“As an experienced board builder myself, I have created this page to help new board builders understand the different types of materials that are typically used in skateboard construction.
After reading this article, the goal is to make it easier for board builders to choose the materials that are best suited for their dream builds.”
Maple
Canadian Hardrock Maple is considered the industry standard when building a classic popsicle stick shaped skateboard.
Maple trees from northern regions of North America, especially Canada, are typically used for street skateboards. Colder northern climates generate harder winter growth rings in the trees. As winters are longer in this region, it equals a yearly growth ring that is tighter. When maple is processed in a mill, it is dried to a moisture content of around 6-10%, making it more stable for the application of skateboard building.
The strength and hardness of Canadian Hardrock Maple is typically believed to result in greater “pop” for a street style board and has a lively and resilient flex which is great for handling the impacts of hard landings. Maple is also very impact resistant and abrasive resistant which makes it more durable for the typical wear and tear a skateboard will experience. Maple also doesn’t splinter as easily as other wood types, leaving less room for mistakes in the manufacturing process.
Maple crossgrain veneer can also come in different thicknesses such as 1/16”, 1/22”, and 1/24”. The thinner options are great for Street Deck style skateboards as it can create a slightly lighter board without losing much, if any torsional strength. The thinner crossgrain options can be slightly tougher to work with as they are prone to splitting along the grain due to how thin the veneer is. Luckily, the veneer can easily be repaired by simply applying glue to the split and splicing the opposing sides together. Painter’s tape can be used to help pull the opposing sides together to ensure a seamless bond between the split. Always make sure to sand the dried glue when this process is completed before pressing the deck as wood glue does not adhere well to dried wood glue.
Hybrid Bamboo + Maple Board
However, Maple is on the heavier end when it comes to the different types of wood that are used for skateboard manufacturing. The difference in weight is not drastic but can be noticeable when comparing the same size board used with materials such as Birch.
Due to Maple's ability to retain moisture, it is important to store maple veneers as well as finished skateboards in a dry and moderate temperature environment and away from sunlight. Maple will expand when water-based glues are used for lamination, and too much glue or an uneven spread of glue across the veneer can lead to bubbling when the skateboard is pressed. However, this is typically only an issue when vacuum presses are used, improperly made two part presses and rib presses. A well made two part mold system with hydraulic presses should not encounter this issue due to the sheer amount of pressure applied to the boards which should squeeze all excess glue from them. Heat, direct sunlight and moisture can cause the veneer and finished skateboards to warp, misshape, crack, and become heavier. A couple of ways to help prevent warping would be to flip and rotate the veneer before pressing, making sure that the natural cupping of each veneer is opposed to each other in the layup. Also acclimatizing veneers for a few days before pressing helps prevent warping.
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Very strong
Stable
Impact and abrasive resistant
Retains dyes and stains well
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Heavy
Birch
Birch veneers are comparable to Maple veneers but have a few characteristics that separate it from the qualities of Maple.
Birch veneer has a shiny yellowish characteristic that makes it visually appealing, and can accept dyes and stains well.
Birch veneers tend to be softer and have less compressive strength when compared to Maple veneer. When applied to skateboard building, Birch is more flexible than Maple and has less rebound which creates a damper flex. Birch veneer is also lighter than Maple veneer which can create a nimbler board when carving and turning.
These attributes make Birch a great choice for longboard style skateboards for people looking for a light and flexy board that will be great for cruising and carving up the streets. Birch is considered to be a cheaper alternative to Bamboo for people looking for a more flexible deck and shares qualities with both Maple and Bamboo decks to get the best of both worlds. However, the fact that Birch is not as hard as Maple means that Birch veneer is more prone to splintering and cracking upon impact.
Baltic Birch plywood is often used as an alternative building material as it is accessible in 1/8” thick plywood sheets. It is a manufactured 3-layer laminated product and is more rigid than solid wood veneer. It can be bought locally, unlike Maple veneer. However, skateboards made from Baltic Birch plywood tend to not be as strong as boards made from Maple or Birch 1/16” solid veneers as there are less glue bonds to hold the shape (3 versus 6). This can result in delamination or the board losing its desired shape over time.
Just like Maple veneer, Birch veneer must be stored in a dry and moderate temperature environment to ensure that the veneer does not warp, misshape, crack, or become heavier by moisture exchange.
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Light
Flexible
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Prone to splintering and cracking
Soft
Lacking in compressive strength
Bamboo
Bamboo has become a popular choice for many companies in the longboard industry for many reasons.
Bamboo is lighter and more flexible than Maple veneer, and stronger and more resilient than Birch veneer. Skateboards made from Bamboo create a flexy board with great rebound and strength and is naturally lighter than Maple veneer but slightly heavier than Birch veneer. When compared to Maple, Bamboo has a higher flexural strength and also a higher impact strength.
This makes a strong board that has high rebound capabilities, perfectly suited for boards designed for carving and cruising, giving the board a lively and responsive feel. Bamboo also has the ability to survive in dry and damp conditions and can hold or resist moisture more effectively when compared to Maple or Birch, making it easier to store.
Extreme contours on a Maple Longboard
However, due to how rigid Bamboo is as compared to Maple and Birch, it does not easily bend to extreme contours that some longboard styles incorporate into their design.
There is also the issue of 1/16” Bamboo veneer not having cross-grain veneer, which creates a board that does not have the appropriate torsional strength to create a structurally sound board. Because of this, boards that use 1/16” Bamboo veneer require either the incorporation of fiberglass into the board to add more rigidity and torsional strength, or the addition of maple cross-grain plies. As Bamboo veneer is made up of thin lengths of Bamboo that are glued together, it makes the sheets very prone to splitting along the length of those glue lines. Adding fiberglass and/or Maple cross-grain sheets helps prevent this splitting from occurring. Another trick to help prevent splitting is to stretch painter’s tape across the glue lines of the Bamboo veneer on the outside of the face sheets. This pulls the seams together and gives the Bamboo extra support along the glue lines to help prevent splitting when concave is being pressed into the board.
Maple Crossgrain
Due to the manufacturing and cultivation process of Bamboo and also the fact that it is shipped overseas, Bamboo tends to be more expensive when compared to Maple and Birch. Bamboo is often seen as a sustainable material, which can be true when sustainable practices are used in the cultivation and manufacturing process. Due to the high demand of Bamboo worldwide and the regulations of the countries that Bamboo is grown in, sustainable practices are often overlooked or disregarded altogether.
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Light
Flexible
Strong
Resilient
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Expensive
Does not bend easily
Requires combining with other materials
Not sustainable
There is no substitute for hands-on experience but hopefully this article helped you to understand the qualities of each type of veneer and has made it easier for you to make a decision as to what materials you should use for your desired skateboard design.
Evan Travers,
Roarockit Skateboard Company