Question on axle grooves.

[greenhorn]

I've seen some axles with a single groove at about where the middle of the wheel hub will be. I've seen some with a groove there and another at the axle nail head. I think we can do this on our drill press, but don't know which design is better. Since ya'll have the most experience, I thought I would ask. Please help, we're building another car so that hopefully we'll have two for next month.

[patmanruls]

greenhorn,
Gongrats on your first race, and thanks for your attitude.. This is what strenghtens my faith in family bonds in todays world.

If there was one clear cut groove design, then everyone would be using the same. As with everything else on this board, it's all subject to how you set the car up and what lubrication you use. I hate to be ambiguous, but it's true. What works for Buckeye pertaining to axles and grooves, may not work for me..

There are people out here that will not use grooves. On the other hand, there are people that will.

I've read where using oil on grooved axles is better then graphite on grooved axles. I've read where some prefer not to use grooved axles.

Considering the expense on a set of axles is relatively inexpensive, I say try a few different styles. On ebay, type in Pinewood derby in the search. You will find a host of axles for sale. I'm not advocating buying any, but you can get a general idea on what has been successful for others. So much so, they are mass producing and selling them. Plus, if you get to experiment with different groove configs, that means more time with the boy... I see great things...

Pat

[greenhorn]

Thanks Pat.

I kind of had a feeling that would be the answer, but needed to ask anyway. Although we don't want to buy axles, I have searched on ebay to download pics of different designs. We don't have a lathe, so we are doing what we can with a small bench top drill press. It works surprisingly well. There are a couple designs that I don't think we can make. At least not as well or with the needed consistancy. But there are a couple designs that I think we can make on the drill press, they look interesting, and I think my son can be taught to make them relatively easy. That's a huge plus.

Thanks for the response, we really appreciate any help we can get. Hopefully we'll have 2, maybe even 3 cars next month.