Veneer Prep Tips

Worst case scenario when working with your Thin Air Press vacuum bag is that you will get a hole or tear in the vinyl of your bag. While you can always fix a hole (video below), one of the best ways to prevent it from happening is to make sure the project you are pressing doesn't have any sharp edges or splinters.

Always be aware of material that could puncture the bag, on veneer sheets this is usually tiny splinters or sharp corners. Take a bit of time before pressing to sand these areas down and it will go a long way towards the longevity of your bag.

Check the edges of your veneer as well as they may have a sharp edge or splinters just waiting to tear your bag when you slide the project into it. Simply use a sharp utility knife and a ruler to cut the edge straight.

Jeremy from Boomstick Boards even showed us this great little tip where he actually cuts the corners of his veneer sheet on an angle before pressing.

 

Sealing Tape Tips

The vast majority of leaks that occur when using the Thin Air Press vacuum bag come from the sealing tape on the one open end of the bag. It is important to make sure that the sealing tape itself is free of dirt, glue and debris, and has not been compromised in any way. When you are pressing down the tape to seal the bag, look for any grey areas that indicate the sealing tape is not fully pressed down. You want a nice, uniform black colour running across the whole length of the bag, especially in the corners!

It is always a good idea to use the paper backing strip that comes with the sealing tape anytime you are putting a project in or out of a bag. That being said, it is possible to keep using the tape over and over, even with some imperfections. A little dirt isn't the end of the world, but may be a cause of a small leak in the bag. You can always replace the sealing tape if it is causing an issue.

We recommend putting the paper backing strip inside the bag when you are pressing your project as a way to not lose it.  

All of our TAP Kits come with extra sealing tape rolls to replace the original one on that comes installed on the bag. If you have used all three of the sealing tape lengths from your original kit, we do sell replacement rolls online. They can be accessed here.

The Handmade Skateboard

Always something fun and new at the Roarockit Skateboard Company! This time we are proud to announce the release of a book written by California-based, Sk8 Makers-in-Chief, Matt Berger.

Click photo for product link

“The Handmade Skateboard is the definitive book on building custom skate decks of all shapes and sizes, from the high-performance street deck to the classic longboard to a vintage pinstripe cruisers that will turn heads everywhere you go. When you make your own skateboard from scratch you have the opportunity to create something that is perfectly tailored to you: a deck that matches your height, your weight, your center of balance, your skill level and your intended use. More importantly, making your own skate deck allows you to design a perfect deck to fit your personal style, making a statement about who you are.”

The Handmade Skateboard: A Preview from Spring House Press on Vimeo.

We worked closely with Matt for an extended period of time sharing our experiences and board building methods to help contribute to this incredible project. Not only does he extensively cover our Thin Air Press vacuum bag method of board building (Chapters 6 and 7), but the book goes over the history of skateboard making and has lots of great interviews and features of people in the industry.

This 150+ page book is available on our online store for $24.95, and can be bundled with board building tools and materials to really help get you started! 

3" Foam Product

Street Deck builders rejoice! Roarockit now offers our high density foam slabs in the perfect size for your custom double kick street deck molds.

The new foam product matches up with our Street Deck sized veneers (9.5” x 34”) and is 3” thick to allow for steeper kick tails. It also allows builders to create a mold for their street deck veneers without having to cut down a 12” x 48” slab... which equals less wasted material!  

We will be offering this product on our website in two different packages:

 (2) Slabs of 3" x 9.5" x 34" High Density Foam - $39.99

Click photo for product link

Street Deck ProBuilder Kit - $139.99

Contains:

(1) 20" x 70" TAP Kit

(1) 3" Foam Slab

(2) 7 Layer Maple Street Deck Veneer Sets - 14 sheets total

Click photo for product link

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the new 3" foam product. 

Call - 1 (416) 422-5487

Toll Free - 1 (888) 857-7790

email - info@roarockit.com

Manifesto Festival

We are excited to announce that for the first time, the Roarockit Skateboard Company will take part in the Manifesto Festival's – Live at the Square event on Saturday, Sept. 20^th.

If you are not familiar with Manifesto, they are a non-profit organization that inspires and unites young people through arts & culture. They have been doing great work in our community for over 8 years, and we are proud to join forces with them for this annual event!

Live at the Square takes place in downtown Toronto at Yonge & Dundas Square and is an all-day, free outdoor event that features some of the cities best performers, artists and brands. This year will feature musical performances by Ryan Leslie, Raury, Bishop Nehru, Saukrates and many, many more! There will also be live Dance Battles, Showcases, Graffiti and Cyphers, lots of great food in the Freshest Foods market and some amazing local brands in the Freshest Goods marketplace. Check out the Manifesto website for full details of the jam packed event!

Live at the Square - facebook event page here!

We will be there in a tent alongside our flagship program the Oasis Skateboard Factory, and festival veteran Champstiles Woodburning. Together we will be showcasing our innovative skateboard building process and how it can be used to engage youth through hands-on learning and art focused education.

Join us from 12pm-7pm at Yonge & Dundas Square for this great event!

Check out this video from last years event: