Lead vs tungsten

[dad&3boys]

Assuming you can get your COG where you want it using lead, is there any benefit to be derived from using tungsten? One of the cars we're building is a typical wedge, not an ultra thin profile, and the lead should work fine, shouldn't it?

Thanks.

[Da Pine Racing]

Hi dad&3boys, I have yet to race a car with tungsten. If you have your COG where you want it, then your good to go.

Tungsten would allow a car to have a thinner profile. That would be the only gain I see. Good luck.

Da Pine

[Derby Monkey]

The majority of the cars I build have a very low profile. I use 1/4" thick wood for the body. In order to maintain an aggressive COM and keep the weight as low as possible, I use nothing but tungsten.

[speedie4u]

I have seen fast cars with just lead. There are factors though and to what level of degree of effort.

Yes tungsten is denser and there fore smaller and can achieve a lower height. but you can also concentrate your weight more in a smaller area than lead. Unless you are willing to give up hieght which will reduce your concentration.

I feel if you are willing to melt and poor lead, then you cans till do very well with lead. Or enjoy pounding out the shapes you want.

But it is a key issue, how many leaguers still use lead and are on top ?

Because if they are winning with lead. Then I see no real advantage with tungesnt.

Even though I use tungsten,. this would really make me consider going back to lead, if I knew 1/2 the leaguers where winning with lead.

Speedie

[beakerboysracing]

Dec 31, 2008 22:06:47 GMT -6 speedie4u said:

I have seen fast cars with just lead. There are factors though and to what level of degree of effort.

Yes tungsten is denser and there fore smaller and can achieve a lower height. but you can also concentrate your weight more in a smaller area than lead. Unless you are willing to give up hieght which will reduce your concentration.

I feel if you are willing to melt and poor lead, then you cans till do very well with lead. Or enjoy pounding out the shapes you want.

But it is a key issue, how many leaguers still use lead and are on top ?

Because if they are winning with lead. Then I see no real advantage with tungesnt.

Even though I use tungsten,. this would really make me consider going back to lead, if I knew 1/2 the leaguers where winning with lead.

Speedie

I bet if you took a survey, better than 3/4 of league racers are using tungsten.

I've been chasing Master ProQuest all year and I still haven't caught him and I know he uses tungsten.

I'm rather surprised to hear Da Pine is a Lead user only. His car designs are super thin and I would have thought he was using tungsten. Dewayne is super fast so there is something to be said for using lead.

I use tungsten and this is why:

I has the same specific gravity as gold, thus you can pack almost twice as much weight in the same area as lead. This opens up many more possibilities for car design.

It is non toxic, no lead poisoning for you or the kids.

It comes in many diff. shapes for use in diff. body styles.

I never melt lead, especially around the kids, nasty fumes and possibility of some really nasty burns.


The only cons of tungsten I have found are this:

It's expensive.

Its very hard and not easily shaped.

Take a look at this thread over at PWDR where we discussed weight triangulation. It is much easier to get proper triangulation with tungsten over lead. Makes for a much more balanced and fast car.

pwdracing.proboards91.com/index.cgi?board=weight&action=display&thread=754

Hope this helps

Scott

Beakerboys

[slkrnsntracing]

I don't think there is a significant speed advantage to tungsten over lead if any.

I normally use tungsten for most of my weight, because I find it simpler to use, but I finish off with lead (usually bullets that I get from friends who load their own shells).

The reason I finish off with lead is because it is easier to drill out, so I can get my weight as close to 5oz as possible.

Hope this helps.

Phil

[hotrod]

I have also used both. I'm like Phil, I don't believe there is a great difference in performance, but tungsten will be easier to install. It is easier to have a more aggressive com with tungsten.

I prefer tungsten primary because it is cleaner and I was able to buy some at a good price from a retired derby nut. Just my .02$.

Ed

[Da Pine Racing]

Thanks Beak for the speed comments.

I am very reluctant to spend the money on tungsten. Here are my thoughts on why I use lead.

Lead can be safely handled, just use the proper PPEs'

5 oz of lead =5 oz of tungsten...it's the SAME weight for a major COST difference.

Most important factors for speed; IMO
#1 Alignment
#2 Friction (including offset front end)
#3 Weight of the moving parts (depending on class)
#4 COG
#5 Wheelbase
#6 Aero

I'd rather spend the money on super-duper-laser-polished axles, cool tools or super cool wheels

[jkracing]

for what its worth i also use lead in about 90% of our cars. the only reason is that it is alot cheaper. i agree that tungsten is cleaner and easier to install.

kelly