By popsci Posted 03.07.2007 at 1:00 am 4 Comments

Cost: $2.80

Very Easy





Parts List

  • Skateboard (salvaged)
  • Battery-Powered Drill; at least 9.6V (salvaged)
  • 25-inches of 1/2-inch PVC Schedule 40 (1.00)
  • (2) 90-degree Elbow PVC Schedule 40 (.90 each)
  • Large Rubber Wheel (salvaged)
  • Cable Ties
Remove the right front wheel from the skateboard's axle.
Open the chuck's jaws (those are the steel fingers inside the chuck that typically hold the drill bit) of the battery-powered drill to its maximum aperture. The chuck should fit easily and loosely over the skateboard's front right axle.
Slip the large rubber wheel over the drill's chuck. Use a rubber wheel that has a large enough diameter to lift the drill head up off of the ground. This wheel should also be a very snug fit over the chuck.
Build a support for the drill from the PVC Schedule 40 pieces. The lengths of these pieces will vary depending upon your make/model of drill. In this example, three pieces measuring 15 3/8-, 6 3/4-, and 2 1/2-inch were used. The longest piece is inserted into one of the elbows followed by the shortest piece and another elbow. Finally, the medium length piece is added to the second elbow. You shouldn't have to glue the PVC pieces together--a friction fit is good enough for this project.
Attach the completed support to the top of the skateboard deck with cable ties. A correctly attached support should hold the drill's handle off the ground. Tidy up your assembly and mount up.
Don your protective clothing, install a fresh battery, squeeze the drill's power trigger, and it's off to the races.



Notes:






  • In right-wheel installations the drill's motor should be set for maximum torque and forward motion. If you opt for a goofy ride (aka left-wheel installation), be sure to switch the drill's motion to reverse.



  • Install two electric drills for greater power. Make sure that you switch the left-hand drill to reverse motion (see above note).



  • Lightweight riders can ride the SkateBored solely on battery power. Heavier riders will have to kneel on the deck and kick off with the other foot.



  • The SkateBored will eat up rubber wheels. Use special off-road R/C truck tires for the best results.



  • Alternatively, if you can't find any suitable rubber wheels, try wrapping the chuck with several layers of duct tape.



viewing all of
15

comments via Instructables
sort by:
active | newest | oldest
Mar 8, 2007. 2:41 AMdarkmotionsays:
Get some vids up- this is neat :)
Mar 7, 2007. 9:21 AMHamOsays:
Bravo for the helmet, gloves and glasses. Well done instructable. Nice photos.


Mar 8, 2007. 12:17 AMVisitorsays:
In order to be protective a helmet must _fit_ properly. That adult sized helmet is too large for the kid and does not provide adequate protection.


Mar 7, 2007. 8:22 PMewilhelmsays:
I have done this, and it works. You can get going pretty fast, actually. I will try to dig up a video.


Mar 7, 2007. 6:03 PMbrowncolinsays:
Surely more voltage would increase the speed/torque, and not the runtime as you have stated. Higher mAh batteries would be needed for increased runtime.


Mar 7, 2007. 9:20 AMxrobevansxsays:
This just doesn't seem like it would work...at all.



Not to mention if it *could* work (not nearly enough torque to move much at all) the safety issue of holding the trigger while trying to ride the board....no way.



Add some gears, a little chain, a sprocket, and *MAYBE* you could get a cheesy version of a moto-board. But a Chinese $14.99 14V drill direct drive? No way.
Mar 7, 2007. 4:22 PMKitemansays:
Re: the trigger



My drill has a lock on the trigger - press the trigger, flick the lock and the drill runs until you either press the trigger again or the battery goes flat.



(Somebody has to publish an Instructable about that cockamamie power-toll drag-racing thing I've seen on late-night satellite TV).


Mar 7, 2007. 2:43 PMtrebuchet03says:
My $14.99 14V harbor freight drill from China isn't direct drive :P In fact, those cheapo drills are my source for planetary gear systems ;)



Maybe that should be my next instructable project..... Torque measuring apparatus for motors and drills :P
Mar 7, 2007. 12:30 PMPurplePeoplesays:
That's a Makita... probably 9.6V battery pack. Excellent Japanese tool. It'll have as much torque as a bigger Dewalt, which is probably made in China for Black and Decker. (Checked mine and batteries from Mexico, charger from Thailand... no markings on drill).


Mar 7, 2007. 9:45 AMcrapflingersays:
...there's an extremely small child ON the skateboard...it obviously works...one would assume that dad can't get on the thing...and it's obviously not gonna go that fast...it's a free toy for the kid to play with for a month before they get tired of it


Mar 7, 2007. 11:12 AMmikestysays:
Pretty sweet!



Didn't Jaime from mythbusters have rollerblades powered by an electric drill?
Mar 7, 2007. 2:38 PMtrebuchet03says:
Yep..... one drill per skate :P



Just goes to show how far Degree in Russian will get you..... apparently, far :P


Mar 7, 2007. 2:30 PMthejrbsays:
actually i think he used leafblowers
Mar 7, 2007. 11:37 AMProteussays:
Nice Idea, but ...hey we need videos! =D


Mar 7, 2007. 10:10 AMroyalestelsays:
Well alrighty then. Welcome PopSci.

viewing all of
15


4 Comments

Link to this comment
popsci
03/09/07 at 10:27 am

this is really neat you should get a few videos because i want to see this in action i might actually try this out

Link to this comment
popsci
03/09/07 at 7:40 pm

Hm... I wonder if you could use two of the same drill and hook them up to a single button. Like a pedal button on the skateboard.

TO THE BAT CAVE!

Link to this comment
popsci
03/19/07 at 6:34 pm

the problem wit this is that it wouldn't work with a real skateboard, the one you used was a toy with plastic trucks that allows the axel to spin freely

also to maximize proformace i.e. go faster and smoother you would have to buy better wheels and bearings. the ones that come with those types of toys are crap

Link to this comment
popsci
01/14/08 at 4:29 pm

Since I couldn't find a place to write suggestions for new projects, maybe someone will see this post and steer me there? I'd like to see you hack the Aiptek HD 720p Camcorders to add an external mic input. These things are cheap with great picture quality, but universal complaints about their sound make them iffy. Being able to add external mic input would be hugely beneficial!



June 2013: American Energy Independence

Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.


Online Content Director: Suzanne LaBarre | Email
Senior Editor: Paul Adams | Email
Associate Editor: Dan Nosowitz | Email
Assistant Editor: Colin Lecher | Email
Assistant Editor: Rose Pastore | Email

Contributing Writers:

Kelsey D. Atherton | Email
Francie Diep | Email
Shaunacy Ferro | Email

circ-top-header.gif
circ-cover.gif