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.
Should I sand Pinewood Derby wheels?
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.
Do I need to sand my 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.
Can wheel rims be sanded?
Take sandpaper and smoothen the scratches on your wheel rim. You can smooth the scratches and curb rash with 220- 80 grit sandpaper. You must clear all the gouges and scratches.
How tight should the wheels be on a pinewood derby car?
How close should pinewood derby wheels be to the car? The hub of the wheel should be a credit card thickness (about . 03″) away from the car block but can be as much as . 1″.
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.
Is it better to have more weight in front or back of pinewood derby?
PUT MOST OF THE WEIGHT IN THE BACK
Science says the heaviest part of your car should be about 1 inch in front of the rear axle. The idea is that the farther back the weight is, the more potential energy you have because your center of mass is higher up on the track.
How do I make my wheels shiny?
5 Tips to Make Your Wheels Shine Like New
- Wash Them First. The first step to getting your wheels in good shape is to just wash them with dish soap and water.
- Wheel Cleaner. To make sure the wheels get as clean and shiny as possible, buy some chrome wheel cleaner.
- Use a Wheel Brush.
- Don’t Forget the Lug Nuts.
- Wheel Polish.
Can you polish wheels by hand?
Hand Polishing – In many cases where the surface of the aluminum is dull, but lacks significant oxidation, rust, pitting and burns, you can typically use a good hand polish in conjunction with a microfiber applicator for a quick shine that you can do from anywhere, whether it be on an alcoa wheel, billet wheel, tank or
What is the fastest Pinewood Derby shape?
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 sand and polish Pinewood Derby axles?
Instructions
- Insert the axle into a drill.
- Use the #400 sandpaper first.
- Dip the sandpaper strip into a glass of water.
- Hold each end of the strip with each hand.
- Use about 1/2” of new paper to sand the axle for about 15 seconds at low speed.
- Repeat using the #1200 sandpaper (no red mark on the back).
What is the best angle for a Pinewood Derby car?
Some of the derby dads that I’ve talked to say that 1/2 to 1 degree is the way to go, just enough to get the wheels to gravitate out. I know lots of people hold 3 degrees as kind of a standard.
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. As you work through, you will use a higher number to finish your project.
Do I need to prime wheels before painting?
You need a primer. You need spray paint designed specifically for automotive wheels. And you need a clear coat finish. It matters what the wheel is made of, too.
Do you have to sand wheels before powder coating?
Do You Have to Sandblast Before Powder Coating? Sandblasting before powder coating is a necessary step to take. If you’re wondering if the metal has to be bare to powder coat it, the answer is yes. Sandblasting is the best method to clear it.
Will a brush scratch my rims?
Do wheel brushes scratch the surface of the wheel? The good ones don’t. The bristles of the brush need to be soft enough to flex against the surface so they don’t dig in and scratch the metal.
Do you have to sand rims before Plasti Dip?
No other preparation is needed other than cleaning the wheels. Sanding may just make your job more difficult, as the Plasti Dip will be harder to remove from a rough surface. Do make sure that the wheels are completely dry before moving on.
Should I glue Pinewood Derby axles?
7. 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.
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.
Can you use washers as weights for pinewood derby car?
Common steel washers can also be used. They weigh much less than a fender washer, so they are best used for trim weighting. I have also used them on a “Speed Bolt” for an aesthetic look. There are several types of hardware that can readily be used for embedded weight.
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).