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
help please
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