How Do You Clean Pinewood Derby Wheels?

Clean-Up. Wash the wheels in water, using a clean portion of the pipe cleaner to scrub inside the bore. Dry the wheels – Either air dry, or use a blow dryer to speed up the process.

How do you clean Pinewood Derby tracks?

Here are three suggestions:

  1. Windex (or similar) – This is good for a light cleaning or dusting.
  2. 409 (or similar) – This will remove almost everything without harming the track.
  3. Soft Scrub (or similar) – This will get it all and still not harm the track.

Should you sand pinewood derby wheels?

In the past, pinewood derby wheels had a mold mark on the wheel tread that had to be removed by sanding. The new wheels no longer have a mold mark. Sanding can still help by removing variations in the wheel circumference making the wheel rounder but sanding is no longer as necessary as it was.

What is the best lubricant for casters?

If they are made of plastic, use silicone oil and if they are metal, use oil without grease. If you use the wrong lubricant, your wheels might keep getting dirty even after cleaning them.

What can I use instead of graphite lubricant?

While graphite was the standard when the Speed Graphics were now, there is now a much better alternative: Molybdenum disulfide powder (Chemical symbol=MoS2).

How do you get rid of graphite dust?

Unsurprisingly, one of the best ways to get graphite off of any surface is with a soft eraser. Gently rub the eraser on the stained material, making sure not to distort the surface with too much pressure, and wipe away any eraser dust that may have been left behind.

Can you use graphite after wd40?

Simple answer: don’t worry, there isn’t any adverse reaction between the two.

How do you polish Derby wheels?

Polishing

  1. Apply a small amount of polish to the pipe cleaner.
  2. Slide a wheel onto the pipe cleaner.
  3. Hold the wheel and start the drill on a slow to medium speed.
  4. Move the wheel back and forth on the tool for 5 to 10 seconds.
  5. Stop the drill and remove the wheel.
  6. Repeat steps for the other wheels.

How do you keep Pinewood lights not yellow?

Pine takes on a pale yellow-orange tone after exposure to sunlight. Most finishes exacerbate the problem leaving wood which ages to a “cigarette yellow” tone. The best way to create a pale bleached effect is to treat with a thin coat of diluted White Wood Dye after sanding.

Can you pressure wash a track?

Preserve your athletic surfaces by pressure washing away debris that can abrade and damage your running track or game court. Removing stubborn mold and mildew reduces the risk of injury from slips and falls.

What is the polishing compound that comes with Dremel?

Dremel 421 Polishing Compound
Dremel polishing compound is used to remove dull oxidized film and light imperfections on metals and plastics. This hard compound is applied with cloth or felt polishing accessories and nylon bristle brushes.

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.

What grit should I use to sand wheels?

Silicon carbide sandpaper is often the best option for sanding and finishing aluminum wheels. For average to poor condition rims, about a 200 grit will be where you can start. If fairly good, you could start with 300.

Do you have to sand wheels before painting?

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.

How do you maintain a caster wheel?

Lubricate all caster wheels and fittings every six months to keep them working properly. If your equipment is used in wet or corrosive environments, the lubrication schedule should be more frequent – as often as once per month.

How do you make homemade graphite?

To make graphite powder at home, use any pencil and a sharpener, simply sharpen the pencil, also you can also use a paper cutter to expose the pencil lead, after that pick thin sandpaper and rub the pencil lead back and forth on it, you will notice there is ample amount of graphite powder being produced.

What is a good dry lubricant?

The two most critical dry lubricants comprise are graphite and molybdenum disulfide. They provide good lubrication at high temperatures that oils and liquid-based lubricants cannot work.

What erases graphite?

Erase it! That’s right, try the eraser. Unsurprisingly, one of the best ways to get graphite off of any surface is with a soft eraser. Gently rub the eraser on the stained material, making sure not to distort the surface with too much pressure, and wipe away any eraser dust that may have been left behind.

Does anything dissolve graphite?

Graphite provides a cheap source of carbon, but graphite is insoluble. With extensive sonication, it can be dispersed in organic solvents or water with adequate additives.

Will graphite wash out?

Mix one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with two cups of cool water. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears or is no longer absorbed into the cloth.

What happens if you mix graphite and water?

When water-soluble graphite is mixed with water, it becomes almost like ink wash. It can be spread over a surface, much like watercolor paint. It can be thinned with water like watercolor paint and it mixes well with other media, like conte and colored pencils.