for graphite cars, do you still have to burnish when using Red Rocket?

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Hey folks. So I am helping this years crop of Awana racers with speed tricks, wheel & axle prep and the usual. But what I just realized is that I am out of touch with graphite. Only used it once before realizing our Awana rules dont say dry only so I have been dominating with oil.

So I know how to guide them all with prepping for an oil car but realized I am not 100% certain how to finish off wheel prep for graphite. I see Black Ice and Red Rocket is still recommended and I have enough of that all for them to use it and Ill help. However my question is this... After finishing up with Red Rocket, should we still burnish the wheels with graphite afterwards? Or just add graphite and go? Planning on Pledge for the axles too.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Jimmy

 

[Castoro Racing]

Hey folks. So I am helping this years crop of Awana racers with speed tricks, wheel & axle prep and the usual. But what I just realized is that I am out of touch with graphite. Only used it once before realizing our Awana rules dont say dry only so I have been dominating with oil.

So I know how to guide them all with prepping for an oil car but realized I am not 100% certain how to finish off wheel prep for graphite. I see Black Ice and Red Rocket is still recommended and I have enough of that all for them to use it and Ill help. However my question is this... After finishing up with Red Rocket, should we still burnish the wheels with graphite afterwards? Or just add graphite and go? Planning on Pledge for the axles too.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Jimmy

We have to run graphite and we burnished our wheels. We were pack and district champs with the fastest car in a large district. I would say definitely burnish. We also waited at least a day after applying the red rocket before burnishing to let it fully cure. There are clearly alot if other variables but it certainly didn't hurt.

 

[Pacfanweb]

I do it, but I find that the graphite doesn't stick to the Red Rocket like it does to just polished plastic. When I've burnished graphite into polished bores, they're basically black when I'm done.
When I try to burnish it into cured Red Rocket, it barely changes the color. But I guess a little gets in there.

I've heard tell of mixing graphite into the Red Rocket, then applying it like you normally do and letting it cure like that. Haven't see whether that works very well or not, though.

 

[DerbyDad4Hire]

Dont go overboard. Just put some graphite in and spin the wheel a few times.

 

[Ballistic Racing]

What John says
Work the graphite in with the red rocket,
Let it haze over, Polish out, good to go!

 

[Derrick Love]

What John says
Work the graphite in with the red rocket,
Let it haze over, Polish out, good to go!

so mix the red rocket and graphite together, cure then polish out with what? pipe cleaner

 

[Ballistic Racing]

Yes, pipe cleaner

 

[FDM]

I am helping some scouts with their cars. Nothing fancy just giving some basic tips and helping with axle holes and maybe weight pockets. Since most don't want to spend too much time on their cars I was wondering if we could still burnish standard unprepped BSA wheels with graphite/red rocket if we skip the polishing steps, or if we should just burnish the wheels with graphite and be done? Big chance that most will use unprepped axles too.

 

[Mojo Racing]

I guess my question would be.... If they are not interested in polishing wheels or axles... what are you hoping to achieve by burnishing?

If it is just not placing last, then grahite your cars a few times before the race and be done.... I wouldn't bother burnishing....

From the sounds of it, they aren't interested in going fast.

 

[FDM]

I guess my question would be.... If they are not interested in polishing wheels or axles... what are you hoping to achieve by burnishing?

If it is just not placing last, then grahite your cars a few times before the race and be done.... I wouldn't bother burnishing....

From the sounds of it, they aren't interested in going fast.

The kids want to go fast, but most parents don't care. Don't want to spend a lot of time on it. When we raced in this pack the cars which came close to us we still beat with 2-3 car lengths, so not that competitive. I am also afraid if a 3 grader would do the polishing most of the bores might end up with more scratches than before polishing. I know red rocket would be as equally risky but it is at least one step and maybe the kids/parents can have a long enough attention span to do that step. But I agree maybe just skip the burnishing too. My plan was build a car with good weight distribution, rail rider, well drilled holes, after market axles (for the ones who want to buy them) and skip the wheel bore polishing until the district race or next year if they realize they need to do more work for speed.

 

[Mojo Racing]

Have more faith in those 3rd graders abilities... I work with boys on their cars all the time, and they all do their own wheels and axles.

Just keep it slow in the polishing process in the wheels and you will be fine... You coach them, and they will be happy to show you they can do it.

You will be surprised how well they are actually listening to you.

If they want to do that. Let them go and give them the opportunity to show you what they can do and give them the whole process

 

[FDM]

Have more faith in those 3rd graders abilities... I work with boys on their cars all the time, and they all do their own wheels and axles.

Just keep it slow in the polishing process in the wheels and you will be fine... You coach them, and they will be happy to show you they can do it.

You will be surprised how well they are actually listening to you.

If they want to do that. Let them go and give them the opportunity to show you what they can do and give them the whole process

Good point. I will bring it up during our meeting and see if there is any interest from the kids/parents.