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How to drill weight holes in your pinewood derby car. It's as easy as ABC! 

Example of pinewood car
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Drill Weight Holes in your Pinewood Derby Car

Pinewood derby weight guide

Weight Guide

It is important that your pinewood derby car is balanced. This means that you should drill evenly spaced weight holes in your pinewood derby car. This tool will let you do that every time.

Features:

You will need a hand drill or drill press and a 3/8" drill bit to use this tool.

Tips

  • Car blocks vary slightly in width so check that the guide will fit on your block. If it does not fit, sand it until it does.
  • The guide has two sides, One for drilling straight into the block and the other for drilling at a slight down angle. This side is used when drilling into the back of a wedge shaped block where you want the hole to follow the slope of the top of the wedge.

Drill Into The Back Of The Car

Drilling at an angle into the pinewood derby block.

If drilling a long hole in a wedge shaped car, you can drill at a slight down angle to follow the slope of the top of the car. Place the guide on the back of the block so that the "Angled Surface" lettering is on the top and next to the block. Place the guide high on the block so that you don't drill through the bottom of the block.

Drill straight into the block

To drill straight into the block, place the guide on the back of the block so that the lettering is away from the block

Clamp the guide to the car.

Although it is not necessary, it is best to clamp the guide to the block before drilling.

Use masking tape to limit the hole depth.

It can be difficult to know when you have drilled to the desired depth. Wrap masking tape around the drill bit to mark the depth. Place the tape so that it just touches the guide when the proper depth is reached.

Drill one hole into the back of the car

To drill one or two holes, place the guide vertically on the back of the car block.

Drill Into The Side Or Under The Car

Drill into the side of the car

Side of car

Drill under the pinewood derby car.

Under the car