Table of Contents
Pinewood Derby Axle Installer Lubricate the wheel and axle – Slide the axle into the wheel. Place the wheel/axle on the base with the pointed end of the axle up. Place the Axle Guide in the axle slot. Hold the Axle Guide in place with your thumb then gently press the car body straight down on the axle.
Do you glue Pinewood Derby axles?
7. Create Glue Holes: Glue the axles firmly in their holes to ensure that they stay perfectly placed, but make sure you don’t get glue on your wheels. 8. Add Weight: Remember to make your Pinewood Derby car as heavy as the rules allow.
How far do you nail in pinewood derby wheels?
Measure your wheels. Add 1/8 inch to their width, and then measure down from the top of the axle nail and mark by that measurement. For example, if your wheels are 1/4 inch, then you need to mark 3/8 of an inch down the axle nail. This marks where you need to stop driving the nail into the car.
Are Bent axles legal in pinewood derby?
CAN I BEND AXLES AND QUALIFY FOR STOCK CAR OR PRO STOCK DIVISIONS? No. Bent axles are not allowed in either racing class.
Should I bake my pinewood derby block?
Should I bake the pinewood derby block? The short answer is no, do not bake the block. The idea behind baking the block is to remove moisture which will make the block lighter. Baking might remove more moisture but the block will quickly re-absorb the moisture after it is out of the oven and cooled down.
Where should the center of gravity be on a Pinewood Derby car?
Center of gravity placement should be between 1⁄2″ – 1″ in front of the rear axle. This is true for all wheel base types. Whether you are using a standard wheelbase or an extended wheelbase.
How can I make my Pinewood Derby wheels faster?
5 Quick & Easy Tips For Improving Your Pinewood Derby Car’s Speed Put all of your weight in the back. Lube the car at the body/wheel friction point. Spend a fair amount of time on axle prep. Make sure your wheels are ready. Finally, once your wheels are mounted, check their alignment.
What size is a number 44 drill bit?
Downloadable versions: Drill size Diameter (in) Diameter (mm) #46 0.0810 2.0574 #45 0.0820 2.0828 2.1 mm 0.0827 2.1000 #44 0.0860 2.1844.
What is the best shape for a Pinewood Derby car?
But aerodynamics rule the day, and the best shape is a simple wedge. Just like a spoiler on the rear of a sports car, the wedge shape allows as much air to flow over the top of the car without hinderance while keeping the car pinned to the track.
Why does my Pinewood Derby car wobble?
Pinewood Derby Wheels Wobble are a very common issue. Derby wheels are made with an injection molding process. Because they are not machined from raw material, flaws such as concentricity (wobble) will cause a wheel to wobble because the bore is not aligned with the outer diameter.
How much should a Pinewood Derby car weight?
Your car should weigh as much as it’s allowed. In most races, a Pinewood Derby car’s weight is limited to 5 ounces. If your car weighs less than that, add coins or other weights.
Do aerodynamics matter in Pinewood Derby?
A more aerodynamic car (but very similar for other things) doesn’t give you much bang for your buck. Friction will get you. If you can reduce the coefficient of friction by just a little bit, it will make a noticeable difference. If you let your kids do most of the work, they will gain more than a win.
How much weight does paint add to Pinewood Derby car?
Paint only adds a few grams (hundredths of a ounce). We generally weight up to 4.9 oz and then do the last weight adjustment at check-in.
How do you distribute the weight of a Pinewood Derby car?
Best Location to Weight Your Pinewood Derby Car When deciding on where to weight your car, you should try to reach a final balance point of the car 1 inch or less in front of the rear axle. To achieve this, place 2/5 of the added weight behind the rear axle, and the remaining 3/5 in front of the rear axle.
How do you glue weights on a Pinewood Derby car?
Epoxy can be used for attaching metal accessories to the car and, since it does not shrink when dry, it works well for gluing weight into holes or pockets. It can also be used for gluing wood to wood, but I recommend yellow, white, or tacky glue for that use.
What is the best graphite for Pinewood Derby?
Another bonus tip is to look for ultra fine graphite. It has a smaller grain than flake graphite and is an all around better Pinewood Derby car lubricant. It’s even better if it’s mixed with Molybdenum! Again, check your race rules to make sure you aren’t using any prohibited lubrications.
What is the fastest time for a Pinewood Derby car?
We used ultralight wheels and grooved axles. It was very fast. Nobody even came close to us. Our best time was 2.516 seconds on a 35 foot aluminum track.
How do you reduce friction on a Pinewood Derby car?
The easiest way to reduce friction is to lubricate the surfaces that cause friction. Lubrication is an essential part of pinewood derby racing. Purchase a tube of dry PRO Graphite with moly and shoot it onto the axle shaft and inside the wheel bore. Spin the wheel so the graphite works in.
How do you polish pinewood derby wheels?
Polishing Apply a small amount of polish to the pipe cleaner. Slide a wheel onto the pipe cleaner. Hold the wheel and start the drill on a slow to medium speed. Move the wheel back and forth on the tool for 5 to 10 seconds. Stop the drill and remove the wheel. Repeat steps for the other wheels.
Where is the axle shaft?
The driveshaft runs down the center of a vehicle from the rear of the transmission to the rear differential gearbox and is visible beneath the vehicle. Axle shafts are concealed inside the steel rear-end housings running from the differential to each of the rear wheels.
