Derby Talk

I had an idea on how to trap more graphite inside of the wheel bore allowing for extended lubricity during races. Take a grooved axle with all polishing steps and cleaning already accomplished. NO graphite should be on the axle at this point! Cut a small strip of self adhesive "Paper Tape" and apply it to the recessed area of the axle. Under magnification, the tape looks like a web-like furnace filter media, only it's extremely flat and low profile and good adhesive on sticky side. You can find it at Meijer in medical section...Something like $2.69 for small roll. Press it firmly into axle groove making sure it does not meet flush with high surface of axle. U don't want it to contact axle bore as it will slow the wheel spin. Once in place, put some graphite between index finger and thumb and spin at slow speed so graphite is burnished into the recessed paper tape. Takes about 20 seconds to get enough graphite charged into the paper tape. I noticed smoother, quieter, and longer spin times. Even with 1.3gram lightened wheels. The small trickle of graphite that vibrates off the axle during runs gives a consistantly more lubricated wheel spin. Has anyone tried anything similar?

Hi there, Fellow Buckeye. Welcome to Derbytalk.

In what way would you wrap the tape in the grooved axles.. in relation to the direction of wheel bore travel.
so that the tape will not unwind inside the wheel bore as it travels around the axle..Think of it as thread tape to pipe fittings.

Love the Idea!

Just cut off size that fits into groove and press it into place. Just enough length to meet the other end...Don't overlap it. Keep it below the axle surface. It shouldn't be able to touch wheel bore at all. I made 3 success full ones that worked very well. Pack axle with graphite after you burnish tape onto it with your finger tips. The tape is sticky and won't unwind as long as you started out with a clean graphite free axle.