Can You Modify Pinewood Derby Wheels?

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.

How can I make my Pinewood Derby wheels faster?

Use All of the Graphite
High-carbon graphite is used to lubricate the wheels of a Pinewood Derby car for increased speed and performance.

Can you bend pinewood derby axles?

Use bent polished axles.
Bending your Pinewood Derby car axles with a bending tool will make the wheels ride up against the nailhead, which creates less friction than if the wheel is bouncing around and rubbing against the wooden Pinewood Derby car body.

Do bigger wheels improve speed?

Increasing the wheel diameter will also increase the final reduction ratio, which has two consequences: acceleration potential is decreased, but a higher top speed is reached. In other words, the bigger the tires on a car, the slower it will accelerate, but it will have higher top speeds.

Should I sand my Pinewood Derby wheels?

Running the drill at low speed, carefully sand the tread area of the wheel just enough to take off the mold “flash” at the outside edge of the tread and smooth the tread area down to take out the “dimple” which is typically where the wheel was cut off the “sprue” or mold tree.

What wheels are best for Derby?

The most popular wheels used for roller derby are either 59mm or 62mm tall. If you are a beginner we recommend you stick to one of these sizes. Wheels bigger than 62mm are generally used for outdoor skating. Tall wheels are fast but too unstable for derby skating.

Does a longer wheelbase make a pinewood derby car faster?

The longer the wheel base, the greater the turning distance (a short car turns much more quickly than a long car). A pinewood derby car should go as straight as possible, so a longer wheel base is an advantage.

Are heavier pinewood derby cars faster?

Much has been written about the physics of pinewood derby cars, and this is one rare case in racing where heavy = fast. Aerodynamics have little effect in such a short race, but weight does and putting the weight at the back of the car will make your car faster on the flat of the track.

Should you bake your Pinewood Derby car?

Per the Pinewood Derby rules, the weight of the car shouldn’t exceed 5 ounces. One way to ensure your car doesn’t go over the weight limit is to bake the block! Naturally, wood holds water, and water adds weight. You’ll want to help your Scout by baking the block in an oven at 250 degrees for one hour.

What is the fastest shape for a Pinewood Derby car?

wedge
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.

What is the perfect weight for a Pinewood Derby car?

MAX OUT YOUR CAR’S WEIGHT AT 5 OZ
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.

How much does it cost to bend a Pinewood Derby axle?

We recommend installing axles with a 1.5° bend for the front of the car and 2.5° bend for the rear. The axles heads are marked in the direction of the bend. Install the axles with the mark straight up.

How do you bend a derby axle without a bender?

Lay the axle into the indention you’ve made, with the alignment mark at the 12 o’ clock position. Clamp it with the pliers at the edge of the wood. Place your other hand over the one holding the pliers and apply gentle, steady downward pressure. Less is more, and it’s better to underbend than over.

Which wheel will move the fastest?

smaller wheel
The smaller wheel (the wheel with fewer teeth) will always turn faster than the larger wheel (the wheel with more teeth). The small wheel turns in the same direction as the large wheel, and in the opposite direction as the medium wheel. The small wheel turns fastest; the large wheel turns slowest.

What happens when you increase wheel size?

If you choose bigger wheels, you will improve the stability of your car and the range of braking distance will be shortened; A larger diameter means that the wheel will be heavier and consequently speed will be slightly compromised during acceleration (depending also on the torque of the car);

Why are deeper wheels faster?

The tyre is the leading edge and splits the air. Behind it, a deep rim controls the airflow, helping it to come together again smoothly. A shallow box-section rim can’t do this, so air behind it is turbulent, causing more drag.

Should I clean my wheels first?

Wheels & tires first
You’ll want to clean these before the paint because they’re typically the dirtiest part of your vehicle. Plus, if you wait to clean them until the end of your wash you’ll run the risk of splashing dirt & brake dust back onto the clean paint.

Do you have to sand before painting wheels?

Sand your wheels.
At the very least, you will need a wire brush to remove all rust. Ideally, you would sandblast your wheels to remove rust and any old paint or stuck-on debris. This will give you the best starting surface. Next, sand the entire wheel with 300 grit sandpaper and then 500 grit sandpaper.

Are deep section wheels faster?

Deep section wheels are more aerodynamic than standard box-section road bike wheels. In simple terms, this will make you faster for the same amount of effort. As well as making you faster, there is not a road bike out that doesn’t look cooler with aero wheels.

Are Harder wheels better for tricks?

Hard wheels are more for skateboarders that like to perform technical tricks, but not suitable for cruising.

Are soft or hard wheels better for tricks?

As a basic rule, if you want to learn tricks you will need a hard wheel but if you want a skateboard for cruising around then opt for soft wheels. Read on to learn more.