Woven Bamboo Composite Skateboards

MakeLab is a collaborative design group that develops social enterprises to benefit regions in need of jobs and job training. Using their design experiences in creating advanced bamboo composites for the bike project along with several months of research and development at the Bamboo Studio’s in Mumbai, Professor Lance Rake has developed a bamboo composite skateboard design that uses the strength and vertical compliance of bamboo, strengthened and stiffened in key areas with fibreglass and carbon fibre to make a deck that is fun, responsive, and easy on the eye.

The woven bamboo mats on the top and bottom are critical components of an advanced sandwich core panel, which is made from End-grain balsa, known to be the stiffest and most shear resistant core material usually found in boatbuilding, experimental aircraft and other high stress applications. The materials used also show superior compressive and bonding strengths to the main skin resulting in a structure that is strong and extremely durable.

the woven wood mats, top and bottom, are critical parts of an advanced sandwich core panel. this component is made of end-grain balsa, known to be the stiffest and most shear-resistant timber found in boatbuilding, experimental aircraft, and other high stress applications. furthermore, the ingredient also shows superior compressive and bonding strength to the skins, resulting in a structure that is not only strong, but extremely durable. truck mounts are reinforced with baltic birch plywood and carbon fibre. The truck mounts have been strengthened with Baltic birch plywood and carbon fibre composite reinforcement.

Professor Rake from the University of Kansas brought several students earlier in the year to Greensboro to prototype and test multiple designs in the field. The result is first skateboard to be created by The Beacon Alley Bamboo Board Co, which will be produced in the makelab’s local shop in Greensboro. The innovative, high-performance products will provide job training and increase employment in the Alabama black belt. the project is still active and is looking for funding on kickstarter now.