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homemade ripstik / waveboard

by wolfsshade on May 18, 2009

Table of Contents

License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Intro: Homemade ripstik / waveboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1: Things you need from the hardware-shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 2: Making footpads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 3: Making torsion-bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 4: Making torsion-bar spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 5: Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 6: Finish! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

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Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

http://www.instructables.com/id/homemade-ripstik-waveboard/
License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa)

Intro: Homemade ripstik / waveboard

This is step by step instructable how to make a cheap ripstik-waveboard. The orginal one is more stiff but mine works well.

step 1: Things you need from the hardware-shop

- Two pipes: 30cm and 20cm
(one should fit in the other one)

- 4 pipe clamps with nuts and props

- 5 webs for handsaw

- 50x40cm pice of 12mm plywood

- 2 rotating furniture wheels

- anti-sliding tape

http://www.instructables.com/id/homemade-ripstik-waveboard/
step 2: Making footpads
Take the plywood, draw and cut 2 pads from it.
One sould be 30x20cm and the second one 40x20cm.
You can make any shape you want.

Drill 4 holes for the clamps in each.

Later you will drill 4 holes for wheels but not until you make wedge-support for wheels.

The photo was taken after painting

step 3: Making torsion-bar

Take those 2 pipes.

Cut the thicker one in half.

Take the halfs and screw them to the board using the clamps

http://www.instructables.com/id/homemade-ripstik-waveboard/
step 4: Making torsion-bar spring
Take 5 handsaw blades and cut them longways in half.

Take two pices of 5mm thick aluminium 10x30mm.

Drill 3 holes in each. Two 3mm and the middle one 2,5mm and make a thread for 3mm screw in it.

Screw those plates the the board just behind torsion bar

Put all of the torsion-bar parts together.

Put the handsaw blades inside the torsion-bar.

Mark where the holes for screws should be and drill them in the blade-halfs

http://www.instructables.com/id/homemade-ripstik-waveboard/
http://www.instructables.com/id/homemade-ripstik-waveboard/
step 5: Wheels
Take 2 pices of wood and using a hand saw make wedges.

They should be about 30 degrees. You can make it a bit more or less it wil change the way the board feels.

Place the wadges on the board and mark the places where you need to drill holes. Drill them. The wedges should point the same way.

Screw rotor wheels to the board.

Replace wheels with rollerblade wheels.

step 6: Finish!
Put everything together.

Stick anti-sliping tape on the top of the board

and you're ready to ride!

http://www.instructables.com/id/homemade-ripstik-waveboard/
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Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 78 comments

01010110 says: Jun 21, 2010. 4:01 PM REPLY

I'm planning on doing this but I think i'll use steel sheet instead of saw blades. a bit more expensive but much more durable in the long run.

Friedo says: May 22, 2009. 12:03 AM REPLY

Excellent work bro! I've been thinking about the design for my waveboard(got a knockoff at CircleK :) and wanting to improve it, now you've made it so
simple! Maybe I'll follow your example and put up an 'ible on how to mod one! Cheers!

DIY and STUFF says: Jun 17, 2010. 7:16 PM REPLY

CircleK?

LilPurpleCow says: May 19, 2009. 6:44 PM REPLY

How does it stay together, if the smaller metal pipe is inside the big ones? Is it screwed down or somthing? But if it was screwed it wouldn't spin, would it?

wolfsshade says: May 20, 2009. 2:01 PM REPLY

It doesn't fall apart because the saw blades (acting as spring) hold it together.

LilPurpleCow says: May 23, 2009. 8:12 AM REPLY

Oh, ok, although a saw blade sounds dangerous.. haha but the ripsik thing looks really cool, and this would probably save a lot of money, since
they're like $70...

http://www.instructables.com/id/homemade-ripstik-waveboard/
 DIY and STUFF says: Jun 17, 2010. 7:16 PM REPLY
cheapest i think was $52

koecke says: May 21, 2009. 5:53 AM REPLY

What is the purpose of cutting the hacksaw blades in half? Why not just leave them full width and stack a few more? Neat idea, thanks.

racastro62 says: May 21, 2009. 2:30 PM REPLY

I can see two reasons: - The wider the blade, the bigger the pipe diameter. That means more dead weight (bigger clamps, etc.). - The torsion
characteristics depend on: Blade's alloy, blade's width, blade's thick. When you make the blade less wide, this means the whole pack is more flexible (it
accepts more torsion). Putting both halves makes it more resistant, but always flexible. Think about those blade springs used in cars (no torsion, but
flexion).

DIY and STUFF says: Jun 16, 2010. 4:50 PM REPLY

nvm bout exspensve

racastro62 says: Jun 17, 2010. 1:09 PM REPLY

Didn' understood your comment. Would you mind to write it using full words? I'm a (very) seasoned guy, and I don't send or receive SMSs in my
mobile... Thanks a lot! :)

DIY and STUFF says: Jun 17, 2010. 7:07 PM REPLY

nvm means never mind

DIY and STUFF says: Jun 16, 2010. 4:49 PM REPLY

same here holy crap i didnt read yours till after i read his plus it would be less exspensive

macmccune says: May 21, 2009. 7:02 AM REPLY

thats what i thought

winterflood_j says: Jul 16, 2009. 12:51 PM REPLY

Hi, Interesting torsion spring technique ! How did you cut the hand saw blades? The ones I know of (hack-saw blades, usually for cutting metal) are
extremely tough (and brittle, they tend to snap if abused) -Jonathan

jamiespark says: Sep 26, 2009. 8:31 PM REPLY

i did this once but if u use wood ones and layer a bunch it works

sharlston says: Sep 4, 2009. 11:01 AM REPLY

the anti-slip tape is grip tape and the furniture wheels are casters other than that its a great ible

xerxesx20 says: Sep 3, 2009. 7:31 PM REPLY

Nice. I wonder if anybody else has made one, if I made one i'd use toilet seat/lid combos for a laugh.

itsthatguy says: Aug 29, 2009. 3:12 PM REPLY

I've been trying to figure out how to put some kind of binding system on my ripstick but the plastic ripstick skeleton is just too weak to support them but with
the wood it would be so easy just to add some wakeboard bindings or attach some shoes thx soooooooooooooooooo much

boy9 says: Aug 19, 2009. 1:00 PM REPLY

I made one just like yours and it does not work. :(

Uni Spin says: Jul 14, 2009. 5:17 PM REPLY

can you put a movie to your great instr

http://www.instructables.com/id/homemade-ripstik-waveboard/
 Stoic0209 says: Jul 12, 2009. 1:01 PM REPLY
How smooth is the ride? What kind of size and hardness of wheel did you use? (I'm making one in the same manner, thanks for the Instructable!).

cowscankill says: May 21, 2009. 3:07 PM REPLY

Does it wobble? There were tons of kids on those when I was in Korea. I mean, TONS. No skateboards. You like, wobble back and forth to move.

bylerfamily says: Jul 11, 2009. 4:42 AM REPLY

The ripstik was invented in Korea.

cowscankill says: Jul 11, 2009. 10:52 AM REPLY

Hahaha, That explains it.

bylerfamily says: Jul 12, 2009. 5:53 AM REPLY

Yeah,then the guy sold it to a company in the US.

cyberowl says: Jul 11, 2009. 3:02 AM REPLY

Lol, everything is relative. I bought a waveboard yesterday. I know that I paid an expensive price, but I'm in Switzerland, so everything is more expensive. I
paid U$ 164.-. Yeah, I know, it hurts. The funny part is that only waveboards from Streetsurfing for selling here. No ripstik or others. I would love for my next
board to inspire my self from ur guide, but on other side will have to get the tools and a place to make it... but will keep this great guide in mind. Cheers

cristyrain says: Jul 9, 2009. 11:53 AM REPLY

In my area (California) a typical hacksaw blade is 12 mm wide. Cutting that in half, to less than 6mm makes for a pretty thin piece, so even stacking up 5 of
them, I'm not real comfortable that with a hole drilled in it, that it will withstand the twisting. Since you (author) are quoting dimensions in milimeters, and
referring to a "handsaw" blade, perhaps in your experience the blade you cut in half lenghwise is wider than 12mm. Please let me know the width of the
handsaw blade, after it's been halved. I can then decide whether to use the full 12mm or cut it down. Thank you!

balio says: Jul 8, 2009. 4:19 PM REPLY

wow awesome!!

lhayden says: Jul 7, 2009. 8:53 AM REPLY

I'm making one but i modified it so i can use it on ice. i cut some ice skates up and put them on swivels

RedDiablo says: Jun 22, 2009. 11:26 AM REPLY

what are the five webs for hand saw

daninja says: Jun 30, 2009. 1:28 PM REPLY

I think he means hacksaw blades...

peter0075 says: May 24, 2009. 1:44 PM REPLY

really impressive but what about the weight of the final board?? even if you want to do tricks you need a relative light board... or do I need to buy an original
waveboard then?

sprout_less says: Jun 16, 2009. 1:42 PM REPLY

i think if you want to do trick youll probably have to buy a reall ripstick i suggest getting a G one

Magic Wade says: May 25, 2009. 2:41 PM REPLY

How much would this cost

sprout_less says: Jun 16, 2009. 1:41 PM REPLY

i say for me about 20 bucks because i already had plywood and i advise using black iron pipe cause its cheap and you can get it in small amounts

http://www.instructables.com/id/homemade-ripstik-waveboard/
 sprout_less says: Jun 16, 2009. 1:39 PM REPLY
Can some one PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! post a close up picture of the top of the board where the bolts are are screwed in for the caster wheels

Covo says: May 25, 2009. 12:47 PM REPLY

The second I saw one of those ripsticks I thought " I bet you could make one of these" (The following said in master card commercial style...) Making a
ripstick out of wood.....good idea. Using steel pipe as the connector....sensible. using hacksaw blades as the spring mechanism.... BRILLIANT!!! Only a guy
with a marble slab workbench could come up with that idea.

MegaMaker says: Jun 15, 2009. 11:19 AM REPLY

Ripstiks when they first made them: $95 Supplies to make one: $41 Riding a homade one: priceless That's right.

tolson411 says: Jun 11, 2009. 11:25 PM REPLY

I'm building one of these based off this design but i cut an old skate board deck in half for the pads, and instead of using hacksaws for torsion, i'm cutting and
ovular hole in both outer pipes and sticking a screw in the inner pipe. I would have it done by now but my saw broke when trying to change to a metal saw
blade... the bolt split right in half...

penna says: Jun 2, 2009. 2:18 PM REPLY

wouldn't the screws holding the hacksaw blades and the inner pipe bend or cme out

brujita says: May 27, 2009. 5:38 PM REPLY

where i can get the weels ?

penna says: May 31, 2009. 2:42 PM REPLY

you can get the weels at the hardware for realy expensive or you can by them from one of those little bargain shops

the_keiser says: May 22, 2009. 5:31 PM REPLY

Just curious. Do the foot pads have to be different sizes or can they be the same size?

LilPurpleCow says: May 23, 2009. 8:45 AM REPLY

Ya do they have to be different?

wolfsshade says: May 24, 2009. 2:19 AM REPLY

I think that they don't have to be different but I just didn't want to mess something up so I made it like the original one (ripstik). I think that they can be
the same but the board could feel a little different while riding.

the_keiser says: May 24, 2009. 2:56 PM REPLY

Cool, Thanks man, I'll give it a try.

skyrunner06 says: May 24, 2009. 12:31 PM REPLY

actually the ABEC number of the bearings has nothing with the speed of teh bearings... the ABEC# is the measure of how much force the bearings can take,
a lower# means the bearinga are weaker.....

pineapplenewton says: May 21, 2009. 6:50 PM REPLY

i wore out my ripstick wheels and replaced them with roler blade wheels and they practicaly melted beyond use in one minuet

wolfsshade says: May 24, 2009. 5:59 AM REPLY

You have to check the hardness of the wheels. Depending on the purpose of the wheels hardness can be from 62A to 95A. The larger the number the
softer the wheel. If you want to do tricks on skatepark on rollerblades you need softer wheels about 88A to 95A. For cruising - harder ones. Also the size
matters ;). Bigger wheels allow you to travel faster. Check the bearings also. ABEC3 is the slowest ABEC5 faster and ABEC7 the fastest.

view all 78 comments

http://www.instructables.com/id/homemade-ripstik-waveboard/