The excitement runs high every year with derby car racing, and designing your own pinewood derby car from will send your pulse racing with pure excitement. Do take care to follow some general safety procedures, as you will need to make use of power tools when making your derby car.

Safety First

Always unplug any power tools you will be using, when attempting to make any adjustments or add any accessories to your Pinewood Derby Car. Always ensure you have a firm grip on the power tool. Any adjustment devices need to be securely tightened before operating the tool. Always wear safety goggles and a dust mask before operating the power tools.

Steps to Take in Designing your Pinewood Derby Car

Are you excited to start your project? Before you do that, know that your car must not exceed 7 inches in length, have a width of not more than 2¾ inches. Your car wheels must be 1¾ inches apart, and not weigh more than 5 oz.

What is really cool in designing your pinewood derby car from scratch. Let us take a step by step approach. Your first step would be to put your design ideas on paper by putting the block you are going to use on its side, and tracing all around the block, marking the axle slots. Next you need to place the block bottom side up on the paper and trace around the top, again making sure you mark the axle slots.

Place the block on its end and trace around it, thereby creating the end view for your pinewood derby car. It would be good to make a view copies, so you can experiment with a view design ideas for your car. It would be better to draw the side profile of your exciting new car first, then the top and finally the end view. Let the creative side come out of you and be amazed at how good your design will look once you are finished designing it.

Your next step would be in using a coping or band saw to cut the side view, ensuring you follow the lines that you drew. Now make sure you put your drawing for the top of your car firmly in place. Trace around the drawing and make the top cuts with your coping saw. Round the edges of with your power rotary tool for a smooth finish. Your basic design would be completed for your pinewood derby car. Use the sanding tool to smooth any remaining edges. Now you would use course and fine sand paper wrapped around small wooden blocks to ensure you get that polished look. Ensure you use a soft cloth that is not wet to prepare your pinewood derby car for the next stage.

Painting Your Pinewood Derby Car

Your final stage would be to give your pinewood derby car the paint it deserves. First you need to apply one to two primer coats to prevent your paint from getting soaked into the wood. Let each primer coat dry completely and lightly sand in between coats. Now you may either spray paint or brush paint your derby car.

We suggest you wipe of your car with a soft cloth before each coat of paint. Another useful tip is to have a paint stand for your car by driving three big screws in block of wood as it will provide stability and make it easier in applying each coat of paint for your pinewood derby car. We hope you had fun in designing your pinewood derby car.

There are always fast Pinewood Derby Car Kits if you don’t have the time to start all the way from scratch.  A great example is this Eliminator Dragster Pinewood Derby Car Kit:

DerbyMax Eliminator Pinewood Derby Car Kit

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