How to Make Your Own Hoverboard?

Riding a hoverboard is quite fun and a great way to pass time. Additionally, they help with commuting within a small area. They are beautiful machines that come in different designs, shapes and sizes. And while readily available on the market, the prospect of making your own hoverboard can be exhilarating.

Perhaps the best thing about such a project is that you can choose the level of complexity. You can use either cheap pre-made components or build your own battery packs, motors and frame to make a DIY hoverboard.

In this post, we provide a comprehensive guide on how to build a hoverboard at home.

Building an Electric Hoverboard at Home:

Things You’ll Need:

Here is a list of materials you will need for this project.

• 12-volt 12-amp battery (you can also opt for a 12-volt 7-amp battery)
• Two 24-volt 120-watt scooters
• 0.5” sheet of plywood
• 0.25” sheet of plywood
• 2” x 2” piece of wood
• Epoxy
• Wood glue
• Child’s bike with 12” wheels
• Screws
• Small rubber wheels about 1” diameter

It’s important to note that the materials don’t need to have the exact specifications. Reasonably close specs are good enough.

Get the wheels

Once you have assembled all of the above materials, remove the wheels from the child’s bicycle. Proceed by removing the bolts from the axle. You want to remove any bolts that play a role in holding the bearings in and remain with as much usable axle as possible.

Cut the frame

The next step is to cut out the frame, and this is where you’ll need the sheets of plywood. Cut out one frame from the thicker sheet and two frames from the thinner sheets of plywood. You should have a total of three frames of the same size when you are done. The frames should be wide enough to accommodate your feet and a battery.

Build a battery slot

You need to create a slot into which the battery should rest. Use the thinner piece of plywood and cut a square out of it. The size of the square should match that of the battery.

Make holes for the wheels

After cutting out a square slot for the battery, you should make some holes for the wheels. Start by cutting the 2” x 2” piece of wood to a length that is equal to the frame width. Drill holes into each end, ensuring that they are slightly larger than the axles of the wheels.

Attach the wheels

Of course what comes next is attaching the wheels. The first thing you should do is fill each hole with epoxy then mix it for a minute. A generous amount of epoxy is needed to ensure optimal strength and if your budget allows, don’t use the cheap dollar store stuff. Insert the axles of both bike wheels and screw them in. Leave them for a day.

Assemble the frame

Remember those frame pieces you cut out? Now is the time to use them. Attach the axle and wheel assembly onto the sheet of plywood with a square cutout. You should also cut out a couple pieces of 2” x 2” wood. Attach them to either side of the square cutout using glue and screws.

Use 2” x 2” pieces of wood and thin sheet of plywood to build the bottom part. This is what the battery will sit on. Attach it to the middle frame with wheel assembly. Removing the wheels may make this task easier. The only downside is that because we used epoxy, re-fixing the wheels will be more challenging.

It is now time to take care of the balance wheels. Attach a 2” x 2” piece of wood for holding a rotating wheel. This ensures balance when riding the hoverboard.

Prepare the motors and drive systems

The motor will be spinning against the wheels and as such, need to attach the motor axles to something with high friction such as the small rubber wheels. Drill a hole through the rubber wheel and  belt gear on the axle of the motor. Attach the wheel to the axle using epoxy. Use another rubber wheel to slide over the one already attached. This ensures that the attached rubber wheel doesn’t wear away for a long time. You can also use electrical tape to wrap the motors’ belt gear.

Build and mount the motor brackets

These brackets will be used to hold the motors against both wheels. They should be long enough to hold the motor against the axle and rear to serve as a pivot point. Remember to attach a piece of wood to the end. It’s what you’ll use to attach the elastic from.

To mount the brackets, attach the pieces extruding off the back to the brackets. One bolt does the job well while allowing the brackets to rotate freely.

Attach motors and tackle the wiring

Use duct tape to attach and secure the motors. Epoxy and glue can be used, but they won’t hold as effectively. Ensure that the wheel at the motor end lines up with the wheels of the hoverboard. Wire the batteries in a parallel sequence to the motors then install a house switch. The switch should go between the motors, allowing each to be controlled separately.

The last steps…

Now is the time to attach the thicker sheet of plywood using screws. Take some elastic bands from the motor’s bracket and attach them to the wheel’s axle. This ensures the motor is pressed hard enough against the wheel and allows for flexible movements when standing on the hoverboard.

Wrap up

You’re done and can take your DIY hoverboard out for a spin. It was fun building a hoverboard, wasn’t it? The only downside is that riding a homemade hoverboard is a little different from a commercial model due to the differences in features and functionalities. On the upside, this project is not difficult and you learn a lot along the way. It also offers an opportunity to repurpose old materials and recycle waste products.