Popular Mechanics - USA (2021-03)

88 March/April 2021

13

Watch the complete MADE HERE

video series on YouTube.

Bio-based resin laminates seven plies of maple-veneer plywood inside a concave

mold that evenly distributes 40 tons of pressure. It cures for 24 hours, then we

drill the mounting holes for the wheelbase. We cut and shape the board, creating

a fillet on the bottom with a quarter-inch round router bit. We sand and sculpt a slight fillet

on the top edge, and coat on a water-based polyurethane before and after silk-screening.

There’s a quality control inspection, then it’s all set for the world to enjoy.—Danny Creadon

HOW

IT’S

DONE

T

HE MOMENT I SAW SKATE-

boarding, I knew I’d be in it

for life. I started skating

in 1984, then turned pro

in 1987. I ended my career

after winning an X Games

gold medal in 2015 but still

wanted to be in the industry. So that

same year, I started Street Plant.

We produce standard skate-

boards, but this involves wood and

urethane—two elements with a signif-

icant ecological impact. I had the idea

for eco-friendly boards since the start

of Street Plant, but the bigger manu-

facturers balked at it. So three years

ago, I reached out to Danny Creadon,

owner of Factory13 Skateboards. He’s

been in the industry since 1999, and

doesn’t follow anybody’s playbook.

We created Street Plant Naturals,

a line of sustainable, resin-based

boards made of high-quality maple-

veneer plywood, a bio-based epoxy,

and water-based inks and sealants

that eliminate the need for oils or ani-

mal byproducts. We estimate that it

has an overall 70 percent less detri-

mental effect on our environment.

Skate, create, enjoy. That’s Street

Plant’s mantra. Skating is an art that

brings people joy—and that approach

informs everything we do.

// M I K E V A L L E L Y, 5 0, O W N E R O F S T R E E T P L A N T, L O N G B E A C H , C A L I F O R N I A //

MADE HERE

TE

D^ N

EW

SO

ME

/^ P

OP

M

EC

H^ V

IDE

O