2014 Pinewood Derby tips & tricks
Post date: Feb 20, 2014 7:52:02 AM
Here's my favorite website for people making a Pinewood Derby car for the first time:
Most other websites are intimidating with their ninja tips. That site has the right attitude and tells you how to make a pretty good car, which is actually pretty easy once you drop all of your adult preconceptions about how the car should look.
Once you've read that site, you can skim this page too:
http://www.boyscouttrail.com/library/pinewood-derby.asp
On a most simple level, all your son needs to do is cover the wood with stickers and drawings then tap the wheels onto the block.
Most kids will cut the block into a basic car shape, sand it smooth, and paint it. Beyond that, there are any number of things you can do to make your car look better and race faster.
The single most important factor is weight. Heavier is better. 142 grams (5 oz) is the maximum. The weight works better if it's placed towards the rear. I'm told that an ideal car will balance on a pencil placed just in front of the rear wheels.
The next most important factor is the wheels. If you look at a car from the front, the wheels should appear straight, and if you push it gently on a table it should roll straight. You should just about be able to fit a credit card between the wheel and the body. Axle nails may be filed to remove the burrs, and dry graphite powder may be used for lubrication. A good wheel will spin for about 20 seconds after being flicked.
To build a standard car you will need:
- a saw to cut the block
- coarse and fine sandpaper to smooth the edges
- paint, stickers, or other decorations
- weights to bring your car up to 5 oz.
- glue or screws to attach the weights to your car
Sandpaper can be purchased at any hardware store.
You can use whatever paint you have around the house, but most people will use model paint from a craft shop like Michael's in Westlake Shopping Center. I suggest one color of spray paint and one or two contrasting colors for your son to add details by hand. To paint the car you can lay out some newspaper, rest the car on a couple of pencils, and spray lightly around all sides. You don't have to paint the bottom.
You will want to add weight to the block because heavier cars go faster. Remember that the limit is 5 oz. (142 grams). Nickels make good weights because they are cheap. One nickel is exactly 5 grams, and you will likely need about 20 nickels. Fishing weights are also good because you can easily adjust the amount that you add. You can get fishing weights at sporting goods stores like Big 5. Another common but more expensive option is to buy weights specifically designed for Pinewood Derby cars, which you can find at craft stores like Michael's. Or, really, you can screw on any old bolts, washers, and other hardware you have lying around the house.
Finally, as you make the car please keep in mind the goal: have fun with your son and teach him to always do his best!