Maui Mini-Cruiser
A hardwood long board made from scraps from a previous project, this board ended up being a favorite. Wheel wells ground under the nose allow this board to keep the deck low on the pivot, allowing for a stable ride. The short wheel base provides a tight turning radius.
Required Resources: 7 hours, $50 (deck only)
Materials: Hard Maple, Wenge, Zebrawood
Shape: Mini Cruiser (32”, 24” wheel base)
Finish: Minwax Natural Stain, 3 coats Minwax semi-gloss aerosol
Grip: Lucid Clear Spray Clear Grip Medium
Tools: Table Saw, Planer, Jointer, Orbital Sander, Cordless Drill
New Techniques: Ground in wheel wells with belt sander. Wheel wells greatly reduced wheel bite (when your wheels hit your board, suddenly stopping and allowing the rider to experience the full effect of Newton's first law) and makes turning a much safer experience.
Lessons Learned: I still didn't quite have a handle on how to apply the spray on grip tape. First I applied the glue spray too thickly. I tried to wipe the surface clean and try again, but the glue had already penetrated the pores of the wenge (which I had not filled appropriately with wood putty) leaving an unsightly residue. Without much recourse, I went forward with the reapplication of the glue but then applied the grit unevenly. After several minutes of failed attempts to redistribute the now glue sodden grit, the glue began to set and I was left with a patchy looking grip. I tried a baking sifter to apply the grit in subsequent attempts, however, the meshing in the sifter was not appropriately sized and distributed very little grit.
