Best Way to Cut a Pinewood Derby Car In 9 Steps (2024)

If you want your Pinewood Derby car to be a top contender, cutting the wood block properly is one of the most important steps. A precise cut block will allow you to optimize the car’s shape and weight distribution for maximum speed down the track. With some preparation and the right tools, you can cut a profile that will give your mini racer a competitive edge.

The Pinewood Derby originated in the 1950s as a racing event for Cub Scouts. Today, building and racing cars remains a beloved activity that teaches skills like craftsmanship, attention to detail, and friendly competition.

The key to a fast car is finding that perfect balance of maximizing weight while minimizing friction. This starts with the wood block itself. Choosing, cutting, and preparing it properly will make a huge difference in your finished product.

Best Way to Cut a Pinewood Derby Car

Choosing Your Block of Wood

There are a few options when it comes to woodblocks for Pinewood Derbies:

Pine is the most traditional material, as it was used for the kits in the early days. Pine is relatively soft and lightweight. This allows for ease of cutting but may sacrifice some weight.

Basswood is denser and heavier than pine, giving it a slight advantage in speed. Basswood’s fine grain also makes it easy to work with. Quality basswood from a hobby store is a good choice.

Whatever wood you choose, examine the grain and density for flaws that could slow down your car. Also confirm the block’s weight – heavier wood will lead to a faster car, as long as you can prevent too much friction.

Buy from a trusted source, instead of recycling scrap wood. Fresh, quality wood will make cutting and finishing much simpler. Many hobby stores sell standard blank blocks that are ready for you to cut.

Preparing Your Block

Before drawing your race car vision, take time to prep your block properly:

Sand all surfaces smooth to remove rough areas that could slow down your car. Work up from coarse to fine-grained sandpaper for a blemish-free finish.

Flattening each side is crucial for optimal wheel contact and weight distribution. Use a block plane or sandpaper on a flat surface to square off the sides.

Maintain uniform thickness across the block. You want equal contact with the track at the front and rear. Again, a plane or sander can help level out any irregularities.

With a blank slate and balanced platform, you’re ready to transfer your design.

Marking Out the Basic Design

Now comes the fun part – sketching out the race car of your dreams! As you mark the basic shape, keep these aerodynamic factors in mind:

• Sleek, teardrop shapesperform better than boxier profiles. A gentle upward slope from front to rear is ideal.
• Consider the wheelbase– longer distances between axles add stability at higher speeds. Offset the axles slightly for turning.
• Locate the centre of gravitymid-car for even weight distribution. Mark outlines accordingly.
• Start with abasic, symmetrical designbefore adding complex elements. Fancy shapes can look cool but hurt speed.

Use a sharp pencil to draw solid, precise lines on all sides. This will be your cut line for sawing. Take photos of your markings as a backup.

With strategic preparation and marking, you’ve laid the groundwork for cutting out the fastest profile possible. Now the fun begins – turning your marked block into a speedy mini racer!

Cutting Out the Basic Shape

With your block fully marked, you can start freeing the race car hidden inside. Be sure to:

• Use aband saw or scroll sawto cut just outside your lines. This leaves room for final sanding later. Go slowly to avoid overcutting.
• Cutwheel wellsand other openings early. Removing this interior wood enables better control and visibility.
• Use adrill press with Forstner bitsto quickly and smoothly excavate the wheel wells. Round-off edges with sandpaper.
• For tight curves and angles, acoping sawallows more control. Take your time on the intricate work.
• At all stages,never cut directly on your lines– leave a margin to work down to the perfect contour.

Patience and the right tools will enable you to free the basic shape from your wood block. Now the detail work begins.

Adding Details and Refining the Shape

Once the foundation takes shape, start refining it with sanding and carving:

• Useprogressively finer sandpaperto smooth curves, tapered edges, and surfaces. Remove saw marks completely.
• Round off edgesslightly for an aerodynamic profile. Avoid sharp corners that can catch air and slow you down.
• Check dimensions with callipers and straight edges.Remove any excess materialto achieve a precise, balanced car.
• Consider detailing likewheel wells, spoilers, and driver figures– but don’t sacrifice weight and sleekness.
• Test in the guide rails periodically. Keepsanding and polishinguntil the wheels roll straight and true.

Take your time with fine details for a mirror-smooth finish. This effort transforms your raw block into an optimized, race-ready ride.

Painting/Staining the Car

A bright coat of paint or stain amps up the style and spirit of your Pinewood Derby car. Make sure to:

• Sand all surfaces completely smoothbefore painting so the coat adheres cleanly. Use ultra-fine sandpaper to minimize brush marks.
• Apply primer firstfor a uniform base. Primer also helps the paint stick to the wood better.
• Paint in thin coats, sanding lightly between each layer. Thick paint can add unwanted weight and affect aerodynamics.
• Opt forlightweight paintslike acrylics to avoid weighing down your car. Metallic and pearlescent paints look cool but are heavy.
• Finish with aprotective clear coatfor a glossy, friction-minimizing shine. This also prevents chips and scratches.

Take your time with painting for a fast, great-looking car. Now for dialling in the weight…

Weight Considerations

To optimize speed, you’ll want to fine-tune your car’s weight:

• Use a scale toensure you meet the 5oz minimum. Underweight cars get disqualified, so add material if needed.
• Avoid making your car overweight– acceleration and friction suffer from too much mass. 5.1-5.2oz is ideal.
• Distribute weight strategicallyby adding material inside for a lower centre of gravity. Secure carefully.

With a smart paint job and dialled-in weight, your Pinewood Derby car will have the glossy style and lightning-fast performance needed to zoom past the competition!

Wheels and Axles

Wheels and axles may be small, but they have a huge impact on speed. Here are some key factors:

• Test plastic vs. metal wheelsto see which rolls best on your track’s surface. Metal wheels offer less friction, but plastic provides more grip.
• Lubricate axles with graphitebefore inserting them into the wood block. This minimizes friction for faster rotation.
• Carefully align axles perpendicularto the car’s sides. Even the slightest misalignment causes wobbling and slowing.

Take the time to optimize wheels and axles. The right components rolling true will get you across the finish line faster.

Race Day Strategies

Come race day, preparing both your car and yourself will help earn the victory:

• Lubricate the wheels againright before the race for maximum reduction of friction.
• Inspect the track surface. Look for debris, uneven joints, or flaws that could impede progress.
• Do test runs toget a feel for the trackand fine-tune alignment. Make any last tweaks to your car.
• Visualize success and take deep breaths. Stay positive, and focused, and retain confidence from preparation.
• Cheer on fellow racers – the Pinewood Derby is about camaraderie and fun as well as competition.

Follow these final pointers, and you and your car will be primed for peak performance when racing commences!

FAQs

Conclusion

While winning is fun, Pinewood Derby is about so much more than just speed. It teaches hands-on skills, patience, sportsmanship, creativity, and persistence. Spending time together on the project also builds precious memories between parents, kids, and siblings.

The tips in this guide aim to help you construct a quick car but also enjoy a meaningful experience. Building and racing the cars with care and passion is what it’s all about. The Pinewood Derby creates bonds and moments that will last a lifetime.