Building a 32ft single lane track - COMPLETED
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 10:49 am
I am not expecting it to be perfect, but I thought it would save a lot of work and be inexpensive at the same time. So, today I went to Menard's and purchased some items that I thought would work based on the very limited tools we have at home. When I say limited tools, I mean no table saw etc - just a drill and a scroll saw. I don't have the necessary supplies to finish wood or anything like that, so I figured going this route really just turns it in to an assembly operation with drilling holes and mounting switches as the hardest task - something my kids and I can do together now that school is out for them.
Tarkett laminate wood flooring 10pcs .25"*8"*48" dimensions - $18.44
Finished Lattice .25"*1.75"*8' - $7.99*4
125pc 1" #8 machine screws/nuts - $3.59
7pc .25"*1.5" bolts/nuts - $1.99*4
Wal-Mart watch with stopwatch - $5.68
RadioShack alligator clips - $2.99*2
RadioShack Roller Switch - $3.49
RadioShack Lever Switch - $3.49
RadioShack Speaker Wire 24gauge 50' - $6.49
Total: $87.08 without tax
I really do wish I could find the link for the stopwatch setup; I had found it through another person's link in a thread on this board. I know it is not going to be super precise, but as long as I have a solid baseline car that is maintained that I run first, I think I can make reliable assessments on whether or not we have made improvements in the families derby cars. I do still need to make mounting brackets for the stopwatch timer system (and start gate) and maybe in time I will get classy and make some track supports instead of using chairs like I plan on doing at the start. I was hoping to find some extruded plastic for the base of the track vs the Tarkett flooring, but I think this will work reasonably well - I'll just have more joints than I would like, but I'm thinking/hoping they will still be pretty smooth transitions, regardless.
I'll follow up this thread after we have it complete and supply pictures; hopefully after next week. I've already purchased everything, but any input would still be cool - or you can just let me know whether you think it will fail or sail lol.
[EDIT]
Just realized I had priced the lane guides as 7.99*2 and not 7.99*4 - made the proper edits as necessary
Tarkett laminate wood flooring 10pcs .25"*8"*48" dimensions - $18.44
Finished Lattice .25"*1.75"*8' - $7.99*4
125pc 1" #8 machine screws/nuts - $3.59
7pc .25"*1.5" bolts/nuts - $1.99*4
Wal-Mart watch with stopwatch - $5.68
RadioShack alligator clips - $2.99*2
RadioShack Roller Switch - $3.49
RadioShack Lever Switch - $3.49
RadioShack Speaker Wire 24gauge 50' - $6.49
Total: $87.08 without tax
I really do wish I could find the link for the stopwatch setup; I had found it through another person's link in a thread on this board. I know it is not going to be super precise, but as long as I have a solid baseline car that is maintained that I run first, I think I can make reliable assessments on whether or not we have made improvements in the families derby cars. I do still need to make mounting brackets for the stopwatch timer system (and start gate) and maybe in time I will get classy and make some track supports instead of using chairs like I plan on doing at the start. I was hoping to find some extruded plastic for the base of the track vs the Tarkett flooring, but I think this will work reasonably well - I'll just have more joints than I would like, but I'm thinking/hoping they will still be pretty smooth transitions, regardless.
I'll follow up this thread after we have it complete and supply pictures; hopefully after next week. I've already purchased everything, but any input would still be cool - or you can just let me know whether you think it will fail or sail lol.
[EDIT]
Just realized I had priced the lane guides as 7.99*2 and not 7.99*4 - made the proper edits as necessary