Search found 1217 matches

by Vitamin K
Mon Feb 12, 2024 7:41 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Hidden-Wheel Car?
Replies: 20
Views: 1221

Hidden-Wheel Car?

Has anyone ever built/attempted a car with the wheels almost completely encased by the fenders? I usually like to build something rather silly for the adult division of our races, so I though I might take a stab at this. My inspiration is here: http://i.imgur.com/o7iTKgll.jpg I don't think I'll be d...
by Vitamin K
Sun Feb 11, 2024 6:31 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: French Fries anyone !
Replies: 31
Views: 1745

Re: French Fries anyone !

Super cool!
by Vitamin K
Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:10 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Straight axel rail rider
Replies: 42
Views: 2514

Re: Straight axle rail rider

...the need for a jig is mitigated... I never had a good time trying to drill angled holes with the press. I would rather use bent axles than deal with that. The jigs are soooo much nicer. Just my experience, though, YMMV. That's my experience too. Today, I would buy a jig with a DFW guide option b...
by Vitamin K
Wed Feb 07, 2024 8:33 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Straight axel rail rider
Replies: 42
Views: 2514

Re: Straight axel rail rider

FatSebastian wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 7:10 am(The jigs not so much, but the need for a jig is mitigated if you have a drill press.)
I never had a good time trying to drill angled holes with the press. I would rather use bent axles than deal with that. The jigs are soooo much nicer.

Just my experience, though, YMMV.
by Vitamin K
Wed Feb 07, 2024 7:06 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Straight axel rail rider
Replies: 42
Views: 2514

Re: Straight axel rail rider

We still bend axles with a pair of pliers (I like linesman pliers) and a block of soft pine.
by Vitamin K
Wed Feb 07, 2024 6:50 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Lifted Wheel - Treated or Stock - Does it Matter?
Replies: 11
Views: 516

Re: Lifted Wheel - Treated or Stock - Does it Matter?

The only time that we do any kind of treatment on the raised wheel is when I want to demonstrate wheel polishing for the kids before doing it themselves. So I'm like "I'll do this one, you have to do the other three." But realistically, that wheel is never gonna roll, so it does not need p...
by Vitamin K
Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:41 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Axle crimp marks
Replies: 15
Views: 912

Re: Axle crimp marks

VK , Have you got any good ideas for making a tool to hold the axle.. for cutting a K House Groove in the axle head. Or do you even use this method for adjusting axles? I can’t count the axles I’ve missed up. By forgetting to do this step first if I wish to run a car with the K House Groove’s. I us...
by Vitamin K
Tue Feb 06, 2024 10:00 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Axle crimp marks
Replies: 15
Views: 912

Re: Axle crimp marks

However after I’ve removed the flashing .. While the head of the axle is flat and chucked in the drill press. I’ll use a Dremel cutting disk while spinning the axle in the drill press to cut a small groove in the shaft before coning the axle head back with a small triangle file. Don’t know that it ...
by Vitamin K
Tue Feb 06, 2024 8:49 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Hub coning?
Replies: 19
Views: 1308

Re: Hub coning?

These days, when I run oil, I use this stuff to coat both the bores and the axles: https://www.microcenter.com/product/360326/max-pro-heavy-duty-silicone-lubricant For the axles, we spray it on directly, shake off the excess, let it dry. For the bores, we spray some to pool in a paper cup, let it si...
by Vitamin K
Tue Feb 06, 2024 3:15 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Axle crimp marks
Replies: 15
Views: 912

Re: Axle crimp marks

I used to file crimp marks off. Now I just polish over them with the rest of the axle shaft. I DO, however, make certain to remove the flashing. The flashing is much worse than the crimp marks. Have a preferred method for the flashing? I had been using spinning drill press but evidently it’s better...
by Vitamin K
Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:39 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Rule Interpretation
Replies: 13
Views: 794

Re: Rule Interpretation

With the randomness of wheels inserted into axle slots, a kid could get lucky and end up building a rail-guided car.

Any rule that bans a car that could be accidentally built is a bad rule, IMO.
by Vitamin K
Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:37 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Axle crimp marks
Replies: 15
Views: 912

Re: Axle crimp marks

I used to file crimp marks off.

Now I just polish over them with the rest of the axle shaft.

I DO, however, make certain to remove the flashing. The flashing is much worse than the crimp marks.
by Vitamin K
Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:28 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Drill Size vs. Axle Size
Replies: 6
Views: 496

Re: Drill Size vs. Axle Size

philm63 wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:58 am Good to know - thanks, guys! May I assume regular ol' wood glue like Elmer's (the yellow stuff)?
Wood glue, Elmer's Glue All, School Glue...whatever white glue you have at hand.
by Vitamin K
Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:49 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Drill Size vs. Axle Size
Replies: 6
Views: 496

Re: Drill Size vs. Axle Size

I honestly prefer #43, even for BSA. It works great for Maximum Velocity axles too. If you drill a hole and it's a tad loose, it's pretty easy to snug it up a bit. My preferred method is just to dip a toothpick in some glue, insert it into the hole, twist it around, pull it out, let the glue dry and...
by Vitamin K
Wed Jan 31, 2024 1:00 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Hub coning?
Replies: 19
Views: 1308

Re: Hub coning?

I've seen wheels that are coned on the inner and outer hubs .. but it's a bit tricky, and when I tried it, my results weren't optimal. I think I've also seen beveling as part of the inner-step removal, but always figured that slightly tapering the underside of the nail head was an easier way to gai...