You would probally have to have a good amount about of skateboard shaping experience, as well as alot of lamination(glueing) with thin strips of bamboo devoid of node chunks.
I have heard of surfboards, floorboards, T-shirts, and bed sheets made of bamboo, so it is totally possible.

you can buy bamboo plywood. A friend who owns a cabinet shop gave me a cutting board he made from a scrap. beautiful stuff.

If you're into making stuff from scratch, try toilet paper sometime. It can be made out of any organic material, using an old window screen, a squeegee, and a mailing tube to finish it all off. Works for me.

I've been woodworking for over 40 years, and I would be sceptical about being able to produce a piece of plywood out of bamboo that would hold up using just the resources you have at home. You would need to cut it, dry it, thickness it with a thickness planer (which is a dangerous operation with anything less than 1/4" thick), possibly re-dry it, do a final thicknessing, and then glue it up using a suitable glue and a hydraulic press. And then, you'd have to hope it was all compatible and stable enough to hold together. It's an interesting idea, but there are easier ways to get a piece of bamboo plywood.

Hey Kudzu, do you happen to know how flexy bamboo is? I'm about 130lbs and I want to make a skateboard about 3 feet long, so would there be any flex if i stood in the middle? I know this is really specific so I'm not expecting an answer, but The only dumb question is the one never asked. Thanks

Well that's a tricky one to answer because it depends on the species of bamboo. Also, the nodes have different flex characteristics than the internodes. If I recall correctly, the "modulus of elasticity" is what you measure to determine flexibility...it's how much something bends when a specific force is applied. I think that bamboo generally has a higher modulus of elasticity than wood, which means it's more rigid than an equivalent thickness of wood. You might try a Google search on this term +bamboo +wood.

I think you need to get the wood and make a prototype. Aside from the wood there is all the glue that holds it all together. The only way to find out is to experiment.

To make bamboo into a usable 'board', you would need a high pressure woodpress and have a good knowledge and understanding of the types of glues needed and used in plywood.

Your best choice would be to buy some plyboo, which as I understand it, is similar to OSB board. It would give you strength, and of course, it would have the look of bamboo, but if you want it to bend, or flex slightly, then you would need to buy the desired thickness that will enable it to bend to your specifications. Thicker = less bend and thinner = more bend.

Once you get the desired thickness, then you can cut it to whatever shape you like, and attach the wheels accordingly.

A nice glossy polished finish would make a very nice and unique looking bamboo skateboard.

Good Luck

Kt

I think I'm going to dive in and buy 7 sheets of 1/8" x 1' x 4' plyboo/bamboo veneer and laminate one piece at a time until i get a desireable flex. I'm just going to use either a vacuum press or a makeshift wood and clamp press. Thanks for the replies! I'll keep you posted

Bamboo surf boards have been around for some time. Gib at Tradewinds Bamboo Nursery uses one. Suggest you email him. Rgds

Gib?? A surfer Dude?? Wow, he IS an inspiration. It must be a board made from Henon. He is always standing in a Henon grove, even when I call him on the phone. Next time I call him and ask about a bamboo, I will ask for some pointers on my surfing technique.

Kt

There is a picture of the board in Gib's 2000-2002 catalog.
It says that a guy named Gary Young made it. It looks very cool or should I say rad. Gary Young may have a website. RGds