How do you make a pinewood derby car fast?
Bake your block. Max out your weight at the regulation 5 ounces. Use all of the graphite. Sand and polish your wheels and axles. Check alignment. Spend time sanding. Use a high-quality paint. Add decals.
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.
Should I bake my 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 perfect weight for a Pinewood Derby car?
The more your pine car weighs, the faster it will go on a downhill ramp. Most rules specify a 5 oz. maximum weight. Most Pinewood Derby cars weigh between 1.5 oz and 3.5 oz (depending on design) without weights so a car may need 3.5 oz or more of additional weight.
Is graphite legal in Pinewood Derby?
Weight of the car cannot exceed 5 ounces. 5. Liquid graphite is not allowed. See Dogwood District Pinewood Derby Rules for complete listing of all event rules.
Can a Pinewood Derby car be too heavy?
Assuming all other factors are equal, a heavier car will be faster than a lighter car. The Pinewood Derby rules limit the weight of each car to 5 ounces.
Do aerodynamics matter in Pinewood Derby?
A more aerodynamic car (but very similar for other things) doesn’t give you much bang for your buck. Friction will get you. If you can reduce the coefficient of friction by just a little bit, it will make a noticeable difference. If you let your kids do most of the work, they will gain more than a win.
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.
How do you reduce friction 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.
What is the best sandpaper for Pine?
With typical softwoods like pine and alder, start with 120 grit abrasive and finish with no finer than a 220 grit for water based stains and 180 grit for oil based stains.
How long does it take to make a pinewood derby car?
How long does it take to build a pinewood derby car? Plan on at least one day to cut and sand the car, another day to paint it and a third day to add decals and the wheels and axles.
Does a heavier Pinewood Derby car go 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.
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.
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.
Can you glue weights to Pinewood Derby car?
Epoxy can be used for attaching metal accessories to the car and, since it does not shrink when dry, it works well for gluing weight into holes or pockets. It can also be used for gluing wood to wood, but I recommend yellow, white, or tacky glue for that use.
Where is the best place to put weight on a Pinewood Derby car?
Best Location to Weight Your Pinewood Derby Car When deciding on where to weight your car, you should try to reach a final balance point of the car 1 inch or less in front of the rear axle. To achieve this, place 2/5 of the added weight behind the rear axle, and the remaining 3/5 in front of the rear axle.
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).
What is the best type of paint to use on a pinewood derby car?
High-quality, Testors-Model Master acrylic paints are easy to apply, wash up with water, and most importantly, provide a great finish for your pinewood derby car.
How thin should a pinewood derby car be?
1/4″ is thin enough. Most of my cars are 1/4″ in the rear and taper to the front. By making the car much thinner then that, you are putting yourself at risk for the car breaking. It is possible to make them thinner, but it is not really needed.
Is it possible to make an air-powered car?
Yes, with the right combination of hardware, it is possible to create an air-powered car or a water-powered car. But are the technologies good enough to replace our gasoline-powered cars? That’s a tougher question to answer.