Redneck Ripstick
I’ve had a looooong week. I felt like screaming, then moving to the beach. Instead, I decided to build something…which is something I haven’t done in ages. While walking around harbor freight my nephew and I picked up a swivel wheel. Daniel says “Why don’t we build a ripstick”.
A Ripstick is basically a skateboard that only has two swivel wheels and it twists in the middle. Sounds simple enough, right? hehehe.
So, to build ours, I decided to build it redneck style. This means we don’t make plans, we don’t measure and we certainly don’t make it pretty.
Our material list is:
Behold the masterpiece!
As you can see it is about as ugly as they come…hehehe.
This is the top of the front. You will notice my homemade washers…err…government minted washers. It is actually cheaper to use money for washers than to buy actual washers. You will be amazed how much in life can be actually made out of money…for less. Make magazine often explores this idea.
Here’s the bottom of the front. You will notice that the front has the conduit bolted straight on. The swiveling happens on the back. The conduit has a notch cut out that allows the wheel to swing freely.
Side view of the front.
This would be the back. Another few penny washers and the tops of the Ubolts.
Here’s the bottom of the back. You’ll see that I put a piece of all thread through the pipe. This serves two purposes: it limits the amount of twist in the board and it also keeps the pipe from slipping out.
Here’s a closer shot of the wheel mounted. You will see that we mounted it on a slight incline. This adds stability to the swivel…which is the same way the ripstick guys do 🙂
Now you will notice that I have counter wound bungie cords. This forces the RR to center itself.
Enough with the pictures, time for the video. Here’s me testing the board:
As you will notice, I snapped the back in half, so we had to modify it:
I used a little more scrap and fixed it up.
We also had trouble with the front part of the EMT bending, so I put a couple more bolts and an extra washer.
Finally, here is it in action:
Thanks to my redneck test pilots, Jamie and Daniel. They are my “country” nephews…I’m sure you couldn’t tell by their accent and insistence on saying redneck. hehehe.
I feel much better now. I hope you guys have as much fun laughing at me breaking it as I did building it. 😛
As a rip stick wanna be myself – kids have 3 of them – I am impressed.
@Greg
Ha…hehe. Occasionally I just like to see if it is possible…and in this case, it was.
United States Code
TITLE 18
PART I
CHAPTER 17
§ 331. Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins
Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes,
falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of
the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current
or are in actual use or circulation as money within the United States;
or whoever fraudulently possesses, passes, utters, publishes, or
sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or brings into
the United States, any such coin, knowing the same to be altered,
defaced, mutilated, impaired, diminished, falsified, scaled, or
lightened Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than
five years, or both.
The feds disagree Greg
@Phil
I’m far too pretty for the big house!
@Greg
LOL!!!!!!!!
@Phil
Another thing I’ve always though was interesting is that it actually costs more than $.01 to make a penny. 🙂 A small bit of irony I always enjoyed. I equate pennies to pocket lint, no use for it other than annoyance.
A penny saved, is a penny screwed.. 🙂 🙂
-tp
Gotta take time for fun Greg…great to see! good project non IT related, hehe.
I’ve been getting into long boarding(when we don’t have snow!) I think that should be your next project Greg…in fact I will even send you the wheels and bearings…if you make the board!!!! I double dog dare you. 🙂
Cheers!
@Cory,
Gauntlet laid down, and gauntlet picked up. You mail them and I will build a long board that will make you tingly in your bits…hehehehe