Search found 47 matches
- Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:16 pm
- Forum: Commercial
- Topic: 20' Test Track
- Replies: 4
- Views: 12752
Re: 20' Test Track
I know this is an old topic, but I'll put in my 2cents anyway. Testing a car at a slower speed that a 2 foot height offers is actually much more informative than testing at full speed, as it allows one to see exactly what the car is doing. Is it riding the rail consistently? Is it banging the rail, ...
- Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:44 am
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Mini-Lathe on sale
- Replies: 2
- Views: 3488
Mini-Lathe on sale
For all the nuts out there that insist on turning wheels to within thousandths:
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?Offe ... ct=Details
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?Offe ... ct=Details
- Sat May 10, 2008 1:37 pm
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Nickel plating: stainless steel vs. zinc
- Replies: 9
- Views: 9786
Re: Nickel plating: stainless steel vs. zinc
The plating process won't work unless you are bonding to bare metal.
I don't think the weight would be a factor-All the wheels and the axles together account for about .6 oz of the whole car.
I don't think the weight would be a factor-All the wheels and the axles together account for about .6 oz of the whole car.
- Sat May 10, 2008 8:28 am
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Nickel plating: stainless steel vs. zinc
- Replies: 9
- Views: 9786
Re: Nickel plating: stainless steel vs. zinc
If you use the zinc-plated axles in the BSA kit, the zinc needs to be taken off before you nickel-plate the axle. This can be done by soaking them in a mild solution of muriatic acid, or spending countless hours sanding the zinc off of each axle. I wouldn't recommend either practise to a cub scout. ...
- Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:17 pm
- Forum: Do-It-Yourself
- Topic: Talk Me Out Of This Test Track
- Replies: 16
- Views: 29645
Re: Talk Me Out Of This Test Track
If you have a tablesaw, I recommend 1-1/2" wide by 3/4" MDF trim & rip the thickness down to 1/4". That way, you get factory edges for the wheelguides. If the car is out of alignment, its out of alignment. If its aligned, the car will run good no matter how wide the lane guide is.
- Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:06 pm
- Forum: Do-It-Yourself
- Topic: Lane Guide Edges
- Replies: 4
- Views: 11480
Re: Lane Guide Edges
I use 3/4 x 1/1/2 inch MDF trim, ripped in half to net 1/4 x 1-1/2 pieces. The sawn edge faces down onto the track surface. That way, The wheels end up rubbing on factory edges. To answer your question, the edges need to be fairly smooth, as any saw marks will create inequalities from lane to lane. ...
- Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:23 am
- Forum: Commercial
- Topic: Any Experience with the Track from Make Tracks?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 13151
Re: Any Experience with the Track from Make Tracks?
There is another thread on this forum about that track. Do a search. From what I understand, Its basically a bunch of pieces already cut that you put together from what I understand. For about the same price, I could make one out of 1/4" MDF w/ a factory coat of vinyl, already put together. I d...
- Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:16 am
- Forum: Commercial
- Topic: Test track from [no advertising for this vendor].com any good?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 8013
Re: Test track from [no advertising for this vendor].com any good?
Speaking from experience, one can learn alot about the car by running it at half-speed.(place the car halfway or less than that up the ramp). You can really see how the car behaves that way-where it rubs, etc. Fine tune it, then run at full speed.
- Tue Feb 05, 2008 8:23 pm
- Forum: Do-It-Yourself
- Topic: Building a track - need advice
- Replies: 17
- Views: 29906
Re: Building a track - need advice
"Try this, place a 12" x 8' piece of 1/2" or 3/4" or even 5/8" MDF between two milk crates and stand on it. Be careful! Would you expect the same result with even the cheapest 3/8" plywood, it will bend but not break like a toothpick. Why I questioned it's structural i...
- Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:54 pm
- Forum: Do-It-Yourself
- Topic: Building a track - need advice
- Replies: 17
- Views: 29906
Re: Building a track - need advice
Home Depot should have the 1/4 MDF. In my neck of the woods, its only about $15/sheet. I used mine for 3 years, outside, under a covered porch in foggy weather. It never expanded or swelled due to moisture, and the radius never cracked on me. Its actually alot floppier than plywood and bends real ea...
- Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:28 pm
- Forum: Do-It-Yourself
- Topic: Building a track - need advice
- Replies: 17
- Views: 29906
Re: Building a track - need advice
If you really want 1/2" birch, try calling around to lumber stores. Its fairly common, hard to imagine any part of the country not having it. 1/4 birch will potato chip on you. 3/4 is too thick and wont bend easily. 1/2 inch arauco will also work. I've had great success with 1/4" vinyl coa...
- Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:47 pm
- Forum: Trading Post
- Topic: WOOD Track For Sale
- Replies: 4
- Views: 9627
Re: WOOD Track For Sale
I know its a hassle shipping a track, but it can be done. You'll widen your market if you are willing to ship. I just shipped a used two-laner via UPS across the country. I wrapped it up in saran-wrap type strapping to keep it together, and then wrapped the whole thing up in a 4 x 8 cardboard sheet....
- Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:57 pm
- Forum: Commercial
- Topic: Lets Talk about Storage
- Replies: 6
- Views: 11313
Re: Lets Talk about Storage
The big problem with 3/4" MDF is weight. It is heavier than plywood by far, and you have to use pnuematic-driven fasteners to hold it together. Although I am a fan of MDF as a track material, my vote would be plywood for the storage box. I'd recommend an exterior-grade plywood like araucan. Ara...
- Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:22 pm
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Friction question
- Replies: 4
- Views: 4831
Re: Friction question
A metal insert inside the bore sounds like a bushing, if you ask me. Check the rules that come with the kit before you try that one out.
- Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:06 am
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: Straightening a warped body
- Replies: 10
- Views: 10417
Re: Straightening a warped body
All wood has a natural tendency to warp, to some degree. It is a function of species, grain pattern, knots, humidity, you name it. Pine is one of the more stable woods, and at such a small size, warpage shouldn't be very noticable. If you are concerned and can pick your blocks, try to get a a block ...