Making and using a tuning board

[rpenning1970]

I have a mirros that is about 8-10 inches wide and 3-4 feet long. I have plenty of scrap wood. I was going to build a frame to put the mirror in and then using it as a tuning board. I really would like to have the big nice set up I see some people have but due to money and space that is not an option. What marks should I place on the mirror and what is the best thing to do that with. How high should the raised end be lifted up and what all are the things I am looking for with this board, I understand drift is one, seeing if the rear wheels migrate out when rolling forward. What else? I have some time this weekend to do this and what to try today to build this if I can.

 

[TRE]

I put line down the center and marks evey inch and just raised up enough to get car rolling

 

[GravityX]

Place marks across the bottom edge of the mirror in 1 inch increments. Start your car on either the left or right side, depending on which side has the DFW. Square car up as best as possible at the top edge of the mirror before releasing. The slope only needs to be enough to allow the car to roll to the bottom edge you just marked out. You may want to place something down at the bottom edge to prevent the car from rolling off, or you can chase the car after you release it to prevent this. In a pinch I use a 4' long x 1' wide mirror with a DVD case laid flat to prop the top edge, it's enough to allow the car to roll completely to the other end without too much speed.

 

[92hatchattack]

I was just coming online to ask this very question. So I hope you dont mind me jumping in on this too. Why is it important to use glass or a mirror? Are they just generaly perfectly flat?

 

[MOFAST]

5kids website has free plans for a 4 foot tuning board. I used them and made one for our pack, worked great! It even has a decal to print and place under the glass.

Glass- bought at Ace Hardware and cut $11
MDF board 8 foot 12 inches wide by 1 inch thick $8 Lowes
The decal printed at Office Depot on plain white paper $4.75 This goes under the glass.
Just use screws or glue you have around the house. Took less than an hour to make.

If you really want to go cheap, go to your local thrift shops and buy a framed picture that is the right size. Most are like $3, either steal the glass from that or just put the decal under the glass and use the picture frame. I wanted a more professional looking one so I built a frame.

We had much faster cars at our PWD this year because of the tuning board. We had a lot of cars go from high 3.1x range to around 3.07, these from parents who are not serious builders. The kids liked it to. The kids that won at our Derby were the ones whose parents used the board.

 

[down4derby]

Glass is smooth and easy to tell if its clean. Glass is also more audible so you can listen to what your wheels are doing. Quiet is good.

 

[92hatchattack]

^^^ Very cool. I didnt actually find the plans to build one on his site, but I found the graphic. I think the cub scout one but I think I want to have my passenger side wheel the DFW. I wonder if I could mirror the image in photoshop? Or I can use his larger graphic that has both sides which may be best since I can share it with the whole pack and it will work regardless of which side they make their DFW. I love how he has it setup so that you can cut it to whatever length you want.

It is very cool of him to offer all of his information for free. Thanks to all of you it should be fairly easy and super cheap to make a great tuning board for next year! Thank you all!

Question, what advantages do building a longer tuning board have? Just more acurate?

 

[OPARENNEN]

Does anyone know where I can get a very nice looking 8 foot graphic for a tuning board?

I know DD4H has a 6' one, but it would look weird under the glass of an 8" board.

 

[GravityX]

Here is the other graphic on his site that allows for either a left or right side DFW.

 

[OPARENNEN]

Here is the other graphic on his site that allows for either a left or right side DFW.

Thanks for the lead. It's exactly what I wanted.
But using this picture, how would I get it printed on some kind of substance (not thin paper), to slip under the glass?

 

[GravityX]

I believe if you copied the graphic onto a thumb drive and went to the local print shop, Staples, Office Depot or some place like that, they could print out size you want on just about any kind of paper.

 

[MOFAST]

They can print it on vinyl but it was crazy expensive. The paper looks nice.

I did take my copy on a thumb drive, took less than 5 minutes at office Depot. I don't see the need for a bigger board. One thing, I did mine on MDF and it is very heavy.

 

[Guest]

Here is the other graphic on his site that allows for either a left or right side DFW.

Thanks for the lead. It's exactly what I wanted.
But using this picture, how would I get it printed on some kind of substance (not thin paper), to slip under the glass?

Hey Opa,

If you want some thicker than paper print outs, the cheap and effective way to do it is to:

PRint out onto paper and Super 77 spray glue it to whatever. If the material is easy to cut with a knife then just stick it down and cut around it. For wood etc. it takes 2 people to position it in place.

 

[92hatchattack]

^^^ And that glue wont wrinkle over time? I know I've glued paper to things in the past and they look fine at first but like 2 months down the line the paper would wrinkle. Never tried a spray adhesive though.

Thanks!

 

[rpenning1970]

I got my tuning board built, it is a mirror that is 54 inches long and 14 inches wide. I am not sure on how to mark the mirror, what do I use, I am afraid a marker will just rub off, will pinstriping work? I need some ideas.

 

[Kinser Racing]

Permanent Sharpie does not wear off of a mirror easily. It will come off but it will take quite awhile.

 

[Spirit Racing]

Use blue painters tape. Has worked for me in the past....SPIRIT.....Start car just off the tape line as your starting point.