Couple questions about wheel bore prep

N

NewDerbyDad

0
Mar 17, 2013
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Hi guys,

So glad I found this site - what a wealth of information! I have a couple of newbie questions here on wheel bore polishing that I was hoping I could get some help with:

1 - Using the DD4H polishing kit - On step 1 using the hand drill and q-tip. The instructions say very low speed - are we talking about being able to count the revolutions kind of slow? I was testing on some scrap wheels and if I have the drill on torque setting, and gently squeeze the trigger, I can pretty much count as the chuck goes round. Is that correct?

2 - Would you go with a new Q-Tip for each wheel or can 1 do a whole set?

3 - When you get to the Red Rocket step - you still use the drill, just with the applicators and at a slightly higher speed correct?

4 - When it comes time to burnish the graphite - do you use Q-Tips again for that or one of those over-fluffy pipe cleaners?

5 - When you get to this stage, do you generally complete everything at once? In other words, since I'm doing most of the work after dinners with my son, we do a little each night. Would it be bad to polish the axles on night, then let them sit for a couple days till after we did wheel bore prep, and then wait another night to burnish and install or should we do wheel bore polish, axle polish, burnish, install all in one sitting somewhat close to race day (leaving time to tune of course)

Thanks so much for the help. I look forward to the day I can contribute as well!
 
NewDerbyDad said:
Hi guys,

So glad I found this site - what a wealth of information! I have a couple of newbie questions here on wheel bore polishing that I was hoping I could get some help with:

1 - Using the DD4H polishing kit - On step 1 using the hand drill and q-tip. The instructions say very low speed - are we talking about being able to count the revolutions kind of slow? I was testing on some scrap wheels and if I have the drill on torque setting, and gently squeeze the trigger, I can pretty much count as the chuck goes round. Is that correct?

Very slow, lots of squealing noise.... this is something that takes some practice, but is not difficult. The urge is too go fast with lots of polish in the bore with no squealing, but to do it well is exactly the opposite.

2 - Would you go with a new Q-Tip for each wheel or can 1 do a whole set?

Personally I use a new one for each bore....

3 - When you get to the Red Rocket step - you still use the drill, just with the applicators and at a slightly higher speed correct?

No drill, no q-tip, just apply with applicator and let dry...

4 - When it comes time to burnish the graphite - do you use Q-Tips again for that or one of those over-fluffy pipe cleaners?

There are many methods for burnishing, some use q-tip/drill, some use a drill and fluffy pipe cleaners, I use a polished pin and manually roll the wheel...

5 - When you get to this stage, do you generally complete everything at once? In other words, since I'm doing most of the work after dinners with my son, we do a little each night. Would it be bad to polish the axles on night, then let them sit for a couple days till after we did wheel bore prep, and then wait another night to burnish and install or should we do wheel bore polish, axle polish, burnish, install all in one sitting somewhat close to race day (leaving time to tune of course)

You can do everything at your own pace.... I do it with my kids over a few weeks before the race.

Thanks so much for the help. I look forward to the day I can contribute as well!
Click to expand...
 
sorry to tag on to this thread....

I am in a rush and cant get a polishing kit in time, I did see in a another post something about using pledge on axles? Do you guys really do that or was it a inside joke?

Also I have polished the wheel bores with novus #2 that I had at the house, is there something readily available at a parts store that is better, or is there another step, wax etc that I could be doing.
 
Not to hijack the thread, but I have a bore prep question that is along these lines:

Just how long do you guys recommend you polish the bore with the Q-tip? A few seconds? A minute? "Until it's shiny"?

Reason I ask, I watched a video of someone doing it, might have been Spacewalker actually, and he did exactly what I do: Q-tip stem in a drill. Polish in the bore. But he ran it for darn near 2 minutes straight before stopping.

Does it take that long? I usually go about 15-20 seconds, and wondering if I should go longer.
 
Thanks again everyone. Its the day before the pack race and my mind is racing still!

Did I do everything right? I have about 4.5" over 4' is that too much? Did I use enough graphite? Should I go just add a tad more? Oh no did I add too much? Should I spin the wheels? Should I try the treadmill? (Just kidding - I at least know that much lol!)

Serious thanks to all the folks who contributed to my question as well as to everyone else. Can't wait till tomorrow, but at the very least, had a great time with my son trying to apply everything we've learned!

Thanks!
 
You might want to arrive a little early- and both of you visit the facilities. You sound wound up tighter than a $2 watch.
lol
 
5KidsRacing said:
Pledge is used on axles to speed up graphite.... no joke...

Polish the wheel bores with Novus 2, drill & q-tip stem then, in a pinch, you can use LiquidGlass found at Auto parts stores to wax the bores. It won't be as fast as Red Rocket, but faster than nothing.
Click to expand...

Now my head is spinning, I bought turtle wax for the wheel bores, but should I use LiquidGlass? I'm ordering Red Rocket, but it won't be here in time.

The crazy thing is that I'm rushed when I started out with plenty of time (or so I thought), but after finding this site so many methods are different (or different products as the case may be) that I'm racing to be able to race (cheezy pun I know)
 
1reason said:
5KidsRacing said:
Pledge is used on axles to speed up graphite.... no joke...

Polish the wheel bores with Novus 2, drill & q-tip stem then, in a pinch, you can use LiquidGlass found at Auto parts stores to wax the bores. It won't be as fast as Red Rocket, but faster than nothing.
Click to expand...

Now my head is spinning, I bought turtle wax for the wheel bores, but should I use LiquidGlass? I'm ordering Red Rocket, but it won't be here in time.

The crazy thing is that I'm rushed when I started out with plenty of time (or so I thought), but after finding this site so many methods are different (or different products as the case may be) that I'm racing to be able to race (cheezy pun I know)
Click to expand...

Liquid Glass or the 3M synthetic polish.
 
ok guys newbie here, regarding wheel bore prep, I have cut the q-tip ends off and put polish in the bore and on the shaft. I typically use a dremel. Am I wrong using this tool? It seems to be such a tight fit you would think it would make the bore bigger. I am just a bsa dad. I have ruined a few wheels by taking out to much plastic. What am I doing wrong. help!
 
whitaker717 said:
ok guys newbie here, regarding wheel bore prep, I have cut the q-tip ends off and put polish in the bore and on the shaft. I typically use a dremel. Am I wrong using this tool? It seems to be such a tight fit you would think it would make the bore bigger. I am just a bsa dad. I have ruined a few wheels by taking out to much plastic. What am I doing wrong. help!
Click to expand...
 
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