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MAKER WORKSHOP SERIES: DIY SKATEBOARD

deck only - trucks/wheels not included

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Saturdays

May 27-June 24

10:00-12:00

Ages 12-adult

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Choice of lil'Rocket Deck or Street Deck

175.00

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Includes basic overview of skateboard construction and design. Studio time for painting/drawing and grip tape.

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Maker Homeschool intensive: DIY SKATEBOARD

deck only - trucks/wheels not included

1 week

April 15th - 19th (5 Days)

9:30-12:30

 

Ages 10-18

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Program requires a minimum registration to run.

Choice of lil'Rocket Deck or Street Deck

225.00

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Includes curriculum supporting learning outcomes for Math, Art and Science (multiple grades, see below for details) as well as woodworking and safety.

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We will be making the deck using a Thin Air press from the Roarocket DIY kit. Class includes all the tools, materials and support required to complete the project from start to finish.

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The completed project will be ready for trucks/wheels on the final day of classes (Not supplied).

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The class will be taught by Michelle with the help from Craig, a Journeyman Carpenter who will help us understand woodworking safety, technique and problem solving. This is an introductory level course.

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Homeschool Class

Each class will be broken into three parts: Woodworking, Art/Design and Physics

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Some of things we may cover in class (Taken from the Roarocket DIY Kits)

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Points of Learning:

Wood:

• preparing veneer sheets with sand paper

• understanding grain direction of wood veneers

• why has the skateboard industry standardized on 7 layers in a deck?

• what is the order of grain direction in a deck?

• is all maple the same?

• what other kinds of wood can be used for skateboards?

• is bamboo a wood?

• understanding the strength vs. flexibility of maple veneer

• why do the veneers change length and width on their own?

• what sorts of glue are used for wood laminating

• how do they make colored veneer?

• using colored veneer, internally or as a face sheet

• using inlay or marquetry as a decorative finish

Tools:

• how does a vacuum bag work as a clamp and why use it?

• what’s the difference between a vacuum cleaner and the Thin Air Press hand pump?

• why not use an industrial electric vacuum pump?

• using a hand scraper, hand plane, spoke shave or rasp to finish the edges

• what grades of sandpaper to use, and in what order to smooth the deck?

• how to use a wood clamp

• what other uses would the Thin Air Press be good for?

Finishing:

• clear coatings, which to use, when and why?

• stains, water-based or spray (solvent) paints, which to use and why?

• how to apply stains, paints and coatings successfully

• sanding between finish coats for exceptional finishes

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Math, Science and the Physics of Vacuum Pressure

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Points of Learning:

• what is vacuum?

• what is atmospheric pressure?

• how is vacuum pressure measured?

• how many psi per deck is generated inside a Thin Air Press?

• why does the foam mold not crush under the pressure?

• when does water boil?

• why does the skateboard glue dry in the vacuum bag but not in the bottle?

• how does vacuum relate to outer space?

• what would happen if astronauts didn’t wear space suits?

• study vacuum technology in the sports, aeronautics and other industries

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Art and Design

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Points of Learning:

Designing Skateboard Graphics

• Elements and Principles of Design

• Brand creation - personal, the school brand or perhaps a fundraising effort

• Logo design - engage a local design firm to nurture ideas

• Copyright and intellectual property rights of art

• Social Messaging - local and world street art

Skateboard Art Culture

• Stencil / Street art

• Skate Park art (perhaps a field trip?)

• Pop culture relating to skateboards

• History of skateboard art

• Graffiti and street art, current and historical

Design Concepts

• Stages of design, from thumbnail sketches to final layouts

• Color theory, terms and definitions

• Type fonts, hand lettering

• Using symbols to represent other things

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