Since the NPWDRL is stepping up........

[OPARENNEN]

I built a table almost identical to the one above,except that my craftsmanship on the frame was not nearly so good. However I have some important suggestions, make your table eight feet long. Don't be tempted to use four feet. That extra 4 feet is very meaningful, especially if you have a test track to use as you adjust the steer. Secondly, I secured the glass on mine so I could store the table on its side or end. 3rd,I put a piece of foam at the end, so the car would bounce back, so when comparing two cars in the same class, I can get an idea which car will probably be worth spending more tuning time on. I.e., the one that bounces back the furthest will likely be the best. Third, I installed four height adjustment brackets on the four corners so I am sure the table is absolutely level, side to side. Fourth, I did draw a line down the middle with a Sharpie, which I use when tuning ELIM and UNLM cars. As an aside, I raise the front end of the table two inches, which I find best so the cars don't roll too swiftly.

I would of loved to have an eight foot table but I'm short on space. Six feet was all I could squeeze in and still walk around it.
Good idea on the bounce back! When I have the table apart for finishing I'll have to sketch in a rebound gauge.
Can you elaborate on how you use the Sharpie line or is it a secret? /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif
I wasn't sure how much pitch to put on it, I went with 0.5 degrees (about a half inch over six feet more or less). It rolls pretty slow. I might need to add a little more. That could be why my observed steer changed? I was using more pitch on the old MDF board. Maybe I was getting a little more side slip with the steeper pitch?

Re. space. That is why I secure the glass and use levelers. I put up the table when I need it, and then store it by standing it on it's end.
Sharpy line: My table is 24 inches wide. I stage the cars on one side or the other for SS and SP and SR becaue the drift is greater than 12 inches. For ELIM and UNLM cars the drift is less than 12 inches, so I just used a long ruler, and drew a line on top of the glass from front to rear. The sharpy works on glass just fine. However, you could have drawn the line on the 5kids banner under the glass. Also, because of the shape of some of my cars, I also used a Sharpy to draw lines on the staging area of the table and put small dots on the cars to be staged, both front and rear, to line up with the sharpy lines.

 

[OPARENNEN]

I did draw a line down the middle with a Sharpie, which I use when tuning ELIM and UNLM cars.

Cool idea...

As an aside, I raise the front end of the table two inches, which I find best so the cars don't roll too swiftly.

You ARE speaking of an 8' tuning board and NOT a 4' tuning board, correct? 2" over 4' is a speed track.

Yes, 8 feet. However, there is nothing sacred about 2". Just make the height so your car rolls at the desired speed, then keep the height sacred from that point on.

 

[Eliminator Racing]

Great looking table! I have been using MDF on the countertop. I have limited space and was thinking of making a tuning table a foot wide do you guys think that would work?

Craig

Craig, If you'll click on the tuning board graphic link I posted, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click on the last download I think you'll find what you need. I believe that one is about a foot wide.

Thanks BR, I think I will get the larger size and split down the middle since I drift to the left. Looks like the scout size drift to the right.

 

[cycrunner]

That's awesome! Great craftsmanship.

It's okay if you don't have a great tuning board. As long as your tuning on the same board you won't have any problems.

I agree with Kinser - The steer numbers really don't matter if you use the steer that produces the fastest time on your track.

 

[OPARENNEN]

That's awesome! Great craftsmanship.

It's okay if you don't have a great tuning board. As long as your tuning on the same board you won't have any problems.

I agree with Kinser - The steer numbers really don't matter if you use the steer that produces the fastest time on your track.

Assuming that your track is absolutely level, side to side.
I had trouble a year ago, when I discovered that my track had two points where the track was not level Solved it by putting levelers ( something like this [ with the side screwed to both sides of the tracks wooden boards, and a bolt thru the top and bottom horizontal ends)

 

[The Iceman]

I was thinking of making one but I wanted it very mobile. So I thought of a 4' with the graphics on both sides but reversed.