Removing the outer step

[CTDerbyDad]

Your so very right but to deprive a kid of running his car because dad had to win? I would suggest keeping a race ready set of wheels an axles handy. I just can't find myself to be the bad guy is all. I'm sure that's not what you want either, just saying.

Our plan is to let any car run. If a car is clearly illegal, we'll pull the parent aside and let them know the times won't count. I highly, highly doubt this will happen. For one reason, we would need indisputable proof before even being willing to enter that minefield. Like I said, I doubt it will happen, but that's the plan if it does.

We will also be offering an option to tech the night before, so hopefully anything that needs to be fixed to comply.

And, we have spare axles with burrs removed and stock wheels on hand. I had a completely race ready wedge car one year in case a car just couldn't make it through tech.

 

[BulldogRacing]

O.k I'm not a vendor, neither is your buddy down the street with a lathe, so make sure not to confuse the rule making, you may say I'm running vendor wheels when in fact my son trued them himself on the lathe. It's a slippery one, LOL.

 

[Rebel Racer]

You are so very right. It could be very hard to determine a vendor wheel from a scout wheel if they do them well. I think it's safe to say the average scout turning there wheels would have some sort of chatter marks .We've tried many times with the Dw mini lathe. Most ending up looking worse than when out of the box lol. I think I read somewhere that you used one and had similar results. I've also seen some you tubers attempt it on a drill press. I'm sure that has its flaws as well!
Thank you for your insight. I guess I'm going to owe you guys a proxy car for all your great advice. Just don't laugh at my wheels!

 

[CTDerbyDad]

I've also seen some you tubers attempt it on a drill press. I'm sure that has its flaws as well!

We've done the drill press method and have had very mixed results. We've had a couple of sets come out great, but sometimes no matter what we try, it seems like we're just damaging the wheels--pulling the plastic apart instead of sanding it smooth.

I was about to buy the DW Wheel shaver. Hoping for good results.

 

[Rebel Racer]

We've done the drill press method and have had very mixed results. We've had a couple of sets come out great, but sometimes no matter what we try, it seems like we're just damaging the wheels--pulling the plastic apart instead of sanding it smooth.

I was about to buy the DW Wheel shaver. Hoping for good results.

It takes some practice using and you could go through a number of wheels before getting good at it. I'm not saying you should or shouldn't nor is it my place but we've had some success with it. If you do decide to try it sharpen the knife often. It seems to help!

 

[Vitamin K]

It takes some practice using and you could go through a number of wheels before getting good at it. I'm not saying you should or shouldn't nor is it my place but we've had some success with it. If you do decide to try it sharpen the knife often. It seems to help!

I have the Wheel Shaver. I have a few issues with it:

- The blade does require constant sharpening. You want to be taking off wafer-thin sections of material on each pass.
- I'm not thrilled with the pressure that gets applied to the bore of the wheel by the pressure of the blade. Seems like a good recipe for potentially getting it out of round.
- The pin is just an "approximate-fit" for any given bore. While the pressure of the blade might keep it true, I don't like the amount of play that exists.
- If you sharpen the blade, be absolutely certain that the blade stays square, otherwise you'll shave a taper into the wheels.
- It is ridiculously easy to dig the blade too far into the wheel and ruin it.

Possible solutions:

- Keep the blade sharp (as mentioned above).
- Put a foil-tape "sleeve" over the pin before inserting the wheel to remove any wobble. This could also potentially help protect the bore during shaving.
- Check the roundness of your bores by doing a spin-test before and after shaving the wheel. If you introduce more wobble, chuck the wheel.

Just speaking for us personally, I've shelved the shaver, and my kids and I just buy a few extra tubes of wheels and test them all for roundness and spin before selecting them for the current crop of derby cars.

 

[Rebel Racer]

Yes I agree Vk. Another issue I had with it was that the blade shucked back and forth slightly. Dw's fix for this was to remove the blade from the fixture and put a slight bow in it.

 

[BulldogRacing]

The only thing w wheel shaver is good for is slowing down your competition who actually use the mess. I hate that thing, can you tell? LOL.

 

[BulldogRacing]

Every year I help any scout and dad who wants to learn about the lathe process and the speed gained by using popper tools. The boys move the wheels on the lathe and take a ton of pride in the cut wheels. They never roll the cars on the gym floor after the race either, LOL.

 

[King Racing]

The only thing w wheel shaver is good for is slowing down your competition who actually use the mess. I hate that thing, can you tell? LOL.

I agree with Bulldog...