Loaded Dervish Longboard Custom Grip Tape How To Video

Welcome To How To Customize Your Longboard

Besides the the most common ways to customize your deck, changing the bushings, wheels, bearings, and trucks. Grip tape customization is the most fun and rewarding of all the upgrades and offers you a chance to shine, show your individual style and personality. In a way creating a custom grip tape is also very social, with results so impressive that people, boarders and non boarders have stopped me to ask questions, some of them are now close friends and fellow longboarders.

Grip Tape Template and Photo Files

The process of creating the grip tape pattern is pretty straight forward and all the original Photoshop files and .jpgs are included in this Hub to make your life even more simple and enjoyable. You will also have the opportunity to modify the original images to really customize your longboard. These files are specific to the Loaded Dervish, but I will offer easy suggestions to apply this template to any longboard or skateboard. Since this is a visual journey, the video's below will help you in setting up the template and cutting out the pieces.

Supplies Needed to Create Grip Tape Pattern

To start and complete this template design you will need some basic tools and supplies. You will also need to create your work space with some good lighting and a comfortable chair. The total project time is about 4 hours. Remember that this is not a competition and you can stop anytime to go carving down your favorite hill. Actually Stop Now! and go enjoy some time outside then return and continue reading...

The List of Supplies and Tools:

1. Print out images 1 -5 Print in Landscape mode low quality fast draft
2. Grip Tape 4 Feet any color and texture (or 6 Feet to cut 2 Templates Sell One)
3. Simple Fine File (To edge out the grip tape for cutting)
4. Sharp Scissors and Knife with Razor Blades
5. Pencils and sharpener or use the Razor Blades
6. Black Magic Marker or Sharpe Pen
7. Sandpaper 100 grit is fine 120 better 1 sheet is all you need
8. Rubbing Alcohol and Paper Towels
9. Fine Steel Wool 1 Pad
10. Drop Cloth or something soft to place your deck on.
11. Masking Tape or Blue Tape or Scotch Tape
12. Black Paint and Clear Poly Water/Oil Base
13. 1 Small Artist Brush and cheap 1 sponge brush for Poly

Starting Your Custom Grip Tape Project

• Images - Click on the Photoshop Files and images link this will take you to the download page. Then you can click on them to view then right click and save as, place them somewhere were you can find them easily. The only files you really need are image1 - image 5. These 5 images have been simplified to speed up the printing process for you.

• Print the Images - each image is 8.5 x 11 actual size of a sheet of regular print paper. Print them at 100 percent and Landscape orientation. Print each image twice. Save ink and print in black & white at low resolution or fast output. Does not have to be pretty. To make life super easy print two copies of these files. Use the first set as your master template for layout. Then use the second set to cut up to place on your grip tape before cutting. Will go into more detail about layout and cutting techniques down below.
• Arrange Images - Use the first set of images and fit them together like a jigsaw puzzle. Once you have those set so the designs all match, tape them together. Make life easy for yourself and keep the tape inside of the skateboard deck design. Will explain the purpose of the second set of images in a minute.

• Cut Excess Paper Away - Now cut all around the paper deck template and remove the excess white space. You should be left with an exact template of the Dervish with measurements of 8.5" x 40" . If the template is a little bit bigger or smaller, that's fine. It is just a visual tool to help you with the rest of the build. The result should look like the video still on your right.
• Trim the Second Set of Images - Cut out all the designs from each page including the very small little triangle piece. You might notice that on the deck image the pattern repeats on the opposite side. You can save time by only cutting one set of designs out but you will have to flip the pieces over twice when cutting on the grip tape.

Note On The Template Pieces

The small little pieces that you just finished cutting are exactly the same size of the first template you made. With that being said and to get the best possible and professional result. The small individual components of the template that have edges touching the outline of the deck will need to have an additional 1 inch of grip tape which you will cut off after you apply it permanently to the deck. Will explain when we get to that point again in more detail.

• The Layout - This is the stage when you start getting your second wind back after cutting out all those pieces out. Lay the pieces out on the deck and use the master template with the tape on it to figure out how they fit. Important Note* Once you have them roughly in place, Take a break and walk away for a while. When you return you might notice that you may want to move a piece just slightly to the left to balance out the design. Leaving gives your brain to adjust and look at things with a new fresh perspective. Okay, this stage is just about complete...word of advice don't sneeze or you will have to repeat this step again.
• The Grip Tape - Now remove one piece of the paper cut-out from the deck at a time and place it on your roll of grip tape and cut. (Read this part and the part below before cutting) To simplify how to flip the pieces so they face the correct way, Flip the grip tape over so the grids are facing up, Imagine that as the bottom of the board. Now taking the small pieces from the deck, place them on top of the grip tape with same orientation. The clear back side of the paper is the bottom of the deck and should also be facing the same direction as the grip tape. Now you should see the grip tape with all the grids showing and the backside of the paper cut-outs. You will have to play around with this a bit.

Take Note on Cut-Outs that have edges on the outside outline of the board. This is when you add the extra inch or so.

• One Piece at a Time - The process is slow but the reward is huge. All the details from the inside of the deck have to be cut exactly how the template was cut. The parts of the design that face the edge of the board you need to roughly add one inch of grip tape in your cut-out. Using your magic marker, trace the outline of the piece of paper onto the grip tape. Add your inch to the part now by eye-ball. Using sharp scissors cut that piece of grip tape out, but don't remove the backing yet. just place it on the deck were it originally came from. Repeat the process until all the parts have been cut out and replaced onto the deck.
• Last Visual Check - This is the best and only opportunity you have before actual permanent placement of the grip tape. Now it should look pretty good, everything very sharp and clean, the dragons eyeballs cut out with a razor blade, simple diamond shapes. All the parts that hit the edge of the deck should be hanging over the edge an inch or so.

• Sanding the Deck - Take your time on this part and remember you don't have to finish today.This is also assuming that the stock clear loaded dervish spray grip is still on the board. Using your grip tape cut-outs and assuming they are exactly in the correct placement on the deck. Hold firmly with your fingers so they don't move and using the pencil draw the out line as close to the grip tape as possible. Now by hand sand out the inside of those outlines you just drew, should go pretty fast. Now use the rubbing alcohol and paper towels clean the inside of the area you just sanded. This should leave it pretty clean and remove any other grit from that area without disturbing the parts of the deck that are not going to be re-gripped.
• Permanent Placement of the Grip Tape - Place the piece in the spot you just sanded and see if it fits well. If so, remove the grip tape backing and carefully place in the sanded spot, don't press down yet. Check to see that it fits perfectly and some of the grip tape is hanging over the edge. If so, press down. Trick Tip I use one the longboard wheels and roll out the grip tape you just put down. Works great and saves your fingers.
• Repeat the process - for the rest of the grip tape, sand, clean with alcohol, visual inspect, loose placement, press down and roll. You have now completed the main design, just remove the trucks and place the two end pieces how ever you like. Remember to over hang all the parts that hit the outside edge.
• Trim Your Grip Tape - After you make sure the tape is down really well, standing on the deck makes it really permanent. It is time to trim and finish the deck. Use the file and run it down on the edges in a slight angle, all you want to do is leave a crease in the grip tape. Don't damage your board it is made of bamboo. Then using a really sharp new razor blade run it in long strokes from the bottom of the board away from you. You may have to change blades a few times, don't try to cut with a dull blade -injury and possible damage to the grip tape. Once that is done and you are happy with the result. Move on to the very last step.
• Fast Hand Sand Off Edges - This step is optional but well worth the extra ten minutes of work. Using the sandpaper just go around the edges of the board and smooth out any extra grip or grime that is around, Less than 2 minutes on this,
• Paint The Edges 3D Effect - Using your artist brush and the black latex paint, doesn't matter what sheen you pick, but flat works the best. Continue on the edge of the deck the grip tape pattern. Go all the way around and wipe off the excess from the bottom of the deck with a damp cloth. If you make a mistake, just wait until it dry's and sand off. You can even fine tune the edges after it dries with fast sand on the fat lines. Now using you sponge brush put on one or two coats of clear poly. Once that is dry, you can use steel wool to take the seen off and make it look like the actual grip tape.

Your Longboard is Finished!

One more suggestion, Once you have the grip tape pieces cut out, why not make another set to sell. Hope this was helpful and complete. Let me know how your project ended and send me your latest grip tape photographs. This is just one template and one deck. My next Hub which is now in the works will show you how to take a photograph of your board, Then convert it to a simple image that you can use for an exact duplicate template. Thanks Again.