Unless you have a skateboard with a custom design and paint, there's always a chance that someone else will have the same design as yours. If you want a unique surfboard, you have to paint it to show who you are. However, surfboards with special designs are very expensive. Luckily, with a little effort, patience, and planning, you can come up with your own unique design.
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Part 1 of 4: Preparing the Skateboard for Painting
Step 1. Prepare the work area and wear suitable clothing
This process can produce a lot of sawdust, and the spray paint can splash onto clothing or the area around it. Be sure to wear clothes that you don't use, and spread a tarp or drop cloth over the surface you want to protect.
Choose a work area with good ventilation. If the area is covered, spray paint fumes will build up and can be toxic
Step 2. Release the truck on the surfboard
The truck and its associated parts are the components that connect the wheels to the deck (board). You have to loosen and remove the 4 bolts on both trucks (front and rear). Use a wrench to loosen and remove the nut on the bolt by turning it counterclockwise. Next, take the bolts and store both trucks in a safe location.
The bolt nuts on an old surfboard may be difficult to remove. If the nuts on the truck bolts are difficult to remove, spray on an appropriate antioxidation product, such as Diet Coke or WD-40
Step 3. Scrub the original design with sandpaper
After the truck is removed, place the board on the work surface upside down so that the top is down. The design of the bottom of the surfboard will face up. Use a sanding machine with a grit of 40. Use firm and steady pressure to scrub and remove the original design of the surfboard. After that, use a 150 grit sandpaper to give the board a smooth finish. This refining process only takes 5 minutes.
- Always wear protective gear when sanding. Sawdust that floats in the air can irritate or damage the throat, eyes, and lungs. Always wear safety glasses and a dust mask.
- Be patient when doing the initial sanding. Sometimes, it can take up to 20 minutes to completely remove the original design.
- Do not apply uneven pressure when using the sanding machine. This can scratch the board or give an uneven sanding result. Both of these things make the results of the painting will not be uniform.
Step 4. Remove any remaining sawdust
Use a stiff bristle brush or lint-free cloth to remove any sanding powder that has stuck to the board. Do this thoroughly and completely clean. If there is still sawdust attached, this can make the final paint look lumpy and uneven.
Do not use a wire bristle brush or any other brush that could damage the smooth surface of the board
Step 5. Repair the damage to the board if necessary
You can do this using wood putty, which can be purchased at a hardware store. Apply the caulk to the cracks and crevices in the surfboard according to the directions on the putty package. In general, you'll need to apply a lot of putty to any part of the board that's deformed.
You can sand off any excess putty on the board later. So, don't worry if there is a lump of putty. Allow the putty to dry for the appropriate amount of time according to the directions on the package. Usually, the putty will dry in about 24 hours
Step 6. Sand the putty area until smooth, if possible
Again, use a 150 grit sandpaper to smooth out the repaired area of the board. Apply firm, regular pressure when sanding. This process only takes about 5 minutes for the putty to level with the rest of the board.
Step 7. Adhere the tape to the screw holes on the sides and top of the board
If you don't, drips or streaks of paint will stick along the sides and handles of the board. Use painter tape (special tape for painting) because it is easy to remove from the board once the painting is finished.
Part 2 of 4: Applying Base Paint on a Skateboard
Step 1. Apply primer to the board
An aerosol primer will give a more even finish. Too much primer on the brush can make certain areas thicker than others. In this case, be sure to follow the instructions listed on the primer's packaging. The primer that must be applied with a brush/roller must be mixed in first, while the aerosol primer must be shaken and positioned some distance from the board when you spray it.
- You must wait for the primer to dry before applying a second primer to the board. Applying a second primer can give you a better finish when you apply the main paint later.
- If using an aerosol primer, be sure to shake the can for the appropriate amount of time according to the directions on the package. In general, you should whisk it for about 2 minutes. If you don't, your primer will not suffice.
- A common problem with aerosol primers is the presence of droplets and bubbles on the coating. Always let the primer dry completely before you sand it down until smooth.
- Once applied, allow the base coat to dry completely. Depending on the primer used, the time it will take will vary, but usually 30 minutes will suffice.
- Be sure to wear a dust mask/respirator and protective goggles when painting to prevent inhaling toxins or accidentally getting paint spray into the eyes.
Step 2. Sand the surfboard again to smooth out the base coat
Again, lightly scrub the board with 150 grit sandpaper. Use a gentle back and forth motion to remove scuffs, lumps, bubbles, and other uneven shapes.
- Don't sand the primer if you can't see the wood grain. After sanding, you may notice faint traces of wood behind the base coat. This is normal.
- Wipe off any sawdust using a soft-bristled brush or a lint-free cloth/t-shirt. Do this until the surfboard is completely clean. The remaining sawdust can make your painting uneven.
- To ensure that the board is completely clean of all sanded sawdust particles, wipe the surfboard again with a lint-free cloth/t-shirt. After cleaning, allow the board to dry completely.
Step 3. Wipe the primer with a tack coat to prevent damage to the paint
A tack coat is a solvent (tiner) that can clean a freshly primed board so that the board is ready to be sprayed with paint. Use a thinner that matches the acrylic paint you will use to paint the board. In most cases, you should use a varnish thinner, not a paint thinner.
- Wet a tissue or rag with a small amount of thinner and rub it over the undercoat of the baseboard. When the rag or tissue is dry, moisten the clean part of the tissue or rag with thinner, and scrub the remaining part of the board.
- Do not use cloth or tissue that contains lint, as the bristles can stick to the surface of the board. Try not to touch the part of the board that has been cleaned as this can transfer any dust or grease on your hands, which can affect the final paint finish.
- A good material for scrubbing boards is an old cotton T-shirt.
Part 3 of 4: Making Designs
Step 1. Understand the process
You'll need to use a series of stencils to apply multiple coats of paint to the surfboard. The unpainted areas left by the stencil will form the design of the surfboard. To get the same effect, you can use a simple method without using a stencil, which is to cover an area of the board with tape in a creative pattern.
Step 2. Draw up a design for the surfboard
By sketching beforehand, you can minimize mistakes when applying paint. Prepare paper and make a rough drawing of the surfboard deck. Next, sketch the design in the deck image that you created.
If you are a beginner, we recommend that you create geometric designs, squares, triangles, rectangles, and lines. Straight lines are easier to stencil, and can usually be created using masking tape
Step 3. Write down the color on the design you created
If you want to use 3 colors on a skateboard, you have to apply 3 coats of paint, four colors require 4 coats of paint, and so on. In the designs you create, number each design according to its layer. For example, if you want to give red color to the square shape, and you plan to apply red color on the first layer, write "1" in each square shape in the design.
Step 4. Make a stencil if possible
This isn't necessary if you're just using masking tape to design the surfboard. Complex designs and patterns that contain curved lines (such as circles) will most likely require a stencil.
Stencils can be made from a variety of materials. Some materials that are often used include cardboard, mylar, or card stock (a type of thick paper)
Part 4 of 4: Painting the Skateboard
Step 1. Spray the base color
These are the colors that make up the background which will later be overlaid with the stencil design. Colors with high contrast (such as black or white) allow other colors in the design to stand out more. Spray the surfboard with a base color so that the bottom that has been finely sanded is evenly coated with paint.
- Always follow the directions on the aerosol paint can before you use it. Most products require you to shake the can for a certain amount of time and position it a certain distance from the surface of the object to be painted.
- Wait for the paint to dry completely before applying a new coat of paint. With some paints, this can take up to 24 hours. If you spray too quickly, the new coat of paint will mix with the previous coat that hasn't dried, and mess up the color.
Step 2. Glue the design stencil or masking tape, then spray a second coat
The area covered by the stencil/tape will use the color from the base coat paint. The holes you make in the stencil/tape will be painted with the color from the new layer. Spray a second coat all over the bottom of the board and make sure the paint is evenly distributed.
- You may need to stick the tape over the edge of the board. And in a stencil/tape design that's in the middle of the board, you may have to stack the ends of the tape, then bend one end to lift it slightly off the board. This makes it easier for you to remove the stencil/tape after painting is complete.
- Do not apply a new coat of paint until this second coat is completely dry. When it dries, apply a new stencil/tape and spray a fresh coat of paint on the board to complete your design.
Step 3. Carefully remove the stencil/tape
When the paint has dried, use gentle, steady pressure to pull the tape off the surfboard. Use the excess tape you made on the edge of the board or bend the tape in the center of the board to pull and remove the tape.
Step 4. Tidy up your finished design
However, you must first allow the paint to dry for at least 24 hours. Next, use a 220 grit sandpaper to smooth the surface of the painted board. This is useful for giving a uniform finish and removing uneven surfaces. When finished, wipe off the sanding powder with a damp lint-free cloth/t-shirt. Wait for about 15 minutes, then remove the tape on the sides/tops of the surfboard. Put the truck back on the board, and your job is done.
