Chalkboard Skateboard: A new board every day!

Hello! In this instructable I'll be sharing a method I created in order to produce a sleek platform-looking skateboard that serves not only to take me around, but also to display different messages and drawings beneath my feet that I can change whenever I want without worrying about them getting wiped away or smudged. And all with stuff that's easily accessible and pretty cheap. :)
I hope you guys run with this idea, as there are so many more possibilities with this method!Decided what board you'd like to ride on. Short? Long? Keep in mind that the larger the board the more screws you'll need to keep the grip on (this will be explained later). I went with a really short board because it meant I could go with a thicker, heavier and more sturdy wood without drastically increasing the weight of the board. Also, portability was a big issue.
I decided to go with a wide 9.75" width to give me plenty of room to write on, and compensate for the short length for my ride.
Once you have a rough idea for what size and shape you want your board to be, you can begin purchasing your materials.

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Refresh that old plastic cutting board

Plastic (polyethylene) cutting boards tend to get worn with use, eventually leading to an unsightly (and often unsanitary) surface. Between cut marks, foods, and cleaners can leave a plastic board looking pretty ragged.

But not all is lost - a quick attack with some sandpaper can refresh that cutting board, making it as good as new and saving the time and money of replacing them! This tried and true food service industry trick can help clean up even the worst of boards and prolong the life of your boards and boost the cleanliness of your kitchen.

Materials in addition to your old cutting boards
dropcloth/newspaper/garbage bagclampssanderSandpaper (ideally 25 grit through 80 grit)metal scrubber or rough steel woolscraper/hand plane/razor blade (not pictured)gloveseye protectiondust maskdish soapsponge
For the sander, I'm using a Dremel contour sander. Any sander will do the job, and one with more horsepower will do the job faster. A belt sander or orbital sander would work nicely. I just didn't happen to have one handy at the moment.

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Making a shelf out of a single board - my first project in the Techshop woodshop

After I'd taken the basic safety course for the Techshop woodshop in SF, I was ready to knock out some basic projects to get some practice on the tools before trying anything more complicated.  My first project was making this simple shelf out of a 7-foot board.  Making a shelf can be a good first project if you're just getting into working with wood.

In our kitchen we had an overflowing pile of cookbooks and a tiny nook that was just right for a shelf.  I got this large pine board for cheap at MacBeath Hardwoods in Berkeley and set about turning it into a shelf.

Here's how I grade my work in the end:
As a learning experience: A
As a couple's bonding experience putting together the shelf: A+
As a final shelf: B+ (we'll get to that later)

As they say in the world of Instructables written in part to get a free class at Techshop, "I made it at Techshop!" 

http://www.techshop.ws

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