A skater cannot skate without a skateboard deck. This piece of wood is specially shaped so that the skater can remain in complete control over the tricks that he or she does. But how are these decks made? Well, it begins with a tree.

A regular skateboard deck comes from a maple tree. Maple trees are chopped down and then sent through a processing plant. A handful of rectangular strips of veneer are created out of the maple tree. These pieces of veneer will be layered to create the skateboard deck.

Once the wood has been shipped to the manufacturer, the veneer strips are thoroughly inspected. Any pieces that are too imperfect to create a skateboard will be tossed out or recycled. The pieces of veneer are then arranged into two different types, one with the grain running horizontally along the rectangle, and the other with the grain going against the veneer.

The pieces of wood are then run into a device that applies glue to the veneer. This glue is just your average, water based wood glue. It holds quite well after getting out of the press, and ensures that your skateboard won't fall apart.

After the glue is on the veneer, the strips are stacked to create the beginning of a skateboard deck. Most skateboard decks are 7 ply skateboard decks. This simply means that seven strips of veneer have been layered to make it.

Then, the pieces of veneer are layered to give the most strength to the deck, with the first layer being a chunk of veneer where the grain runs vertically along the board, and the second strip being one where the grain runs horizontally.

Once the veneer is layered properly, it's ready to be processed in the skateboard press. Depending on what type of skateboard is being made, the layered veneer will be pressed in different machines. An old school shape and a new school shape have to be pressed in different machines, because the concaves are different.

The skateboard press turns the flat pieces of veneer into something with a little bit more shape. Once they're pressed, the skateboard decks are set out to cure for twenty-four hours or longer. If the decks weren't left to dry before processing, they would likely warp and be unskateable.

After they have, the decks are processed further. A lot of skateboard manufacturers shape a deck with a device that uses a finished deck as a guide for removing the excess wood off of a skateboard deck.

After the deck has been cut from the pressed veneer, eight holes are drilled for attaching trucks. A machine similar to the one above is used for this. By utilizing a single deck as a template, skateboard manufacturers can build many skateboard decks that are almost identical in shape and size.

Once the deck has been shaped, the sharp rails are smoothed out manually by a worker. Most skateboard manufacturers own a sanding drum that the workers use to remove the sharp edge on the deck. This makes the deck look cleaner, and also prevents injuries to skaters and other objects by removing the sharp corners of the deck. Sanding the edges also helps keep the skateboard from cracking if it runs into a wall or similar.

The deck is not complete without a picture on the bottom. Skateboard manufacturers screen print deck graphics onto a thin strip of plastic, and then transfer the image to the skateboard with heat. The remaining plastic is removed to reveal the graphic on the base of the deck.

Once the graphic has been applied, the skate deck is treated with a coating that helps preserve the skate deck and also the graphic. This lacquer also gives a pretty shine to the deck, and helps bring out the color of the wood. The skateboard is then placed in a box and sent out to one of the many skate shops around the world, for an excited skater to buy and enjoy.