Once constructed: The Alu thing
Background:

I once constructed a deck with an aluminum underside...this was done to get a deck that was more rigid and less flexible...it did behave different than a normal plain wooden deck...
It was also quite a flashy thing to cruise around with...and a good experiment to have a go at...
Like with many experiments...it didn't turn out like I wanted it to be...nevertheless it is still good info...
Here's a day by day story...
Day1:

Get some wood...This is how they arrive at home...well, at home is not the right expression...A "VAN" is handy for that storing facility called "Put it in the back!!!"...
My parents don't call this a mess...that's true when you look at it...They say a bomb has exploded in there...It is called "the Cellar" though...the place were I build everything...even a 2,2m streetluge...When it's way too messy...I move upstairs... to the living room ;-)
Day2:
The wood that was stacked up in my van is cut and ready to be worked with...nice!!! Got enough of the stuff to build at least 6 skates...one will be made though...because I've bought another type off glue...never tried it...so...I'll do the experiment for you all !!!
This Here's that 2 COMPONENT POLYURETHANE ADHESIVE...Not sure what it will do...bought it in a general DIY shop...the brand BISON says it's made in the NETHERLANDS...next door actually...hope it'll work...looks all right though...

Needs lots of clamping they say...it's the type of stuff that expands a little...we'll see...

Note: "I use epoxy resin nowadays, does the trick and can be combined with fiberglass"
Day3:
All this should have been done yesterday...but hey...I have to be a bit social with the lovely girlfriend as well !!! So...I took some paper today...and used my second piece of ply to draw a straight line...
Done that and marked the nose and tail...the 1/3 mark was added also...
I've started on the nose shape...just some free-hand stuff...when you don't like the lines you draw...draw next or over it !!!
Nose section...all right....... 1/3rd mark...meassured the width Tail...not to sharp...Nice :-)
Then I've connected nose and tail with that fluid line made with some flexible piece of wooden stick...Used an old cannonball from the time when the Spanish army was at the gates of Ostend...in the year 1600...The guy who made that cannonball will never have thought that it could be used to design LONGBOARDS..."Huh? longboard?"...weird isn't it!
Nose section lines didn't match up...corrected by hand...
Voila...Template ready !!!...Tomorrow I have to go to Ostend to play with my band...So no updates...I might be able to glue something together then...Watch out for the end result...You'll all like it!!!

Note: "I don't play bassguitar anymore...to much hassle to keep it going...played for 18 years though"
Day4:
At my parents place I had clamps to go for it...Still used the screwing technique though...
So..I've checked that curve by using another technique...No weights...just clamping and straining Here it is...2 layers stuck toghether...with the new glue I am using...Works well!!!!..
I've went out to get some aluminum...1mm stuff...I did the cutting bit...and...It looked the part!!!
Ok...I do some inbetween dreaming as well :-)!!!
Would be enormous to pull such machine out of the van at meetings...still dreaming about it !!!		 Aluminum roughed up ...ready for glueing... I did use my "everyday" skate as a template/workbench to stick that alu on the underside...
Some detailed pic of that alu...glued with the same woodglue...Hope it works...but that's for tomorrow...
Day5:
Did all this today...nice shine on this bizarre deck...should do something else to it...hmmm...not polished though...that's for the next day's...I'm a bit afraid about the whole thing becoming to stiff...the core was quite flex...the alu. did make it stiff big time...we'll see...
As you can see...blank wood on top...alu on the underside...The aluminum sticks perfectly to the wood with that polyurethane glue I've used to glue the wood with...perfect stuff!!!
It's more easy to find than aerodux glue...
I think any PU 2 component stuff would do...check out your local DIY store!!
Day6:
At last...things get going again...I've checked the position of those Randal RII's...and did a flex test as well...the board became quite stiff though...the aluminum did that...we'll see how it behaves on the slopes....aluminum roughed up ...ready for glue-ing...
I've done the rounding of those edges and drew a center line...
Here's some detail on the known trucks...I'm glad they are quite shinny aswell !!!...So...I've got that board varnished,and it's standing outside to dry...tomorrow is polishing day...after that another layer of varnish will be applied...the thing should be ready on Wednesday :-) !!!
Well...so far so good...I drilled holes for the trucks...and attached them to have a look...To be honest...I like it :-)...the board has a nice shape...looks "bonkers" at the underside...and...very important...has the right flex...the curve becomes flat under bodyweight (61kg)...and flexes further when some jumping is done...really glad with it...Time will tell if that new glue is alright...
So...what else...I'll add a second layer of varnish...and live it to dry until tomorrow...then that polishing begins...after this is done I'll add the griptape with the graphics cut into it...
Final:
Although it doesn't look shinny,it shines a little bit...I have to checkout how to do it...Didn't succeed today...

Anyway...I enjoyed the grip stuff...it was a bit tricky but it looks ok...quite glad with that 1970'ties look !!!...simple & effective...

The trucks are max!!! I'll stick to those for sure!!!...The flex is spot on!!!...

To make a long story short...I've added a new board to my collection...and the quality goes up all the time...very happy with that :-)

The next one should be something with a tail and very flex/curved deck...
Note: "All you see here is stuff that was done 3 years ago...the 5ft deck I made...quite funny to read back all this...as you might have noticed...all moved forward quite fast...I made a press...started using fiberglass and epoxy...
Next would be vacuum bagging decks...and a new streetluge...and T-shirts...Enough to keep one busy till he drops...I haven't got the deck anymore...gave it away to Eva...

Enjoy... Ive "Toothless" Vandewalle