Powdered graphite is an excellent lubricant to reduce friction on pinewood derby axles.
Where do you put the graphite on 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. Don’t mix graphite and Oil.
What does graphite lube do?
It creates a quick drying film that provides long-lasting lubrication. It’s recommended as a general maintenance lubricant on gaskets, transfer belts and conveyor belts. Also for use for high temperature, low load, locks, rollers, wheels, gears, chains and hoists.
What makes a pinewood derby car go faster?
High-carbon graphite is used to lubricate the wheels of a Pinewood Derby car for increased speed and performance.
How much does graphite help Pinewood Derby car?
Our graphite speed tests have shown a . 544 second increase in car speed just by applying graphite to the axles. This is why graphite has been used to lubricate pinewood derby axles since the very first races in the 1950’s.
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.
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.
Can you use graphite in ignition?
Graphite lube is a great trick to unstick ignitions and door locks. Sometimes, when the steering wheel locks, you will have a hard time turning the key. In the heat of the moment frustrations take over and we can get a little rough turning the key and damage can occur.
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.
Is graphite better than oil?
The greatest benefit to using graphite (rather than oil) is that the graphite leaves no sticky residue that may later attract dust. This is because the lubricating properties of graphite lie in its weak covalent bonds that allow the layers of graphite to “slide” on top of one another with very little resistance.
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).
Is graphite better than grease?
Graphite as a Lubricant
Solid or dry lubricants reduce the force of friction between sliding surfaces. The most significant advantage of graphite over oil-based lubricant is that it doesn’t leave sticky residues that accumulate debris or dust.
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.
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.
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.
Does graphite help motor oil?
“Graphite increases the ability of engines to run successfully, even if they’re running slightly low on oil,” he says. One application of Krex Graphite Engine Lubricant® protects a vehicle for six months or 5,000 miles. In a typical vehicle, oil drips down into the pan after you turn the engine off.
Will graphite reduce friction?
The lamellar structure of graphite makes it ideal to reduce friction. In the friction process, solid graphite lubricant can be transferred onto the surface of the counterpart to prevent the direct contact between the metals and the occurrence of adhesion and scuffing.
How do you reduce drag 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.
Can you go over graphite with charcoal?
You can use pencil and charcoal together but there are things you want to be mindful of. Charcoal applied over pencil works much better than the reverse. Also, charcoal works better over hard H-grade pencils than it does over soft B-grade pencils. White charcoal does not work well over graphite.
What do you blend graphite with?
Blending Tortillions and Stumps
Both are used for blending the graphite pencil. Tortillions are spiralwound pieces of paper that are good for small areas. Stumps are paper pressed and formed into the shape of a pencil. They are pointed on both ends and work well for blending large areas.
What are the effects of graphite?
Effects of overexposure Repeated inhalation of natural graphite over a number of years may cause scarring of the lungs with such symptoms as chest tightness, shortness of breath, cough, black sputum, and pain. Natural graphite dust causes graphite pneumoconiosis.