Must Have Tools

[Obsessedderbydad]

So I know there's a lot of pros out there, but like me, there are also more first time builders. There isn't a specific page for tool talk so I wanted to start this topic for the amatuers and even the more skilled individuals out there to share their needs, wants, gotta have and would be nice to have tools. There's a lot of people looking for help or ideas on what to use so why don't we give them some ideas.

2012 Tools
Dremel
Dads 1992 craftsman scroll saw (had to use a bic pen cap because he lost the key)
A bunch of sand paper from 220 grit to 1600
Ill admit it b.c I didn't know any better, some tools from derby worx
Digital scale (must have)

2013 Tool wants
Band saw
Drill press
Work bench
New dremel with more speed options and power (complete)
"The Silver Bullet"
Tuning board
Fast track (2 or 4 lane)
Digital caliper

 

[Kinser Racing]

What's with the treadmill being a secret weapon???

Your 2013 wants are great but you want a Best Track. /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

 

[fireball]

Yup need all of that to test a fast car i have been reading up on everything

oh a tread mill so you could tune the car to drive straight

i seen people doing it on you tube thats how to make a car win i dont have any of these tools and i got lots of tools just not all the right stuff to build a fast derby car and i would need a track to test it that way when i get to the track i have tested it with other cars

i plan to get a track for sure if i build a car

my other son is going to be a cub scout and we plan to win the pinewood derby every year just like we are doing now with my 10 year old witch this will be his last championship

 

[Kinser Racing]

Sorry, but I'd never put my cars on a treadmill! /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

 

[Kinser Racing]

One more thing. You do not need a track to race here or on the scout level. It would help a lot but it's not necessary. I don't have one.

 

[jator359]

How about an air compressor, preferably 3+ gals. with blow gun attachment for blowing out wheel bores during prep and quick drying axles during prep. Cheaper in the long run than buying canned air at $3-$5 a can! I have a 3 gal pancake from HF I got for $39 with their 20% coupon.

 

[Chief]

/images/boards/smilies/nono.gif No to the treadmill/images/boards/smilies/nono.gif Kinser, once again is correct about this...dont do it!
Personally one of my favorite tools and have been using for a while and just love it is the axle bender from DD4H. That thing is just plain sweet.

 

[E.T.Racing]

Cordless or electric hand drill for prepping wheels, if you don't already have one.

AND A BIG NO TO THE TREADMILL IT WILL RUIN YOUR WHEELS!

I also do not have a track yet but when I do get one it will be a best track.

 

[Papa V Racing]

Here are my tools to build this car from where I got it at ....

Drill, hand sander, dremel, coping saw, (scroll saw, table saw - not needed but have one).

MY SECRET WEAPON - Not a tread mill ... Practice, Practice Practice ....

To do this I used these items- I do not have a silver bullet yet - It is on my list to get, someone else drilled the block using silver bullet.

This is what I used to do this car so far- Hand sander, dremel, the wheel tube and motor tube (not needed) just tried it. I got the idea from this forum...

This is my first NPWDRL CAR ... I am not a pro but I can make things and I like to try things outside of the box... To get into racing I am doing this car and when I can I will turn out some other ideas... Basics to start and R&D later ...

My son is a Scout first year ... He will also build his car using the methods I am learning from the guys on this forum ... He will use what he can and build what he can .. I know that it will be fast ...

 

[zeebzob]

That treadmill idea is just plain stupid. Dont fall for it. You will be better served with a tuning board and a Besttrack.

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

Someone explain why the treadmill is a bad idea other than saying its a bad idea. I used it this year to break I. The wheels and we took first so it worked for me

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

One more thing. You do not need a track to race here or on the scout level. It would help a lot but it's not necessary. I don't have one.

Your right, but that's why it's a want. I also meant best track but typed in fast track for some reason.

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

How about an air compressor, preferably 3+ gals. with blow gun attachment for blowing out wheel bores during prep and quick drying axles during prep. Cheaper in the long run than buying canned air at $3-$5 a can! I have a 3 gal pancake from HF I got for $39 with their 20% coupon.

Good catch on the air compressor. I do have one, but never really use it.

 

[zeebzob]

Its a lot of unneeded hassle. All you need is a flat board leveled side to side, then pitched higher on one end by about an inch. Draw a straight line down the center and give it a roll. It should steer into the rail at a rate of roughly 4 to 6 inches over 4 feet (for street stock). Also watch the rear wheels, they should move to the axle head rolling forward and backward. That's all you need. I have watched that treadmill video. I honestly thought it was a joke at first making fun of what whacked out ideas people come up with. I kept waiting for the guy to slip, fall on it and get shot across the room. Then my mouth dropped when I realized the guy was serious.

There is no need for breaking in the wheels. If using graphite, just burnish the bores with a q-tip coated in graphite, then a few spins by hand. If using oil, you're good to go.

You seem to be resistant to what people say here on this board. You need not be, especially to someone like Kinser....he's quite fast, he may just have some idea as to what he is talking about. I don't want to burst your bubble, but winning at a scout level is not all that difficult. Nearly everyone here has done it. And everyone here has taken that scout winning car, sent it in to race here and have come in last. And everyone who has done that, listened to other racers, and kept at it, are a lot faster then they ever were before.

Someone explain why the treadmill is a bad idea other than saying its a bad idea. I used it this year to break I. The wheels and we took first so it worked for me

 

[zeebzob]

You don't want the car to drive straight. It will never make it all the way down without slapping against the rail.

oh a tread mill so you could tune the car to drive straight

 

[jator359]

+1! Rail runner all the way! Unless of course you're competing on a track with no center guide. Then that's a whole other discussion thread.

You don't want the car to drive straight. It will never make it all the way down without slapping against the rail.

oh a tread mill so you could tune the car to drive straight

 

[jator359]

And I forgot to add that it eliminates paper towel and cloth lint which is a source of contamination most guys overlook that robs you of speed. Add to your list a source of magnification to inspect your axles and wheel bores. We have a 60x pocket microscope with LED--really inexpensive ($5-6 I think).

How about an air compressor, preferably 3+ gals. with blow gun attachment for blowing out wheel bores during prep and quick drying axles during prep. Cheaper in the long run than buying canned air at $3-$5 a can! I have a 3 gal pancake from HF I got for $39 with their 20% coupon.

Good catch on the air compressor. I do have one, but never really use it.

 

[IAE Racing]

If you do get a test track, be sure to set it up over your wife's bed so the neighbors can't see it.

. Sorry, not trying to poke fun at anyone, I just like that movie. Three cheers to Vdutel. Practice, practice, practice. And simple tools.

 

[IAE Racing]

On a more serious level, a well lit work area. Can't hear, my hair is falling out, can't see. every year something else quits working.

 

[5KidsRacing]

Someone explain why the treadmill is a bad idea other than saying its a bad idea. I used it this year to break I. The wheels and we took first so it worked for me

The reality is that the treadmill thing is not helping with anything. If you are addicted to pwd enough to put your car on a treadmill then you probably have done enough already to do very well at your scout pwd race. I am guessing that the treadmill made your car slower, not faster. Like Zeeb said, you don't need this huge graphite break in time like SV states and their graphite isn't the fastest. Use your finger and spin you wheels, add more graphite and repeat a few times... With a little knowledge anybody can win a scout race. There is no way you can adjust for steer with a string tied to the front of the car pulling it back towards center.... what do they say? adjust it so it pulls a little to the right?