Quick n' Easy kicktail (function, not form)

[whitmell]

I'm probably not the first to do this, so sorry if this is common knowledge, but I've done 2 of these and the second one was really quick and easy, so I thought I'd share. All you need is a piece of 2 x 4 and a mitre saw.

You take a 2 x 4 and cut it to about the size you need for the width of the tail, maybe a tiny bit bigger. Then you stand the 2 x 4 on its corner on a mitre saw (like w/ the end facing you). You want to saw from one corner to the opposite corner. If you want a smaller angle, you can modify this a bit. The base of the saw has a slot for the blade to go into when you pull it down, this makes it really easy to stand the wood up on its corner. So once you've done your first cut, flip it and line up the cut so that it's standing up straight, lined up with the saw blade. Make your cut, then continue to flip it over till you've made a cut from both opposing corners on the 2 ends (4 cuts total). Now it should be just about cut through except for the very middle, and 30 seconds to a minute with a little hand saw should completely cut out your wedge(s). You can use the mitre saw to make sure the bottom is cut evenly so you don't have to sand it flat. Then, if you have a square tail board, you can just put the wedge on the board, line it up with the back, and trace the edges of the board on the wedge. Go back to the miter saw and adjust the angles just right, cut them off and walla, you have a kicktail. I just use a little wood glue and 2 wood screws to fix it to the board, but you can use the method of your choice.

I will note that sawing like this with a mitre saw is probably not what you call "safe", but considering the blade is fixed in position, as long as you're careful there's not really any danger. The whole thing takes like 10 mins.

here's a pic, of course this one's had a little use:


Any suggestions are welcomed, I'm new at this.

[lettucefresh]

Probably would be alot easier on a table saw.

[General Specific]

http://www.silverfishlongboarding.co...highlight=mini

Did similar with this board, but built the thick tail ply from scratch. It honestly rides better than any other deck I or michael owns. Which is alot. The built up tails only downfall is it is sooner to hit the pavement when you kickturn.

Try thinner coats of paint at a time. It may take longer but it will reduce drips. Looks like a fun board.

A good "formulae" for kicks which you have gone for kick height/ size/ angle is to make an invisible line through thye deck to the inside bolts of the back truck. I dont know why this works well but it does. Looks as though that is the geometry of the relatiton between your kick. It makes a big difference to the board when it is balanced lightly. For all those who were wondering where to drill holes in relation to kicks.

eg.

[Lit]

kiktail and concave

http://sk8kings.com/Merchant2/mercha...tegory_Code=WR

[whitmell]

Try thinner coats of paint at a time. It may take longer but it will reduce drips. Looks like a fun board.

That's resin... it was an old crappy Original Longboard that had started to crack. I put 3 layers of fiberglass on top and now it rides great. I was 100% worried about function and didn't care about sanding. But it's only a temporary solution...

[brainfartalerts]

looks good from here - any addition to a board that makes it ride better for you is the right kind.
keep at it.
and as far as safe power tool usage goes, you are the best piece of safety equipment in the shop.
if you set up your operations in such a way as minimize risk when shtuff goes wrong, you are working "safely" regardless of what some freak'n english major turned lawyer expert on industrial operations who got a splinter in 8th grade shop class so is now an expert on construction may say.

sorry about the last bit - wouldn't know anything about that.

[crash]

gravity also has tails like that all ready to go with grip tape and super sticky glue. just peel and stick. may not be the same exact shape as whatever board you're doing, but it is about 100% faster to do. I did it to my hyper carve copy board and it works great. the board is too long for actually using the tail, but it helps to go off curbs and to pick up the board when I step off.

[Lit]

streetboards <3 kiktails

[whitmell]

gravity also has tails like that all ready to go with grip tape and super sticky glue. just peel and stick. may not be the same exact shape as whatever board you're doing, but it is about 100% faster to do. I did it to my hyper carve copy board and it works great. the board is too long for actually using the tail, but it helps to go off curbs and to pick up the board when I step off.

I was disappointed to find that not one of the surf shops in the VA beach area carried them. I wasn't in a position to wait around for one to get delivered. But yeah, those things are sick.

[FightingTheTide]

They carry them at the surf shops in Wrightsville Beach, NC...Ive used that kicktail on my last 2 shortboards (surfboards) in place of a traction pad...you can actually feel the tail of the board under your feet, and at the same time, you have the kick tail to push on for more power in your turns....but back to skateboarding....