Best tool for pinewood derby?

[Shadowdog500]

Check this thread on saws to build derby cars out. All they talk about is pinewood derby cars on this forum. http://www.derbytalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2747&sid=b09a611130eb4a27e1d20ddc4ad8dd1b&start=15

 

[67King]

If you can find it, tungsten disulfide is better than graphite

 

[Flathead Red]

Derby talk is a great message board to find out how to build your cars. I am a dad of two cub scouts and we have been building cars for four years. It is a father and son project so enjoy your time with him while you both are doing it. When my boys were young (7-8), I cut the car after they picked the design and drew it on the block. They sand and I paint. I also placed the wheels. As they have gotten older, they do more, appropriate to their skill level. I have done a ton of research on how to make the cars go faster and my oldest (10) is killing it at our pack race. There are dad's that do all the work and it is obvious but in the long run it's the boys that suffer.


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[gda659]

Put the weight toward the rear of the car. That way the center of gravity (CG) will start higher on the track and the car will have more potential energy than if the CG was closer to the front, which will maximize the kinetic energy at the bottom off the track. Don't put it so far back as to make it unstable (wheelie at the transition to flat). Polished axles with graphite always worked for my brother's cars. Make sure it rolls straight. Have fun!

 

[Capt Chrysler]

Best tool? Lead, razor blades, JB weld, OSHA high visible paint (for the nose of the car) & Boy Scout graphite powder

 

[tool_scrounge]

remember - usually you want to paint the bottom of the car flat black due to the optical sensors (so we were instructed). I am a bit surprised it makes a difference as the timing mechanism I see used is a transmitted (not reflected) optical sensing scheme.

 

[madcrisis]

A jig saw to cut the shape, Then a spoke shave to give it some shape. A spoke shave is a great tool to get someone into woodworking. It does have a sharp blade but safety should be taught before anything else anyway. Then use your drill to place your weights. You can get a HF jig saw for 20 bucks and a decent spoke shave for 15. Then its just sanding painting and putting the wheels on!

 

[64merc]

We just built our first one a few weeks back. We traced a pattern on both sides, and did the rough cut with a coping saw. It is very possible, just take your time. The hardest part was keeping it clamped down without damaging it (I used ratcheting bar clamps). Then I shaped it mor closely with a Dremel sanding drum. Then lots of time with small sanding blocks that I made using Jenga pieces and sockets.

 

[abk241]

The thing that held the blade on top was slightly off center in a direction I could not straighten. The blades had just a tiny slant to it making it impossible to make a straight cut. The bottom connector was adjustable but the top one wasn't. It was just a defective saw from the start.

When something as simple as a handsaw is broke and you cannot fix it...you need to scrap it.

 

[perlgeek]

Thanks all for your feedback and memories. I decided to get a dremel rotary tool as imit would require me to clamp it down and it is easy enough to use (and takes up almost no room). It was easy enough to correct the bad cuts with it and have the palm sander finish it off. I did not let my cub scout cut the car this year. He helped sand and paint it though along with picking out a design he wanted. He will probably put the wheels on himself. He has been perfectly open about not caring if he wins or not as when he was picking out the design he loved I explained it might not be the fastest. He said he didn't care- he said he just wanted it to be the design he liked. We both had fun working long hours on the car and he's excited to race it on Saturday! Thanks again everyone!

 

[southalabama]

Back many many years ago dad turned out wheels on a lathe to make them smooth. Took off just a bit to knock of the mould marks. We used graphite on axels. Had it weighed to perfection. I was second place to a kid who whittled his. We ran them several times and his was always a tick faster.

Coping saw will work but best bet find someone with scroll or band saw.