If you have a lot of broken skateboards in your garage or home, don't throw them away - upcycle them instead! There are plenty of creative ways to make stuff out of old boards, and these projects can be a lot of fun.
Upcycling is a great way to repurpose things and make them into something new. It's a wonderful way to save money and reduce waste, and it's also a great activity for kids.
Upcycling used skateboards is a productive and innovative way to ensure they don't go to waste, and try these creative methods of recycling your old decks:
Materials and Tools: Gather what you need
Skateboards are made of wood, which means that like other wood materials, they can be recycled after they have been used. Furthermore, you may even upcycle it into a new Skateboard lamp that is suitable for home or office use!
Combined, skateboarding and crafting make for an incredible combination. All it takes to get started are some old skateboards and some paint; then your one-of-a-kind lamp will add personality to any room in which it hangs!
Some artists make beautiful art out of recycled skateboards while others transform them into functional furniture or household goods for use around the home. One example is this porch-sized grilling table made out of two skateboards; perfect for setting down sauces, drinks and tools while you cook! Meanwhile, San Francisco woodworker Nick Pourfard makes beautiful colored guitars from old skateboards while Calgary resident Adrian Martinus creates modern furniture and housewares out of used skateboards.
Prepare the Skateboard: Clean and prep it
As with anything, there are various creative ways to repurpose old skateboards into furniture pieces; such as this repurposed skateboard stool featured by X Games. Simply affix base bench legs at the base of the board.
Skateboards make an excellent material for crafting functional yet attractive household items like this DIY skateboard clock. Perfect for beginners and adding a personal touch to any room in the house!
Some designers have taken to transforming skateboards into furniture pieces such as this stylish coffee table from Room Decorating Ideas. Other designers use their skills to craft colorful artwork, such as Haroshi's vivid skateboard painting with its vibrant stripes.
There are plenty of creative ways to use an old skateboard as the base for an eye-catching lamp, including cleaning and prepping it beforehand for upcycling. This step ensures your final product will look good as well as function efficiently - plus keeps your project safe from mishaps!
Design Your Lamp: Choose a style
Skateboards can easily sustain damage after performing stunts. Therefore, to prevent accidents from happening and save them from destruction it's wise to turn your skateboard into something useful like a lamp. This creative idea provides another solution!
Bret, one of our clients, designed an amazing skateboard lamp prototype. It accepts standard light bulbs while looking like an actual skateboard with wheels transformed into light sockets - an amazing way to showcase your passion for skating while adding an eye-catching accent piece to any home decor!
Repurposing an old skateboard into a chalkboard is another fantastic way to give new life to it, and allows your children or students to express themselves creatively in an easy and effective manner. This project should only take you minutes and can give your youngsters or students an outlet to express themselves!
Your skateboard can also serve as a versatile magazine holder or wine rack! However, this project is more advanced as it requires power tools and brackets; so consider this an advanced project best completed with someone.
Deconstruct: Remove trucks & wheels and grip tape
Skateboarding is an increasingly popular hobby, which means its many boards end up as waste when their owners upgrade to new boards. Reusing old skateboards is key for decreasing landfill waste.
Trucks on a skateboard allow for turning, and are attached near its nose and tail curved ends. Wheels equipped with bearings to reduce friction and speed up rolling are then mounted on these trucks for further use. While skateboard trucks may come in different sizes, their width also plays an impactful part in how a board rides.
To deconstruct a skateboard, first, remove its trucks and wheels while peeling away any grip tape. Next, you will need a screwdriver compatible with its use to loosen all screws on its deck - this step helps protect both its deck from being damaged while simultaneously making certain all of its screws can be extracted safely from it.
Build the Base: Assemble and stabilize
Skateboards aren't made from one piece of wood - instead they're constructed using multiple layers of veneer and plywood that allow the board to curve gently upward at each end while having a flat or concave center. Using a ruler, mark each of the four bolt holes on either end and draw a line from them as your centerline.
Repeat this process until both sides of your board are completed, then use a paint roller to apply even coats of wood glue between its face and core pieces, lightly pressing together both halves while making sure not to over-tighten hardware as this could damage it or tear grip tape.
Now it is time to install your trucks and wheels! First, make sure your trucks have the appropriate directional nuts (the big kingpin ones). Next, place each truck on your board, screw in its bolts, add wheels and washers as desired, and tighten each nut evenly but do not over-tighten as this could break wheel bearings!
Wiring and Lighting: Add illumination
Skateboards are iconic pieces of sporty home decor - and now they can even make an impressionful home decoration statement! This skateboard drink coaster will delight guests and is an excellent way to show your passion. This gift-worthy coaster makes a unique statement about who you are as an enthusiast of skating or skateboarding!
Start this project off right by gathering together a used skateboard and some basic supplies. First, remove all trucks and wheels before using a drill to create a hole in the center of the board where bulb sockets will later be mounted.
Before installing coaxial connectors and twin bulb sockets, gather up some coaxial connectors and sockets equipped with female threaded connectors that attach to metal plates affixed onto porcelain bodies of sockets. To install them, place one socket in each hole before using vise grip pliers to rotate clockwise while applying pressure; this will tighten up its connection in its proper place.
Once the connector is secure, you can mount your light sockets. Doing so allows for easier assembly; repeat with another socket. Afterwards, run a cable from each socket directly to the power supply and strip half an inch of insulation off each wire before capping and connecting them - ready to power on! Once complete, enjoy your new skateboard lamp!
Personalize: Customize with paint or decals
Skateboard art is an easy and cost-effective way to add personality and flair to any room in the house. Anyone can tackle this project; all it requires are supplies such as paint and your creativity! Create wall art that stands out with skateboard art!
If you enjoy skating or know someone who does, this DIY project is an easy and fun way to show your support. A gift idea for any skater in your life!
Wall shelves are an essential element of any home, and this unique DIY project repurposes old skateboard decks into space-saving storage solutions. Though more advanced than other projects on this list, this DIY requires power tools and brackets; therefore, be sure to work in an area with adequate ventilation if working with these items is daunting for you. But the results speak for themselves! This impressive shelf has wheels as supports that look awesome at night!
Showcase Your Creation: Display and enjoy!
Interested in something cool to hang on the wall? Give this skateboard art piece a try; it is a fantastic way to display your skating passion while adding some personality to your home.
Skateboards make an elegant addition to any room, but they're also the ideal material for unique DIY projects.
Another clever upcycled skateboard project is this pet feeder made out of old skateboard wheels! A great way to bring some skateboard style into your home and make your pet feel part of the family!
If you're feeling particularly ambitious, try turning an old skateboard into a wall lamp! This more advanced project requires the use of power tools, brackets and fluorescent lamps - be sure to work carefully and take your time; but once completed, the results will certainly make the effort worthwhile!