Woods!

[Kinser Racing]

It's been awhile since I checked in, but I'll fill you in on all the different woods I tried over the years. Of course I have done the Sugar Pine, yellow Pine and White Pine and John's blocks always worked for me. Then I got into doing sugar pine frames with carbon fiber and that was really fast. I then started getting some wood samples from Banjo and ended up doing cars out of Walnut, Mahogany, Cherry and Purpleheart. Cherry worked really well and was a beautiful finish. A good friend from the NC mountains worked at a saw mill and picked me out some really nice Basswood. It was super light ans very strong. I liked it a lot. I ended up making my last few cars with cedar and they where the best looking cars and ended up being my fastest. Just a few tidbits of some different ones I tried.

It's good to hear from you John. Thanks for that info. Definitely some good stuff there, and it keeps the wheels rolling, literally and figuratively! /images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif

 

[IAE Racing]

When I got a piece of basswood to make fenders, I thought it could make a nice car body. I like the fenders I make out of the basswood better then balsa, but they're heavier.

I did however make a SP for Nats last year out of oak (felt like doing something different). Car was pretty with out paint, Kinser. But slow. DD4H an 5Kids figured I had a bad drill due to being hard wood. It was obviously heavier wood so I sanded down to 3/16 and a wasp shape till it had the same weight as a SS before fenders -around .35 to.4 ozs. It was slower but there were several other things that could have contributed.

I saw a youtube vid with SW making a car body out of poplar. Seems logical, it's light.

I have often looked through Woodcraft catalogue at different woods and thought -gee that would be cool. Between cost and wanting to build a fast car, I haven't ventured past the oak experiment.

 

[Rocket car]

As a woodworker I make my cars out of everything. Yes even beer cans. My latest car (Wally nut) #40 on side show, is made out of book matched walnut with a basswood frame. I use the basswood because it's strong and light and the walnut on the top is beautiful. Unfortunately this picture is not the best.

 

[Guest]

Here is a sound board fully braced and tuned to sound how I want it.

If you would like to see more pics of the construction process, here is a link to the pics of that:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49539199@N06/sets/72157632630382300/

Tony,
You are no joke!
Great work!

Thanks,

 

[Tony_in_NYC]

Thanks Laserman. I do my best. I appreciate the kind words!
Rocket car...that is a nice looking car! I love walnut. Built a few guitars out of it. Beautiful stuff.

 

[Kinser Racing]

It really is nice work Tony! /images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif

 

[Guest]

As a woodworker I make my cars out of everything. Yes even beer cans. My latest car (Wally nut) #40 on side show, is made out of book matched walnut with a basswood frame. I use the basswood because it's strong and light and the walnut on the top is beautiful. Unfortunately this picture is not the best.

Oh my goodness!

Now that is pretty!

 

[jator359]

CG - If I remember correctly from another forum that cedar build you made was named Cedar Waxwing, with the blue shoes and tung oil finish...man! That was a thing of beauty! It inspired me to run to Woodcraft to pick up some red cedar and carve out a few bodies. That's when I started questioning the adage of pretty doesn't win races. And fast doesnt always have to mean planks.

It's been awhile since I checked in, but I'll fill you in on all the different woods I tried over the years. Of course I have done the Sugar Pine, yellow Pine and White Pine and John's blocks always worked for me. Then I got into doing sugar pine frames with carbon fiber and that was really fast. I then started getting some wood samples from Banjo and ended up doing cars out of Walnut, Mahogany, Cherry and Purpleheart. Cherry worked really well and was a beautiful finish. A good friend from the NC mountains worked at a saw mill and picked me out some really nice Basswood. It was super light ans very strong. I liked it a lot. I ended up making my last few cars with cedar and they where the best looking cars and ended up being my fastest. Just a few tidbits of some different ones I tried.

 

[Guest]

Yup. I like that Poplar idea.

That is gonna be the next one I build.

I have pretty much built it only out of Bass, but I am realizing the limitations of consistency.

I think if the wood has a bit of grain it increases it's strength considerably.

Pine has some sap in it that weighs it down though. (Also rough on the tools)

 

[Carolina Gravity]

 

[Carolina Gravity]

Was trying to post an old pic of that car but can't seem to figure out how to attach a photo.

 

[Kinser Racing]

To post a pic, use the little tree icon on the top and paste in your direct link url from photobucket. I hope that helps, I'd like to see the car again. /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

 

[IAE Racing]

Here's a car I made from red oak. Pretty, aero, even though oak is much denser that pine, it was still light, but it was only 3/16 at it's thickest. It had a bad drill though so it was slow. At the time, I was burnout and I was inspired by this at the time.

 

[Kinser Racing]

Very cool!

 

[MBL Racing]

Just curious if you guys are using a router for these harder woods. I tried a poplar block and got it drilled fine but was putting a hurting on my dremel router bit while doing weight pockets

 

[Rocket car]

Just curious if you guys are using a router for these harder woods. I tried a poplar block and got it drilled fine but was putting a hurting on my dremel router bit while doing weight pockets

The harder the wood it will typically leave a lot of burn marks. Try an end mill, it will be better. I use a drill press. It's easier and cuts to the perfect depth every time.

 

[Guest]

Here's a car I made from red oak. Pretty, aero, even though oak is much denser that pine, it was still light, but it was only 3/16 at it's thickest. It had a bad drill though so it was slow. At the time, I was burnout and I was inspired by this at the time.

Beauty!

 

[IAE Racing]

Thanks Joe.

 

[B_Regal Racing]

Has anyone ever tried Paulownia wood? It is suppose to be lighter and stronger than Balsa, which is supposedly one of the strongest woods per weight there is.

 

[cycrunner]

I initially chose Basswood for my cars because it is one of the favorite woods used by wood carvers. Most of my cars are made from it and I like it very much. I also have used Walnut, and Walnut with Purple Heart laminations.