Advise me on using slots. :)

Secrets, tips, tools, design considerations, materials, the "science" behind it all, and other topics related to building the cars and semi-trucks.
Post Reply
User avatar
Vitamin K
Pine Head Legend
Pine Head Legend
Posts: 1227
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 7:26 pm
Location: Spotsylvania, VA

Advise me on using slots. :)

Post by Vitamin K »

Hey folks, so I've never been a slots guy. Have been drilling our own axle holes ever since our first clueless run in Tigers.

That said, a buddy I've been advising long-distance on building a car with his son. HIs rules require that he use the slots, and he doesn't want to attempt rail riding at this stage in the game.

So, basically, he'd be building a 3-wheeled straight-runner, using slots for axle insertion.

Can y'all offer me some best practices for:

A) Insertion of axles into the slots

and

B) Straight-running alignment using BSA axles inserted into slots?
ironband
Journeyman
Journeyman
Posts: 47
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2017 9:58 am
Location: Livermore, CA

Re: Advise me on using slots. :)

Post by ironband »

I've never had great luck with the slots. For the longest time our pack required us to use the slots. I was so glad when we came back and found that the rules had changed.

I think that the best way to use the slots is to actually drill holes into the slots. The jig I currently have allows you to align with the slots so that you can drill into them. This will likely give a more "true" running car than just using the slots as is.

I am guessing at it, though. I think that's what I would do if I were forced to use slots again.

Good luck!

Andre
User avatar
gpraceman
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 4919
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2003 12:46 am
Location: Highlands Ranch, CO
Contact:

Re: Advise me on using slots. :)

Post by gpraceman »

Many slots are really tight, so pre-drilling the slots is always advisable.

For the Ford Fast Track races for Girl Scouts, I was amazed at the number of cars that came to the Pit Area with bent axles. Some parents would just hammer the nails hard enough to bend them. Some would just hammer them into the block itself, instead of the slots making the likelihood of bent axles even more. So, for quick repair, I would have a pin vise handy to pre-drill the slots so mounting the wheels would be much easier. Certainly that was not ideal, but when at the race it is too late to be nit picky about axle alignment. Something else that came in handy was a set of axle pliers. Those make it easier to insert the wheels or adjust the gap to the car body.
Randy Lisano
Romans 5:8

Awana Grand Prix and Pinewood Derby racing - Where a child, an adult and a small block of wood combine for a lot of fun and memories.
Speedster
Pine Head Legend
Pine Head Legend
Posts: 1972
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:48 pm
Location: Toledo, Ohio

Re: Advise me on using slots. :)

Post by Speedster »

I've been using slots for 33 years and they have served us well. You can use the Max-V 5140 Pro-Body tool 2 if you like but I never do anymore. I clamp the Max-V 5149 Pro Axle Guide to the slot. I lightly grind a BSA nail where the point ends to remove any extra wide area and cut off the head. Put the nail in a drill press, turn it on, and run the nail into the slot. This also works with a hand drill. I remove the steel gauge on the end of the tool and never put it back on because I use the tool for wheel insertion later on. You will probably need to remove the tool with a pair of pliers because it's tight when you clamp it tight to the body of the car. I bend all 3 of the nails to 1 1/2 degrees. With Negative cant on the rears the wheels will migrate to the heads of the nails and also allows the removal of any toe if there is any. The right front slot is always our DFW and we set that with Positive cant and tow in setting the car to drift 2" in 4'.
Our left Wheel is raised using the Pro-Body Tool 2 and a hand drill. The car can be set to roll straight because the bend on the DFW axle allows you to steer the car. It's easy, it's FUN, and it's FAST.

Either wheel can be used for the DFW. I just happen to like the right one.
Last edited by Speedster on Thu Jan 25, 2018 1:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
whodathunkit
Pine Head Legend
Pine Head Legend
Posts: 2475
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:56 pm
Location: Forgan, OK

Re: Advise me on using slots. :)

Post by whodathunkit »

Back in the day's before the derby worx axle drilling tools .. or the pro axle guide.. and Max V axle pliers.
I used to use the superior adjustable axle drilling jig.. on the edge of a flat counter top to drill holes in to the slots.
( sometimes drilling flat and then not!)
Now or day's that old flat bar drilling jig with the adjustable set screw's just takes up space in the derby tool box
along with the round bar roll pen T handle .. axle puller.. as pinewood derby collector tools.

I even went as far as taking a coin like a penny and some masking tape to make a depth gauge for checking the saw cut notches across the block.

Best of luck VK!
Whoda
What type of automobile can be spelled the same forwards & backwards?
Speedster
Pine Head Legend
Pine Head Legend
Posts: 1972
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:48 pm
Location: Toledo, Ohio

Re: Advise me on using slots. :)

Post by Speedster »

Vitamin K, I have a thought. OK, don't stop reading. It's not dangerous.
Your buddy is allowed to run on 3 wheels and that's a big plus. He doesn't need any Derbyworx tools to bend the nails. This is where "Build a Winning Pinewood Derby Car" book comes in handy. The book tells you how to do it with a hammer and screwdriver. If he bends the nails he's ready to rail ride. Perhaps double the gap of the DFW trailing rear wheel to 2 credit cards thickness. That might help. Set the DFW to Positive cant and roll it down a flat service. The car might drift to the left automatically. Whatever the car does make it drift 2" in 4' or something close. A little less drift would probably be more valuable then more drift. Whatever happens on the track will be a learning experience.
If he hasn't cut the car yet simply suggest to him a slim wedge type car will be the fastest.
User avatar
Vitamin K
Pine Head Legend
Pine Head Legend
Posts: 1227
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 7:26 pm
Location: Spotsylvania, VA

Re: Advise me on using slots. :)

Post by Vitamin K »

Thanks for the suggestions. Looks like he's gonna go with the DW Axle Guide tool, which looks pretty good for his purposes.

He's just going with a straight runner, since this is their first car and his wife is already rolling her eyes at the amount of stuff they're doing for it. I wouldn't advise anybody to build a RR car without a tuning board, and that's another thing he'd have to purchase parts for, etc. :)
User avatar
whodathunkit
Pine Head Legend
Pine Head Legend
Posts: 2475
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:56 pm
Location: Forgan, OK

Re: Advise me on using slots. :)

Post by whodathunkit »

Vitamin K wrote: Fri Jan 19, 2018 9:23 am I wouldn't advise anybody to build a RR car without a tuning board, and that's another thing he'd have to purchase parts for, etc. :)
Not if your like Sporty and use a smooth kitchen floor!
Just read this topic:
viewtopic.php?p=56219#p56219
What type of automobile can be spelled the same forwards & backwards?
User avatar
Vitamin K
Pine Head Legend
Pine Head Legend
Posts: 1227
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 7:26 pm
Location: Spotsylvania, VA

Re: Advise me on using slots. :)

Post by Vitamin K »

whodathunkit wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 5:51 pm
Vitamin K wrote: Fri Jan 19, 2018 9:23 am I wouldn't advise anybody to build a RR car without a tuning board, and that's another thing he'd have to purchase parts for, etc. :)
Not if your like Sporty and use a smooth kitchen floor!
Just read this topic:
viewtopic.php?p=56219#p56219
I do remember Sporty's method! :)

That said, I suspect Sporty has a very perceptive sense about how a car is moving, I used that method at first, but I find a tuning board is easier for me "read".
User avatar
kcarchitect
Pine Head
Pine Head
Posts: 65
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2016 1:29 pm
Location: Kansas

Re: Advise me on using slots. :)

Post by kcarchitect »

whodathunkit wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 5:51 pm
Vitamin K wrote: Fri Jan 19, 2018 9:23 am I wouldn't advise anybody to build a RR car without a tuning board, and that's another thing he'd have to purchase parts for, etc. :)
Not if your like Sporty and use a smooth kitchen floor!
Just read this topic:
viewtopic.php?p=56219#p56219
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Bdkxhlg0&t=71s
We use a coffee table and painters tape. It works.
User avatar
whodathunkit
Pine Head Legend
Pine Head Legend
Posts: 2475
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:56 pm
Location: Forgan, OK

Re: Advise me on using slots. :)

Post by whodathunkit »

Well you all know how Sporty like to tinker with things!

Any of you use a derby worx pro body jig to dill canted axle holes into the slots?
Note: my drill bit is just to show how it can be done.( just use the raised axle hole side of the tool !)
Image
It works best to have the block setting on a table top.. and then clamping to the top of the jig and bottom side of table top to hold things however!
What type of automobile can be spelled the same forwards & backwards?
Post Reply