Feb 3 2012
Example of car pinewood derby

Add weights to your Pinewood Derby car. It's as easy as ABC!

Example of pinewood car derby

Tip #14

When your pine car is completed, it should balance 1" to 1 1/2" in front of the rear axle. Position the weights to adjust the car's balance. To check the balance, place a pencil across the car and move it forward and back until the car balances on it.

Tip #24

Use Wood putty to seal the weights in a car. If you are in a hurry, use wax from a candle. It is just as strong and sets faster.

Tip #33

Try to place all of your weights in a single area on the car. This will lower the car's turning inertia.

Tip #47

If you mount weights on the bottom of the car, make sure that your car still has at least 3/8" clearance between the lowest part of the weight and the track. Our Bottom Weights are only 1/16" thick so they can be added to your car without interfering with the clearance.

Tip #56

If you use lead weights, always insert them in the car and seal with wood putty to avoid exposure by anyone handling the car. Use gloves when handling the lead weights and wash your hands when you are done.

Pinewood Derby Car Weights

The more your pine car weighs, the faster it will go on a downhill ramp. Most rules specify a 5 oz. maximum weight. Most Pinewood Derby cars weigh between 1.5 oz and 3.5 oz (depending on design) without weights so a car may need 3.5 oz or more of additional weight.

About Our Weights

Our weights are available in a variety of shapes and three different metals - Lead, Steel, and Tungsten. Each metal has its advantages and disadvantages. The following table will help you to decide which metal you would like to use.

One main difference between the three metals is their density. The more dense the metal, the more it will weigh. The picture to the right shows the the three metals and the amount need of each for the same weight. As you can see, it takes a lot less tungsten then steel for the same weight.

 

Here are the main advantages and disadvantages of each metal:

 pine car weights
  Advantages Disadvantages
Lead
  • Soft - easy to bend and cut.
  • Low cost
  • Medium density
  • Should not be handled by children. If you use lead, insert it inside the car block and seal with wood putty.
  • Only available in one form - 1/4" cylinders.
Steel
  • Low cost
  • Can be cut
  • Low density
  • Can rust
Tungsten
  • High density
  • Ideal for concentrating weight in a small area.
  • High cost.
  • Very hard - Cannot be cut or shaped.
 

Cylinder Weights
Cylinders are typically inserted in your car by drilling one or more holes in the back, bottom or side of the car then the holes are sealed with wood putty.
Barrel Weights

Lead Wire Weights

These 1/4" diameter lead weights can be easily cut to any length with wire cutters, diagonal pliers or other cutting tools. Drill one or more 5/16 " holes in the back, bottom or side of your pine car, insert the weights in the holes then glue them into place or cover with wood putty.

The package comes with 3 sections for a total of 3 oz.

These are lead weights and
should not be handled by children.

How To Add Wire Weights To Your Car

3 oz. wire weights

5/16" drill bit for use with Lead Wire Weights

Drill Bits
Steel Cylinders

Steel Cylinders

Steel Cylinders are ideal for bringing the weight of your Pinewood Derby car up to roughly 5 oz. Each cylinder weighs about 1/4 oz and is 1/2" long. The package comes with twelve cylinders for a total of 3 oz.

The best way to install these weights is to drill one or more 3/8" holes in the back or bottom of your car, insert the weights in the holes then glue them into place or cover with wood putty.

3 oz. Steel Cylinders
Tungsten Cylinder

Tungsten Cylinders

3/8" diameter cylinders
Three sizes to choose from.

$2.95   1/2 oz Cylinders (1/2" long)
$1.95   1/4 oz Cylinders (1/4" long)
$1.45   1/8 oz Cylinders (1/8" long)
3/8" Drill Bit

3/8" Drill Bit

To drill holes for Steel and Tungsten Cylinder Weights
Fits any 1/4" or larger drill

Drill Bits

Flat Weights
Use supper glue to attach our Flat Weights to the top, side or bottom of your car. If attached to the bottom, they should be recessed into the wood to provide enough track clearance.
Steel Square Weights

Steel Squares

Twelve steel squares each weighing .14 oz for a total of 1.74 oz.. Slight texture on the surface to make a stronger glue bond.

Each square is 1/2" X 1/2" X 1/8".

Steel Squares
Tungsten Squares

Tungsten Squares

Four 1/8 oz weights - Total weight = .5 oz
Dimension: 3/8" X 3/8" X 1/8"

One side of each square is tapered to help the squares match the design of your car.

How to add our Tungsten squares to your car

$2.95 for 4  .13 oz. squares

set of 4 Tungsten Squares
Stick-on Weights

Steel Stick-On Weights

These 12 individual .15 oz weights work great for fine tuning the weight of your Pinewood Derby car. They have an adhesive backing so it is very easy to attach them to your car.

Each segment is 1/2 "X 1/2" X 1/8"
1.8 oz. total weight

Stick-On Weight sets
Tungsten Plate

Tungsten Plate

Each plate is .5 oz . Dimension: 1.43" X .56" X .068"

Designed to be mounted on the bottom of your pinewood car but can be mounted on any flat surface. Most cars have room for up to 12 plates.

$2.95 for each .5 oz plate

Tungsten Plates
Bottom Weight

Bottom Weights

This steel weight is designed to be attached to the bottom of your car.  It is less than 1/16" thick so won't interfere with the 3/8" minimum clearance specified in most rules. The weight can be adjusted in .02 oz increments by breaking off segments with pliers.

Details

1 oz. Bottom Weight sets

Tungsten Cubes
These small tungsten cubes are ideal for fine tuning your car's weight and they fit in tight spaces. Glue them into a slot under your car or pack them into a drilled hole.
Tungsten Cubes
  Two sizes to choose from:

Seven .07 oz cubes

Dimension: 3/16" X 3/16" X 3/16"
Total weight = .5 oz

3/16" Cubes

Six .17 oz cubes

Dimension: 1/4" X1/4" X 1/4"
Total weight = 1 oz

1/4" Cubes

Tungsten Disc

Ideal for "light" cars where you want the weight added to one area.

Easy to use. Super glue to the top of the car or drill a 1 1/8" hole and glue it into the hole.
Tungsten Disc Dimension: 1 1/8" diameter X 1/4" high
Weight = 3 oz


3 oz. Tungsten discs
Drill bit for Tungsten Disc

1 1/8" Forstner Bit

For drilling holes for our Tungsten Disc
Fits any 3/8" or larger drill.

Also works great for drilling out the bottom of your car if you need to remove weight.

Forstner Bits

Tungsten Canopy
This smooth tungsten canopy has a 3/8" stud for mounting to your car. Drill a 1/4" deep 3/8" hole then super glue to your car.
Tungsten Canopy
Tungsten Canopy 1 1/2" long X 1" wide X 1/4" tall

2.5 oz. total weight

Tungsten Canopy

Tungsten Putty
This putty is great for fine-tuning the weight of your pine car.  It can be easily molded into almost any shape. Pinch off a piece and press the putty into a hole in the car.
Tungsten Putty 1 oz total weight.


Tungsten Putty

Accessories
Diamond Burr

Diamond Burr

Remove material from our steel and tungsten weights for small weight adjustments. 1/8" shank.  Works best with dremel but can also be used with a drill. 100 grit.

Diamond Burrs
Super Glue

Super Glue

We recommend our Super Glue for
attaching weights to your car.

each

Digital Scale
The more that your pinewood derby car weighs, the faster that it will go. It is important that your car weighs exactly 5 oz. A fraction of an ounce might be all that it takes to keep your car out of the winner's circle.
Digital Scale for Pinewood Derby Cars

Digital Scale

Accurate to .01 oz
Backlit display




Digital Scales
Calibration Weight

Calibration Weight

300 gram weight used to re-calibrate the digital scale sold on this page.

Calibration Weights
To place your order:
1. Enter the quantity you would like to order next to each of the above items.
2. Click the "Add to Cart" button below.

Pinewood Derby Winners Brandon won first place in his pinewood derby race with the help of his dad and our polished axles and tungsten weights.

 

 

 

Build a Car

Make it Fast

Make it Look Great

Extras

Can't find what you are looking for? Search our site.

Information

How To

Just want you to know that we won the entire Pinewood Derby.  1st place out of 40 kids and I also won the Dad's event. Thanks for all of the help... Lance M
Our pack has two Bear dens.  Each den raced themselves. Then top three from each Bear den raced each other to get down to the top two for Districts. After 12 or more races Jacob's car won every race but one.  His pine car then raced the one that beat him to determine first and second place.  Jacob's car went on to beat it.  Jacob took first place in our den and in the combined Bear den race. Onto Districts!! Thanks for all the help and support... Craig and Jacob H
These bottom weights work great!  I use a hot glue gun and they hold up great. I wish I found them years ago!!...Jerry B.
Thanks for your advice - we won 1st in his rank and 3rd overall out of 52 cars. We had a wedge design but I think we didn't win overall because we didn't use tungsten weights and ended up putting weights too far forward. We have a district race in a month....Colin H.
Whoo-hoo! We won 1st in our den, and went to districts! Did great there too! Your tungsten weights made the difference
:-)....Anne B.
We came in 7th out of 48 people in our pinewood derby race. The time difference between us and first place was .051 seconds! Not bad for the first time!....David D. (David used our axles, wheels and weights)
I'm happy to report to you that the races were last night and, with the assistance of the items that we purchased from your company, which included the lathed and matched wheels with graphite and polished grooved graphite axles along with some tungsten weights, my son Ross's pine car blew past the competition and we won first place in our pack. We had also purchased supplies for you last year, and had won first place in the pack last year also...Ken H.
Hello, I just wanted to thank you for the tungsten putty that I purchased from you. I won all of our pinewood races and ended up in 1st place. Thank you for your time... Jamie
Raced on Saturday. Got 4th place out of ~120, not bad. Son was a little disappointed, as 1st 2nd and 3rd get trophies. But I was happy with how we did (Kevin used our steel cylinder weights).... Kevin D
I want to give you an update on my grandson's performance using your tungsten canopy and wire weights. His derby car won first in his age group and second overall for the whole pack! Thanks for your good products..... Scott K