This article appears in print in the May 2019 issue. Click here to subscribe.

Woodworker Jared Bolt of Bolt Woodworks spent half his life working in the skateboard/snowboard industry, accumulating a garage full of used boards that were taking up prime real estate. Working from his Ballard studio, he decided to give them new life, handcrafting coasters ($80 for a set of four), desks and other furniture (by custom order) from the old wood. The pieces have grown so popular that Bolt now replenishes his stock of boards with industry-reject skateboards and donations from other skateboarders.

To make the coasters, Bolt removes the grip tape from the board’s surface (which creates traction needed for skateboarders’ feet to remain firmly planted), then takes the horizontal strips off the boards, shapes and sands them, binds them with wood glue and runs them through a planer to flatten. The resulting products feature boldly hued stripes, thanks to the current trend of emblazing skateboards with eye-popping colors, Bolt says, and make the perfect accessory for any tabletop.