The wheel base (distance from front axle to the rear axle) may not be altered. The cut slots must be used for the axles and the wheel base distance must be 4-1/4 to 4 3/8 inches. 8.
Do you glue Pinewood Derby axles?
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.
Should I sand the wheels on a Pinewood Derby car?
Once you’ve selected the four straightest axles, use a file or fine-grit sandpaper to remove small burrs and mold marks that can cause friction and slow a car. These imperfections should be removed from both the axles and the wheels.
How do you get the wheels on a Pinewood Derby car? – Related Questions
What is a good Pinewood Derby time?
Pinewood Derby Results. The average times with just weight added was 3.288 seconds. There was 0.188 seconds between the fastest and slowest car, about 23 inches. The average time was 2.994 seconds, about 44 inches faster than without graphite (0.353 seconds).
What is the fastest Pinewood Derby car design?
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.
How do you smooth 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.
How can I make my Pinewood Derby wheels faster?
Max out your weight at the regulation 5 ounces.
Place all of the weight you can about an inch in front of the rear axle. The closer the weight to the back, the faster your car will roll (but you don’t want it too far back or else your car will be popping a wheelie).
Can you modify the wheels on a Pinewood Derby car?
allowed. Wheel Bore treatment is allowed including polishing, sanding and / or tapping. Modifications to the Axles are allowed that include sanding, polishing. All Cars MUST pass inspection before being allowed to race based on the rules stated in I.
Tungsten is the best weight for your pine derby car because it allows you to pack more weight in a smaller area giving you more flexibility in your car design and more accurate weight placement for speed. Package contains eight 3/8″ diameter cylinders with chamfored edges for easy insertion.
What makes a fast pinewood derby car?
One of the most important ways to make a fast pinewood derby car is by adding weights. Because the cars are relatively light, they need to overcome friction and air resistance when navigating down the racetrack. Most modern tracks feature an initial slope followed by a long, flat section.
Is graphite allowed in pinewood derby?
Pinewood derby race rules do not allow racers to add additional graphite to their axles between heats. As a result, the graphite blows off the axle with each run down the track. As the graphite blows off, friction increases, and your car slows down.
Where should the balance point be on a pinewood derby car?
WHY is COG important? Putting Pinewood Derby® Car Weight randomly on your PWD car is not the key to getting the most out of your build. Center of gravity placement should be between 1⁄2″ – 1″ in front of the rear axle. This is true for all wheel base types.
Why is my pinewood derby car slow?
Alignment – Make your derby car go straight. This may seem like an afterthought to many, but if your Pinewood Racer doesn’t go straight, the wheels will rub against the track, causing it to slow down. Remember, friction is your enemy. Weight – It is vital to have your Pinewood Derby car weigh the proper amount.
Where do you put graphite on a pinewood derby car?
Rub graphite on your pinewood derby car body where the wheel hub runs against it. Use a new pencil. Rub the tip of the pencil erasor in the graphite then rub in on the car around where the axle goes into the slot.
What is the best graphite for pinewood derby?
Pinewood Pro’s dry powdered PRO Graphite is a special blend of ultra-fine natural graphite with sub-micron molybdenum disulfide (also known as “moly”) additive to give you the best graphite blend to minimize friction and make your car the fastest it can be.
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.
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. You can then add more weight to the back of the car.