Search found 1217 matches

by Vitamin K
Wed Jan 31, 2024 12:21 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Hub coning?
Replies: 19
Views: 1307

Re: Hub coning?

I've seen wheels that are coned on the inner and outer hubs and I have to admit they look like they'd probably help minimize contact. I don't think it would be easy to do with hand tools, though. I know you can modify the Derbyworx hub tool to cone the outer hub as opposed to just removing the step,...
by Vitamin K
Wed Jan 31, 2024 6:31 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Redeeming Slots?
Replies: 8
Views: 1118

Re: Redeeming Slots?

Well, turns out that my 3D printer can't print small enough to properly do these little axle guides I have in mind. Maybe if I can find somebody who has a resin printer...hmm, I should check my lbrary's makerspace...
by Vitamin K
Tue Jan 30, 2024 3:59 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Straight runner - wheel canting?
Replies: 12
Views: 956

Re: Straight runner - wheel canting?

That said, I've heard it is is possible to make a side-rail guided car, but this is a challenge I've yet to undertake. I'd sort of like to build a test car for it sometime. So I'm not the first person to have the idea of making a "wall rider!" I was trying to work it out in my head, but t...
by Vitamin K
Mon Jan 29, 2024 9:39 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Redeeming Slots?
Replies: 8
Views: 1118

Re: Redeeming Slots?

I think NoSkills had a set-screw cambered car? Edit: Looks like it's Speedster who shared the technique: https://www.derbytalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=65229&hilit=screws#p65229 If I can sneak some time, I'm going to try to 3D print a proof-of-concept for my "alignment triangle" and see how...
by Vitamin K
Mon Jan 29, 2024 9:24 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Straight runner - wheel canting?
Replies: 12
Views: 956

Re: Straight runner - wheel canting?

I've heard some speculation that canting the wheels helps to make them run more true, since you're focusing the axle contact on a smaller surface area, but I don't really have solid facts on this. When we camber wheels, it's to keep them off or on the rail (rear vs front, respectively). That said, I...
by Vitamin K
Mon Jan 22, 2024 4:02 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Redeeming Slots?
Replies: 8
Views: 1118

Re: Redeeming Slots?

:thinking: Would this tool be placed in center of the slot pointing up, so that the pointed tip rides up on / along it when the axle is inserted? If so, when you insert the axle from one direction, the nail might push the piece out the other side. It might need to be long enough to reach all the wa...
by Vitamin K
Sun Jan 21, 2024 12:24 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Redeeming Slots?
Replies: 8
Views: 1118

Redeeming Slots?

So, I know that for most pineheads (myself included), slots aren't very popular. Usually the first thing we do is flip the block over and drill holes for axles, ignoring those annoying, janky slots. I am fortunate enough to own a precision-made axle drilling jig with hardened bushings for this purpo...
by Vitamin K
Fri Jan 19, 2024 1:01 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Drilling Angled Holes in the Original Slots?
Replies: 36
Views: 5023

Re: Drilling Angled Holes in the Original Slots?

My go-to for filling in axle slots is a toothpick or two (sanded thin if need be) plus epoxy. Sometimes I will mix the epoxy with fine sawdust to volumize it and provide more of a "woody" look to to it. I don't know if it matters or not. BTW, I corresponded with the maker of the clear jigs...
by Vitamin K
Fri Dec 29, 2023 8:08 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Diy sanding tools for model making
Replies: 16
Views: 32743

Re: Diy sanding tools for model making

This is neat! Fun little project.
by Vitamin K
Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:20 am
Forum: News and Announcements
Topic: Derby Talk Turns 20
Replies: 6
Views: 35771

Re: Derby Talk Turns 20

Happy 20 years! This was the first Pinewood Derby board I ever found and it remains my favorite!
by Vitamin K
Thu Apr 27, 2023 7:07 am
Forum: Space Derby
Topic: No More Space Derby for BSA?
Replies: 5
Views: 16442

Re: No More Space Derby for BSA?

Never been a huge fan of the Space Derby. It's fiddly.
by Vitamin K
Fri Mar 31, 2023 7:48 am
Forum: Commercial
Topic: Question about The Judge Cable
Replies: 5
Views: 18604

Re: Question about The Judge Cable

Did some emailing with John and these are the tech specs for the cable. I'm gonna put them here in case somebody is Googling for the info and needs it: The connectors are technically RJ9, also known as 4P4C, the land line handset size. Also, the orientation is important (opposite to the telecom stan...
by Vitamin K
Thu Mar 30, 2023 12:06 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Wheel Base - Question
Replies: 6
Views: 9120

Re: Wheel Base - Question

Wheelbase is a balance between stability and better potential energy utilization. A longer wheelbase gives better stability. A shorter wheelbase moves more energy up the slope. The default BSA wheelbase is much too short, IMO. I usually go for about 5" for wheelbase these days, which has seemed...
by Vitamin K
Tue Mar 28, 2023 6:23 am
Forum: Construction Workshops
Topic: Scroll Saw Recommendations for 2023?
Replies: 24
Views: 76785

Re: Scroll Saw Recommendations for 2023?

I have the Harbor Freight scroll saw which seems like, 95% of the same thing as the Wen model. Overall it's worked pretty well. Gets the job done and gave me a lot of decent cuts. I lost the adapters that let you use plain-end blades, but the blades I wanted were always available with pin-end, so th...
by Vitamin K
Mon Mar 27, 2023 7:43 am
Forum: Commercial
Topic: Question about The Judge Cable
Replies: 5
Views: 18604

Re: Question about The Judge Cable

Well, we weren't able to find a cable in time, so we ended up just having to run the race by points. It's nice that the Judge permits running in offline mode, but they really need to put more info about those cables on their site. The link to email on the site is non-functional. Is there any way to ...