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Nail the axle and wheel into the side of the slots on the Pinewood Derby block. If you are allowed by your rules to use a difference wheel base, get yourself a #44 drill bit and drill holes using a Drill Press into the sides of the block. Tap the axle and wheel into the holes you drilled.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoPeople can get fancy but the basic outline (with some tips) goes something like this.
1) Put the nails in the slots and then remove them. It is common for people to cut close to the nail slots either in shaping their car or making holes for weights and for the area to chip when the nails are inserted. This can cause problems with the stability of the axles. Putting the nails in and removing them before cutting any wood presizes the holes so that this is less likely to happen. Do it first, as soon as you open the box, before you forget (trust me on that one).
2) Pick a design. You can print things off of the internet or just draw on the block of wood. Be creative - it does not have to be a car. (One of my favorites is a scout made a milk carton and put his own picture on it).
3) Use larger saws or power tools to "rough cut" down to the approximate shape you want.
4) Use carving/ whitting knives, sand paper, Dremels etc to give it the final shape.
5) Sand it smooth.
6) Wiegh the car along with the wheels and axles (nails) and figure out how much weight you are going to need to bring it up to 5 oz. You can use coins, fishing weights, washers, etc. Drill/ gouge etc holes for the weights and then glue them in place. If you drill/ dig into the bottom nothing shows - just make it flat so that nothing hangs downa nd rubs the track.
- If you do it before painting you have the option of putting the holes anywhere (i.e. on top) and using wood putty to fill in the holes.
- If glued use hot glue, not crazy glue. Hot glue holds well, can be trimmed to flat easily, but is soft enough to dig out and start over if needed (including on race day).
- Bring it close to the 5 oz limit but not quite. It is easier to add weight on race day than remove it.
- Remember to re-weigh after digging the holes. You will probably need a little more weight.
- Putting the weight toward the back makes the car go faster.
8) Paint and finish your car. You can just paint it or use decals or print art off of the internet and glue it on.
9) Put the wheels on.
- Using a power drill and strip of sand paper to sand the axles helps make them smoother/ removes burrs. Also sand the rouch parts of the middle of the wheel - where the nail goes.
- Apply some graphite powder to the nails (if allowed by the pack - it usually is - wet lubricants like WD-40 are usually not allowed. - You can get it in most hobby shops and in the lock section of hardware stores).
- Use a credit card to "gap" the wheel. You want it not to tight (pinching) and not to loose (wobbling).
10) "Tune" the wheels. - Make it so the car runs straight and does not turn. You usually can do this by using a pair of needle-nose pliers to give one axle a slight twist (usually about 1/8 turn). Usually start with one front wheel and then try others if this does not work.
- Find out what the pack says about the number of wheels touching. Some say all 4 must touch (this is not as easily done as it sounds). Some allow one to not touch. If this is the case an advanced trick is to intentionally keep one front wheel off the track (3 wheels have less friction than 4 - it also makes tuning easier).
11) Keep your scout from playing with the car. Put it away until race day. They can play with it all they want after the race.
12) Show up early on race day and register your car. That way you will have time to make adjustments if needed.
13) Bring crazy glue and small weights to the race. If you are nice and early without a crowd looking to weigh in you can usually use the official scale to weigh your car and weights to bring it close to 5 oz. Crazy glue can be used to add the weight. It is also usefull for last minute repairs should disaster strike (that along with your needle nose pliers and a sharp pocket knife).
14) Remember to have your scout do as much as possible of the work and have fun. It is supposed to be a bonding experience for you and your child - not a homework assignment for the parent.
It is a good idea to get a copy of the Pack rules (they vary by pack) and read them before starting. If on doubt ask before you build.
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How can you make wheels for a pinewood derby car?
dude you can't make e'm, you have to buy them.
Should the wheels be large in the front and back for a pinewood derby car?
You need to use the wheels from the kit. They are all the same size.
What is the main fuel for a pinewood derby car?
gravity
How much can a pinewood derby car weigh?
5 ounces.
What makes your Pinewood Derby car move faster?
Make it small light, and stylish.
Were do you find a Mustang pinewood derby car?
If you are looking for a Mustang Pinewood Derby Car to build, go to Google and do a search on the words "Maximum Velocity Stallion". The first link will take you to a site were you can purchase the Stallion kit, that was modeled after the Ford Mustang.
How big is average pinewood derby stop stick?
If you are referring to the stop section on a Pinewood Derby track, the average length is about 4 feet; however, if you are good at making fast Pinewood Derby cars, it will take nearly double this length to safely stop your car. Because of this most Pinewood Derby races place a pillow or a jacket at the end of the stop section to abruptly stop those cars that over shoot the stop sections.
Where is a pinewood derby cars?
Pinewood Derby cars are popular for young boy scouts or anyone who is interested in soap box car racing. You can purchase them quite cheap online and they are sure to be a fun way to spend a day or few.
What is the difference between a pinewood derby car and a co2 dragster?
There are several differences. CO2 Dragsters (sometimes known as "Blast Cars") are longer and have thinner lighter wheels than Pinewood Derby cars. Also Pinewood Derby cars race using gravity as their only power, while C02 Dragsters use CO2 cartridges to power the car. The standard track size for a Pinewood Derby race is about 32 feet, while the track size area for a C02 Dragster is usually 80 feet or more. C02 Dragsters run on a filament string to guide them down the track, while most Pinewood Derby cars run on a center guide rail. C02 Dragsters usually can only run two cars at the same time due to the starting gates only being designed to accept two cars. Pinewood Derby cars on the average run on a four lane track (I've seen tracks as high as 12 lanes). There are very few C02 Dragster tracks that utilize an electronic finish line, while the majority of Pinewood Derby tracks use an electronic finish line. These are most of the differences between the two cars.
What is a connected axel of a pinewood derby?
A "connected axle" in Pinewood Derby is a continuous axle rod that goes from one side of the car to the other. They are usually found in "PineCar" brand kits and require small plastic caps at each end of the rod in order to hold the wheels in place. Check your rules if you are planning to use "connected axles". Most well written Pinewood Derby rules usually will NOT allow this type of axle to be used. Standard Pinewood Derby axles are small nails that are used to hold each tire in place (four of them in the standard kit). These are usually the preferred axle of choice. If your rules do not state a specific kit brand or mention the use of specific axle parts, you may be able to use the "connected axle" on your car; however, I do NOT usually find these axles to be an advantage over the nail type axles. Mostly because the small plastic caps are of poor quality and often fall off during racing which allows the wheels to fly off the car. I am surprised that none of the third party marketers in Pinewood Derby have come up with a solution to the solid axle (aka connected axle) problem.
How much does the pinewood derby car kit weigh?
This depends on the desity of the Pinewood block in the kit. The block can vary from 90 grams to 150 grams, but usually averages around 110 grams. If we add the wheels & axles (14 grams) and the box and rules (8 grams), the entire kit can average about 132 grams.
How tall is a pinewood derby car?
7 inches 7 inches is the length of the car, not the height (aka tall). Pinewood Derby cars are generally less than 3 inches in height; however, the actual height varies based on the electronic judge sensors that attached to the finish line of the track. The cars run under these sensors, so it is the height of the sensors from the track that determines how tall a Pinewood Derby car can be. I've seen some that can accommodate cars that are 6 to 7 inches in height.
