Pinewood Derby Tips For Cub Scouts!
When building your Pinewood Derby car remember you are designing the car for speed! The two most critical things when designing your car is weight and minimal friction on the wheels when they spin. The following are some tips to help you get started. There are many ways to build a Pinewood Derby car so you must find the way that works best for you. Talk to other Cubs in the Pack and find out what they think makes up a fast car. Take your time and start your car early so you have time to finish before the Derby. Good Luck and may the fastest car win!
Design - You should design your car before you start assembling it. Draw a picture of the shape you would like it to be. Keep your design simple and keep in mind the rules, regulations and guidelines.
Body Construction - If your design calls for cutting away much of the block use a saw first, then a jackknife or other tools. Use different grades of sandpaper (coarse, medium, and fine) to finish and smooth the body. The center of the nose of the car should be broad enough so it does not slip the dowel-starting pin. To accommodate the starting pin the nose of the car should not be beveled upwards. The front of the car is the end with the wheel slot closest to the end.
Wheel Assembly - Remove burrs on the nail axles with sandpaper or emery cloth. Make it easy by fitting the nail points into an electric drill and holding the sandpaper or emery cloth against the nail while it is rotating in the drill. Sand the mold seam on the wheels making them smooth. Smooth axles and wheels make a fast car!
Wheel Clearance - To ensure clearance over the guide strip, the minimum inside clearance between the wheels must be greater then 1¾ inches and the car must be a minimum of 3/8 inches from the bottom of the body to the bottom of the wheels.
Paint and Body Finish - Paint all your body parts prior to assembly and avoid getting paint on axles or wheels. For the best finish (but not necessary), seal the wood body with sanding sealer and then use several light coats of spray paint making sure the paint dries between coats. If you wish not to use spray paint any paint will do.
Weight - Your car can not exceed 5 ounces! Your car weighs about 2 to 3 ounces out of the box prior to you assembling it. To make your car fast you want to be as close to the 5-ounce limit as possible. You will have to add weight to make it close to 5 ounces. You can use fishing weights, solder shot, coins, or weights purchased at a Cub Scout supplier.