Sanding importance
- Thread starter Joanna Barker
- Start date
I'm no pro, but I don't know of any reason why you wouldn't sand the car before painting it.
I've probably seen 100+ suggestions of things that can be done to improve the speed of a pinewood derby car. I've never heard anyone suggest that rounding the sides will improve speed. I'm sure someone has an opinion, but a detail that minute is probably only going to make an impact at the very highest level. It's not going to matter for someone that's considering painting a car without sanding it.
I've probably seen 100+ suggestions of things that can be done to improve the speed of a pinewood derby car. I've never heard anyone suggest that rounding the sides will improve speed. I'm sure someone has an opinion, but a detail that minute is probably only going to make an impact at the very highest level. It's not going to matter for someone that's considering painting a car without sanding it.
Sorry, I didn't mean that I wasn't going to sand the car. I just wondered if getting the sides rounded was important. Thanks for your response.
Oh, I gotcha. Yeah, I don’t think rounding the edge’s is important. I do think it’s very important to sand or cut about 1/16” off the side of the car on the side of the front dominant wheel. Let me know if you have any questions about how to do that.
Slighting rounding the edges does give a slight aero advantage. Just look at all of the automobiles built today. I highly doubt you will notice it on a pinewood Derby car at any level below the top pros. Even then, the benefit may be negligible.
I also want to add, that if you are painting, that slightly rounding the edges has the benefit of removing the sharp corner/edge from the paint. That sharp edge is easier to chip the paint off. With kids working and handling the cars, anything you can do to reduce the potential for damage is a plus in my book. Sanding the edges is also very easy. Use a block with the paper and sand along the grain. It will cut fast even with finer paper. So start slow and use very low pressure. You will get a feel for it quickly. Remember with the grain and not across it! It will be tempting to go across on the very front and back of the car.
