wires from each socket through a shallow box, connecting them to their matching colors on a power cord (white, black and red). Finally he connected all 3 wires using cable connectors before routing them through conduit and into skateboard deck via conduit.
After attaching two hangers and tightening clamps to the deck, he then drilled holes through it for added strength. Finally, sockets were attached and connected using cord - creating this unique skateboard lamp! Perfect for any skater's bedroom!
Lights
As Ben discovered, this unique skateboard lamp requires only basic UL certified components and an empty skateboard deck without trucks or wheels to make. His idea was inspired by an innovative way to repurpose old skateboards while saving money by forgoing expensive custom lighting solutions. His design incorporates standard light bulbs that easily connect via preexisting bolt holes on the skateboard deck itself; plus using cost-cutting off-the-shelf components and 3D printed parts from our inventory helped him keep costs under control.
Begin by gathering a deck sans trucks or wheels, marking its bolt hole locations with pencil, then using a ruler to find their centers using ruler. After marking, use a drill to create a hole slightly larger than each screw before screwing them in with vise grip pliers - you'll know it is securely in place when resistance arises and turning is becoming harder and harder.
Once the connector is secure, wiring the circuit can begin. Start by gathering twin sockets with female threaded connectors of equal female thread count; also required are coaxial cable connectors and 15A capable electrical cords (we chose white, black and green for our example); two matching colored wires (we selected white, black and green); strip half an inch of insulation off their ends prior to connecting these to their terminals on the sockets.
Now, feed the wires through the female connector and metal plate on the porcelain body of the socket, with paper or cardboard aiding you as needed to ease their passage through. When completed, screw back in the metal plate while using paper or cardboard to help guide and slide through connectors and wires.
Switch
Skateboard lamp kits can be found online, but you can also make one yourself! All you'll need are some materials from home improvement stores - including a blank skateboard deck and light socket equipped with female connectors and metal plates to hold wires - plus wires cut to 12 inches that have had approximately half an inch of insulation removed, before connecting their uninsulated ends to socket terminals.
Your kit should include a screwdriver and pair of vise grip pliers, and if you prefer not having to snip through plastic core, consider using a small metal drill - just remember it can get hot so wear protective eyewear as necessary!
Once the connector is in its slot, grab it with vise grip pliers and begin turning it. You will know when you have done enough when it begins to feel tight - not too tight as that could restrict how far your socket and wiring go into its sockets.
Once completed, feed the wires through the connector and conduit before connecting them to your socket's terminals and tightening them down. Now it is time to hang the lamp. Note that it was designed to hang vertically; if you would prefer hanging horizontally instead, simply redirect its wires through another hole on your board's side for easier hanging - this will allow its lights to hang at different angles, giving your skateboard lamp its unique look!
Materials
Your bedroom can become the coolest skateboard lamp possible using just a few UL-certified components. All that is necessary to create one is a blank skateboard deck without trucks and wheels, pencil, ruler and screwdriver. First use the ruler to mark out four bolt holes at either end of the board using pencil marks from ruler, connect diagonally using pencil and mark again using ruler before drawing line diagonally connecting bolt holes diagonally using ruler marker - this will create the ideal center line for cutting it into a lampshade shape!
Next, you will require two twin sockets with female threaded connectors and metal plates screwed onto their porcelain bodies that accept standard light bulbs. Also necessary are 12-inch wires rated to carry 15 amps; prepare these by cutting away half an inch of insulation from each end before connecting to socket terminals; finally slide these through female connectors of female sockets while screwing them in with locking screws to complete your circuit.
Once your sockets and wires are connected, the next step should be mounting them onto your skateboard. A proper electrical connector box that screws directly into the deck should provide protection for the wiring from water or other environmental sources.
After conducting a quick test, it's time to install your bulbs. Choose either regular or LED versions; I recommend LED for energy savings purposes. Once your lights are in, simply tuck the wiring back under and enjoy your brand-new skateboard lamp in your home!
Conclusions
Ben has several beat-up skateboards that represent an important part of his life and wasn't ready to part with them, so he devised an ingenious solution: turning them into lamps! His prototype can accept standard light bulbs and mounts easily to any deck profile; its components include sockets resembling skate truck sockets and wall-mounting fixtures, all using UL certified components that make the lamp safe for home use.