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SK8Makers City Cruiser Kit
Product Description:
The City Cruiser shares many of its dimensions with the standard street deck, which means you can outfit it with standard trucks and hardware available at any local skate shop. Upgrade to a set of bigger, bouncier longboard wheels and this highly maneuverable skate deck can roll over any sidewalk crack or bump without sending you flying through the air.
“The SK8Makers City Cruiser is a fun-to-ride skateboard designed for getting around town, especially for beginners who are just learning to ride a skateboard or old-timers like me who aren't in it for the tricks. For these reasons it's become the most popular board shape students produce in my DIY skateboard workshops.”
Matt Berger of SK8Makers is the author of "The Handmade Skateboard", a timeless guide to designing and building your own custom longboard, cruiser, or street skateboard from scratch. Through his book and workshops, Matt has inspired countless builders to make their own handmade boards. Since the first SK8Makers workshop in Los Angeles, CA in 2013, Matt has graduated hundreds of students with a diploma in the form of a custom skateboard.
Final size deck dimensions are approximately:
Length = 27”
Width = 8.5”
Wheelbase = 14.5”
SK8Makers City Cruiser Kit contains:
- 7-layers of Canadian maple veneer per board
- includes 2 face, 3 long grain core and 2 cross grain sheets per board
- 3-dimensionally shaped foam mold
- glue, roller and measuring cup
- edging tool and sandpaper
- illustrated instructions
and a Thin Air Press Kit
- 14 x 47” heavy duty vinyl vacuum bag with one-way valve attached
- manual vacuum Super Pump
- breather netting
- extra sealing tape
By following the printed instructions included in the kit box, you will be guided through the glue up, stacking on the mold, inserting and sealing into the TAP bag. Using the manual vacuum pump to evacuate the air, the Thin Air Press will press the veneers over the mold. The sanding process is described, as well as some graphics suggestions.
The foam mold, Thin Air Press Bag and pump, edging tool and breather netting are designed to be used for many, many builds.
Keep all your reusable kit parts in good working order by following the maintenance tips included with the kit.
Q: Is this kit reusable?
A: Yes. Every thing but the veneer and glue are reusable
Q: What if my TAP bag or valve is leaking?
A: 99.9% of the time, the seal is not closed up properly. Dust and debris can prevent the top cap of the valve to seal, rinse cap with water. For more in-depth details, see the TAP kit FAQ’s page.
Q: Can I get more veneer?
A: A Refill for this kit is available here
Q: Will stuff last if I don’t use it right away?
A: Veneer will absorb and lose moisture, so keep it sealed in plastic (or the carton it arrived in) but away from any heat sources. Lay it flat to prevent warping. Prevent the glue from freezing.
Q: What do I do if my veneer breaks or splits?
A: Veneer is fragile until laminated, and it is common to split or snap (especially the cross grains). A stripe of glue and some masking tape to hold it until it dries will fix broken or split sheets. See video how-to-fix
Q: Can I use this kit to make a snowboard or wake skates?
A: The size of the bag determines how large a project you can fit into it. As the seams of the 14 x 47” TAP bag included here cannot be stretched open while pressing, you are limited to smaller projects. See our larger bag sizes for one that suits your project.
Q: How do I get this cheaper?
A: Become an entrepreneur! Each kit allows you to make more than one deck, build one for yourself and generate income from the other boards you build!
Q: What else do I need to complete this project?
A: A moisture protector is recommended (sponge on water-based outdoor clear coat) to seal all surfaces, especially your edges and before applying any graphics.
If you choose to set this up for riding, select grip tape on this page. Shop locally for your hardware (wheels, trucks and bearings). Use the guide holes on the bottom side to drill the truck holes through, using a 3/16” drill bit. And of course, don’t forget to wear your helmet!