DIYskate.com - An organized, free site full of everything you could ever want to know about how to do it yourself, in regards to skateboarding.




Veneer for skateboards

Skateboard Veneer Profile - Veneer for SkateboardsSkateboard decks are made by layering thin pieces of wood called veneer. Veneer is available in many different species, grades and thicknesses.

Acer Saccharum (hard maple) is the preferred species for skateboards because of the veneer's hardness and resistance to shock. Hard maple veneer, also known as sugar maple veneer or hard rock maple veneer, is grown in south east Canada and north east United States.

Acer Saccharum Population - Veneer for SkateboardsThe most common thickness of veneer used in the skateboarding industry are .062 of an inch (about 1/16" or 1.5mm) for the second, fourth and sixth cross band layers - the veneer sheets with the grain running from side to side (widthwise) and .05 of an inch (about 3/64" or 1.3mm) for the first, third, fifth and seventh layers of veneer with the grain running end to end (lengthwise).

This equals approximately 10mm in total thickness, so using seven layers of 1/16" thick veneer will result in a thicker than standard deck, which is not desirable. Making the search for skateboard veneer all the more difficult.



The moisture content of the skateboard veneer must be near 7 or 8 percent humidity or the veneer could be too brittle or soft.

Moisture content is one of the reasons why Chinese skateboard decks are sometimes looked down upon. Some argue that shipping the maple skateboard veneer overseas to Chinese manufactures causes it to lose some of the characteristics it is selected for. Another reason is that some Chinese manufacturers make their skateboard decks from Birch veneer as do some American low quality deck makers. Birch can not take the abuse Sugar Maple can, nor does it have the same feel.

Hard rock maple veneer for skateboards can be purchased from a variety of different lumber yards, veneer companies and online stores, some of which are listed below.

Where to get veneer for skateboards

Veneer for skateboards can be obtained by contacting these companies.

♠   SummitHardwoord.com

♠   SnowboardMaterials.com

♠   Roarockit.com

I have recently been in contact with a very nice gentleman over at SummitHardwood.com. He has been kind enough to let me link to his site and offer the sale of veneer for skateboard decks at very reasonable prices with reasonable order minimums. You will have to contact them directly to make the purchase, but I would suggest buying through them first, if at all possible.

SummitHardwood.com - Tell them DIYskate.com sent you.

SnowboardMaterials.com will sell you the veneer, the glue, the mold and more if you have the money. They are truly one stop shopping and aren't too expensive to boot.

Roarockit.com also sells veneer and glue but they are a bit more pricey and their veneer comes pre-cut. Eliminated the need to shape your deck. They are good guys and I'll have a page covering them soon.

There are many more companies that sell veneer for skateboards and even more (a lot more) that sell 1/16" veneer online. I didn't list either because the order minimums or price was just too high.



Also note, buying veneer and making the skateboard deck on your own or for a business is usually more expensive than buying the decks pre-made, wholesale. The veneer manufactures just can not sell veneer in such small quantities (under a truckload - 11,000 decks worth of veneer) without charging a higher premium for their time involved in the sale. The whole reason you buy the veneer and make the deck yourself is for the gratification of "I made this myself" and you did it the way you wanted to. Or you are just getting you're feet wet in the business of deck manufacturing.

  Back   •   Top   Top - Veneer for Skateboards   •   Home  


Related Links      
♠   Tim Brauch ♠   Bottle Jack Press ♠   Wood Mold ♠   Concrete Mold
♠   Glue ♠   Screen Print ♠   2' Quarter Pipe ♠   Angled Ledge
♠   Kicker Ledge ♠   Stair Ledge ♠   Spine Ramp ♠   Grind Box
♠   Block Ledge ♠   Launch Ramp ♠   Kicker ♠   Tips
♠   3' Quarter Pipe ♠   Bank Ramp ♠   Store ♠   Donate