Many production snowboards are sold with the bindings installed. Custom snowboards are sold without bindings and the skier has the option of fitting manufactured or homemade bindings on the board. Manufactured bindings typically are costly and proper installation requires a degree of mechanical expertise. The average do-it-yourself snowboard enthusiast can make inexpensive bindings for a snowboard in a relatively short time.
Step 1
Remove the wheels and trucks from the bottoms of new or used rollerblade boots. Depending on the manufacturer, remove the wheels using a metric wrench on the axle nuts before removing the trucks, or remove the wheel/truck assembly with a screwdriver.
Step 2
Remove the laces from the boots. Pull the tongues fully forward by hand to access the insoles of the boots. Remove the insoles by hand to expose the base soles inside the boots.
Step 3
Place the snowboard flat on wood blocks with the top of the board facing up. Position the boots on the board in the desired locations. If necessary, put on the boots, put the board on the floor and stand on the board to establish the locations.
Step 4
Set up a power drill with a 3/16-inch drill bit. Drill pairs of pilot holes through the base soles of each boot near the toe, middle of the soles and the heel. Continue the holes through the snowboard.
Step 5
Install a screw-tip attachment into the power drill. Drive ¼-by-3/4-inch stainless steel screws through the base soles and into the snowboard at each pilot hole.
Step 6
Turn the snowboard over. File the tips of any screws that protrude through the underside of the board with a flat file.
Step 7
Apply a modest amount of silicone sealant on each of the filed screw tips. Smooth the sealant to a thin, uniform finish with a wooden tongue depressor or ice cream stick.
Step 8
Put the insoles in each boot and re-lace the boots. Allow the silicone sealant to completely cure before using the snowboard.
Tips and Warnings
- Improve the binding attachment with epoxy adhesive between the underside of a boot and the snowboard. Coat the underside of the board with ski wax.
Things You'll Need
- Rollerblades, new or used
- Metric tools
- Screwdriver
- Wood blocks
- Power drill
- 3/16-inch drill bit
- Screw-tip attachment
- 1/4-by-3/4-inch stainless steel wood screws
- Flat file
- Silicone sealant
- Wooden tongue depressor or ice cream stick
Member Comments