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How to add weight to our Banshee Pinewood Derby Car
Your race probably limits your car's weight to 5 oz. You will have a speed advantage if you can get as close to the limit as possible. The Banshee block will need about 1.5 oz of additional weight to bring it up to 5 oz.
Install the weights in your car before you paint it.
The first thing that you should do is weigh the block, and everytning else that will go on your car. Add enough weights until the total is 5 oz.
When your car is complete, weigh it again. If it is over 5 oz, drill a few holes in the bottom of the block about an inch behind the front axle to remove some wood.
Below are two suggestions for adding weights to the banshee pinewood derby car.
Lead Wire Weights
Lead is toxic. Always use gloves when working with lead and make sure that none of the lead is exposed after you install it in the block.
When weighing the car and weights, cut three weights that are approximately 1 1/2" long and two additional weights of equal length that make up the additional needed weight. You can cut the weights with a hack saw, coping saw or wire cutters.
You will need:
- One set of Lead Wire Weights
- Drill and 5/16" drill bit
- Wood putty
- Sandpaper
- Hack saw, coping saw or wire cutters
- Clamp the car block on a flat surface.
- Using a 5/16" drill bit, drill five holes straight into the back of the block in the pattern shown above. Be careful to drill above the rear axle slot. The three long weights should go in the bottom holes and the shorter weights in the top holes. The depth of the holes should be 1/8 inch deeper than the length of the weights. This will leave room for the wood putty.
- Remove the clamp from the block.
- Weigh the block, wheels, axles and weights again. Adjust the amount of weight if needed for 5 oz.
- Install the weights in the block and seal the weight holes with the wood putty. Allow to dry in a warm place for 12 hours.
- Sand the wood putty until smooth and flush with the car block.
You can now paint your car and add the wheels and axles.
If the completed car is less than 5 oz. drill one or more hole in the bottom of the car in front of the other weights and insert some of the leftover lead weight in the holes.
Tungsten Weights
Tungsten is very dense but it is more expensive than the other weights. The density gives you a speed advantage because more of the weight can be placed farther back on the car.
You can use a combination of cylinders and a flat weight for optimum results.
You will need:
- Two Tungsten Cylinders
- Tungsten Plate
- Fine Tune Cylinder
- Drill and 3/8" drill bit
- Sandpaper
- Screw driver
- Using a 3/8" drill bit, drill two holes straight into the bottom of the block behind the rear axle. The depth of the holes should be enough to hold one cylinder each plus any needed Fine Tune Cylinder.
- Insert the weights in the holes. The end of the weights should be flush with the bottom of the block.
- Weigh the block, wheels, axles and weights again (don't forget the flat weight). Adjust the amount of weight if needed with the Fine Tune Cylinder.
- Sand the wood putty until smooth and flush with the car block.
- Paint your car and add the wheels and axles.