What kind of wood is used for pinewood derby cars?
Pine – Any of a variety of soft, light-colored woods used for pinewood derby kits. Ponderosa Pine – A soft western pine. Sugar Pine – A soft, western pine noted for a sweet smell. White Pine – A soft eastern pine.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Can a pinewood derby car have 3 wheels?
You may sand the wheels to remove the seam or other imperfections on the surface, but the profile may not be changed (i.e. you can’t make the wheel width thinner). c. Cars can run with 3 wheels touching the track, but the 4th must be installed.
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.
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.
Should you sand Pinewood Derby wheels?
The hub can be coned using a lathe, a rotary tool or drill press with a grinder bit, or a special hub tool for pinewood derby wheels. When the plastic has been removed, the hub surface should be sanded first with #220 and then #400 sandpaper and buffed with a plastic polish.
Should a pinewood derby car be light or heavy?
8. Add Weight: Remember to make your Pinewood Derby car as heavy as the rules allow. In general, it’s best to place weight to the rear of your car because a heavier rear increases speed.
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.
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.
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.
Is Pinewood cheaper than plywood?
It is made by gluing together plywood layers, also called veneers. Softwood plywood is a type of plywood created from various types of softwood. See the difference between timber and lumber. Pines are considered to be a softwood, lightweight and less expensive.
What are the disadvantages of Pinewood?
Pine wood scratches and dents easily. Pine wood is knotty. Need regular maintenance. Poor weather resistance. Difficult to stain. Darken with age. Too many movements of the wood.
What is a good time for a pinewood derby car?
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).
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.
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.
What is the best shape for a pinewood derby car?
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.