Tuesday, January 7, 2014

PINEWOOD DERBY BUILDER DIMENSION TIPS



 
 
 
 

PINEWOOD SPEEDWAY BUILDER NOTES:

1.       AXLE HOLES SHOULD BE DRILLED 1/8 INCH HIGH FROM BASE OF CAR.  IF USING A FLOATING WHEEL, PLACE IT 3/16 OF AN INCH FROM BASE OF CAR.

2.       AXLE HOLES SHOULD BE DRILLED 5/8 O AN INCH FROM FRONT AND REAR OF CAR FOR EXTENDED WHEELBASE.

3.       DRILL HOLES WITH A #44 DRILL BIT (.0860 INCH DIAMETER).  CAN USE 5/64 DRILL BIT (.0781 INCH DIAMETER) IF YOU DON’T HAVE A #44 BIT.  ACTUAL NAIL WIDTH IS .086 TO .088 INCH.  A #43 DRILL BIT (.0890 INCH DIAMETER) CAN BE USED TO REAM THE AXLE HOLE IF THE AXLE IS TOO TIGHT TO INSERT.  DON’T USE A #42 DRILL BIT (.0935 INCH DIAMETER) OR A 3/32 INCH DRILL BIT (.0938 INCH DIAMETER) AS THEY ARE TOO BIG AND THE AXLE WILL SLIDE OUT TOO EASILY.  #44 BITS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM HOME DEPOT OR LOWES.  THE BIGGER HOME IMPROVEMENT STORES ONLY CARRY 5/64 BITS WHICH ARE A LITTLE TOO SMALL TO DRILL GOOD AXLE HOLES.

4.      THE BACK OF THE CAR SHOULD BE ¾ INCH TALL IF USING TUNGSTEN CYLINDERS TO WEIGH THE CAR.

5.       USE A 25/64 DRILL BIT (.3906 INCH DIAMETER) FOR TUNGSTEN CYLINDERS TO SLIDE IN EASILY.

6.       THE FRONT OF CAR SHOULD BE ¼ TO 3/8 INCHES TALL SO IT PROVIDES ENOUGH ROOM TO DRILL THE FRONT AXLE HOLES. 

7.       CAR SHOULD TURN ONE TO TWO INCHES OVER 5 FEET TO RAIL RIDE. 

8.       5 OUNCE MAXIMUM WEIGHT.

9.       PINEWOOD SPEEDWAY TRACK ALLOWS UP TO 6 INCHES IN HEIGHT WITHOUT HITTING THE FINISH LINE AS OUR FINISH LINE IS TALLER THAN MANY TO ALLOW FOR TALLER CAR DESIGNS WITH WINGS AND TALL FINS, ETC.

If you are in the Ogden, Utah area, please stop by and see the Pinewood Speedway.  See how fast your car is on our 49 foot aluminum track!  www.pinewoodspeedway.com

 


Monday, January 6, 2014

PINEWOOD DERBY AXLE DRILL SIZE



What size drill bit is best suited for drilling new axle holes on a Pinewood Derby style car?

The actual axle nail in 2014 measures .086 to .088 inches in diameter.  Home Depot and Lowes carry kits and bits with 5/64 and 3/32 sizes.  They do not carry drill sizes #47 to #42.  3/32 is much too big and provides no resistance to the axle.  It will simply fall out.  5/64 is slightly too small to be ideal, but if you are in a pinch it will provide a hole that you can push an axle into with a pair of pliers.  A #44 bit is ideal as it drills an actual hole that is slightly smaller than .0860, allowing for a nice, snug fit, and the axle can be inserted with firm thumb pressure.
  
DRILL SIZE
INCHES
MM
NOTES
5/64
.0781
1.984
AVAILABLE AT MOST HARDWARE STORES.  VERY TIGHT FIT, CAN ONLY INSERT WITH PLIERS.  USE THIS SIZE IF YOU CAN’T GET A #44 DRILL BIT.
#47
.0785
1.994
 
#46
.0810
2.057
 
#45
.0820
2.083
 
#44
.0860
2.184
NOT AVAILABLE AT LOWES OR HOME DEPOT.   WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE ORDERED OFF THE INTERNET.  PROVIDES A REALLY GOOD, SNUG FIT, CAN INSERT WITH FIRM THUMB PRESSURE
#43
.0890
2.261
CAN BE USED TO BORE OUT HOLE WITH A PIN VICE, NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PILOT HOLE WITH DRILL
#42
.0935
2.375
HOLE IS TOO WIDE AND AXLE WILL FALL OUT
3/32
.0938
2.380
AVAILABLE AT MOST HARDWARE STORES.  HOLE IS TOO WIDE AND AXLE WILL FALL OUT

If you are in the Ogden, Utah area, please stop by and see the Pinewood Speedway.  See how fast your car is on our 49 foot aluminum track!  www.pinewoodspeedway.com