Electric Skateboard Handle

Electric skateboards can be heavy and awkward to carry. Here is my solution to make carrying my board much easier.

You will need:

1/2 Inch Plywood

Drill Bits of Various Sizes

Jigsaw or Bandsaw

Wood Glue

Clamps

Dremel (optional)

File

Sandpaper

Hammer

Nail

Countersink Bit (optional)

#8-32 x 1-1/4in Machine Screws with Nuts

Loctite

Screwdriver

Socket set or wrench

Paint or Wood Finish and Brush

Don't place your handle where it is visually centered. Place your handle where the weight is balanced. You also want to place the handle where it can reach past the edge of the board. You will likely have to cut then readjust to get a custom fit on your board.

If you use a drill on the inside corners, your edges will look much better. Take a jigsaw with a scroll saw blade and cut on the inside of your lines. Make sure to clamp your work, and never put your fingers underneath the board you are cutting. A bandsaw with a thin blade will work much better if you have access to one. You can use cardboard to help you create a template. If you want to create a thicker handle that is flush with the top of your deck, cut a second, smaller handle.

Use wood glue to glue the two pieces of the handle together. Make sure to spread the glue the edges of the pieces and then clamp the pieces together. This will ensure the strongest bond. Once the glue has set, use your file and sandpaper to round the edges. If you have a dremel, use a sandpaper attachment to round the edges. Keep sanding until the handle feels comfortable.

Drill the holes you will use to attach the handle to the board. Your drill bit should either be the same size or slightly bigger that the diameter of the bolts. Drill the holes in the handle first. Use a clamp to hold the handle to your board, then use a hammer and nail to mark where to drill. This mark will also help guide your drill bit.

Protip: Drill one hole and drop a bolt into the handle. Drill the next hole on the far side of your handle. Drop another bolt in and then finish drill the rest of the holes through the handle. This will ensure your holes will be properly aligned.

Use a countersink bit to make sure the heads of the screws sit flush with your deck. When I originally made my skateboard, I used a larger drill bit to countersink the screws. This works, but won't look as nice.

I used the cheapest black paint I could find at Lowe's. I coated the handle three times, as I figured that it would help the handle stand up to small scuffs. You could wrap the handle in tennis racket grip tape or paint it in plasti-dip.

Adding a drop of Loctite on the threads of the bolts will help the nuts stay on the board nice and tight. Check them regularly as you ride your board.

Take some photos of your project and take off on your ride! Enjoy being able to pick up your board and carry it around buildings and up stairs more easily.