The first step to becoming an avid fingerboarder is acquiring a fingerboard. This can be done in two ways. One is pricey, one is inexpensive, but remember: you pay for what you get...

1) Buy  it.

         i) I suggest buying a fingerboard made by Tech Deck. These fingerboards are pretty much indestructible, have working metal trucks and come with tools, extra hardware and extra wheels. They were CO-designed by Chet Thomas and Rodney Mullen and have actual deck graphics by Blind, A-Team, World Industries, New Deal, Element and many more. To order a Tech Deck online, click on the links icon on the left margin. Tech Decks  are also found at your local skateboard shop and run for $12-$25 dollars CDN. Definitely my fingerboard of choice.

        ii) Skateboard shops also sell fingerboard sized skateboards designed as key chains. These could be used, but they are brittle plastic and aren’t really designed for fingerboarding, lacking grip tape and all... ($8-$12 dollars CDN.)

2) Make It.

        i) Cut  the deck shape out of white pine with a scroll or band saw. Be sure to have the grains of the wood running lengthwise.

       ii) Bust up some Hot Wheels cars and take the wheels

       iii) Cut out some trucks. This is done by cutting out a rectangle roughly the width of the diameter of your wheels, and the proper length that they will sit nicely on your fingerboard. Cut a slit into the middle of your trucks and glue your wheels in.(see picture)

      iv) Glue sandpaper to the top of your fingerboard. 80 grit is the best grade grip tape.

       v) Glue your trucks to your fingerboard and add a slick by covering the bottom of the fingerboard in white glue.

       vi) This is the hardest part... don’t play with it. Leave it overnight. You can fingerboard in the morning.