I've got a couple of standard adult skateboards from work, and I'm planning to turn them into shelves for my cat! They both have four holes at either end where the wheels used to be. One skateboard is completely wooden with a fun print, while the other is made of unpainted wood with a branded leather top. Do you think L brackets will be sturdy enough for this project?
4 Answers
I actually made a bracket to convert my skateboard into a shelf, and my daughter absolutely loved it! It held all her knickknacks, and the best part is you can remove the board whenever needed.
If you're handy, you could use a 3D printer or even a jigsaw to create something similar. No CNC machine is necessary!
It really depends on a few key factors when you're setting this up. First off, think about how heavy your cat is. If she's a bit of a chunky girl, you'll want to ensure those brackets can handle the load.
Also, consider what your walls are made of. I wouldn't trust drywall for this unless you're using proper anchors since cats jumping on and off can loosen them over time. If you've got brick or studs, then you're in a good spot!
And remember, the length of your L brackets matters too — aim for them to be at least three-quarters the width of the skateboard for optimal support. If your skateboard is 8 inches wide, go with at least a 6-inch bracket.
Haha she's a normal girl chunkiness wise bout 4.5kg during winter and 4kg during summer. Fortunately on the drywall situation I'm in the UK, so the walls in my flat are brick/concrete with board over them I've been able to successfully mount a 100kg mirror on the walls with no issues. I hadn't thought about how long the brackets should be! Thank you I'll get to measuring.
A fun idea! If it were me, I’d attach some trucks and wheels back to the skateboard and possibly add some tassels to the wheels. I mean, if I were a cat, I’d totally love spinning those around all day!
Ahaha honestly I might have to do that to the painted one as that's the one she'd be closest to from her usual sleeping spot.
One thing I noticed that hasn't been mentioned is how to actually attach the skateboards to the brackets. I'd recommend using machine bolts that can be countersunk into the board. Use a countersink bit on top so that the screw heads are flush with the skateboard grip — this way, nothing will catch your cat's paws or claws. You might also want to consider using epoxy or tape to cover the screw heads for extra safety.
Oh that's well cool! Thank you ? I do feel my cat would climb on it either way so I'd probably need to find a more cat stable solution haha.