I have often wondered what would happen if we used graphite instead of oil on slot cars. Would it work? It seemed like it would eliminate the problem of oil getting old and thick. I was afraid it might get on the track and tires and make a huge mess.

Old Blue

I dont know but I have been thinking of using it with oil to break in a new chassis. The graphite should act like an abrasive and help lap in the plastic gears on the Auto World chassis.

You can get a tube of graphite oil at just about any auto or hardware store. I use it all the time breaking in cars, especially cars like Tjets with metal gears or cars that have metal motor bearings.

The real advantage is that it polishes the metel parts creating less parasitic drag. But it also works as a fairly good lubricant.

i use it all the time and it works great, also less goo that gets gunked up with hair and other nastiness

there is also a liquid teflon out for bicycle chains that works great, after it dries it leaves a coat of teflon

I have been told it was good to break in chasis for reasons stated above, but it should not be trusted for racing due to the fact it does carry electical current, if this is true or not??

what if 6 were 9?

6 is 9...it all depends on how you look at it!! :roll: see??? 6 9 6 9 6 9 :lol:

what if 6 were 9?

If the sun refused to shine...

I dont mind!

What if Joe cut all his hair?

I don't care, no I don't care.

What if Joe cut all his hair?

I don't care, no I don't care.

Would have to start making Bald Beer trucks instead of Mullet Beer ones

I shave my head all the time just for funzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Got my own world to live through,
And I aint gonna copy you.

Sorry,one of my favorite Hendrix tunes.

Actually,I dont see how lapping gears with graphite would do anything.I dont think it has any abrasive qualities what so ever.

I have a tube of graphite in my tool box.I use it on the nuts on my guitars as it really helps to eliminate string hang up.

Ive used it in the bushings on G3s I have built,as well as on axles and wheels.I dont know why it is not commonly used.

Most of the time when you rebuild a chassis,or at least when I do,anything thats been run for any length of time is always gooked up and needs either soap and water or an ammonia bath.

Interesting thread.Hendrix quotes included.

Mike

I use graphite at home in the door locks. Works wonders.

Dad had me use graphite on the wheels of my old Pinewood Derby cars... never won any races tho :D

Dad had me use graphite on the wheels of my old Pinewood Derby cars... never won any races tho :D

We made it to the second round once.... and got hammered hard. There must be some cheating going on I never saw a block of wood move so fast!!!

I have been told it was good to break in chasis for reasons stated above, but it should not be trusted for racing due to the fact it does carry electical current, if this is true or not??
I believe if you get it on your brushes it will fill the gaps in the commutator and kill your car since graphite does conduct electricity. Your armature will go up like this pencil. :drunk:

http://www.popsci.com/adam-weiner/article/2008-09/when-carbon-electrical-conductor

Graphite being one of the crystalline allotropic forms of carbon ,I can't see it being that good for the commutator. But then again I'm a Chemist Intern with an eletronic background from the Navy , I could be wrong. :freak: Raunchy

what if 6 were 9?

yah mean "What if 6 turned out to be 9..I don't mind, I don't mind"?

We made it to the second round once.... and got hammered hard. There must be some cheating going on I never saw a block of wood move so fast!!!
We won three years in a row..They wouldn't let us bring it back the forth year:)
Pretty much pure luck. They made us build two others and they were fast but not as fast as "The red pepper Ruby" as my son called her. About like putting T-Jets together, do everything the same and some scream and others don't.

Dad had me use graphite on the wheels of my old Pinewood Derby cars... never won any races tho :D

we did too, My brother won first I got second only cause i reaplied more graphite before the race an didnt work it in , we also had sanded the tires so that only a small point was touching, they dont allow sanding of tires now :p

Scored a 1st place in the troop last year. They didn't allow any oiling, all cars were oiled by a scoutmaster right before the race. She was a killer car, except for the paint job!! :tongue: Gotta let the little ones try or they'll never learn!! The best trick I picked up is to sand the nails smooth before mounting the wheels, and make sure they are aligned properly. For the most part it was just good luck!!

UtherJoe

My nephew had his neighbor help him build a car last year and the guy was from MIT. One tip was they spent hours on polishing the axles mounted in a drill press with different levels of sand paper. He made it the finals and moved up to third place. Pretty sad when it takes an MIT graduate to make your pinewood car a winner. LOL :p

Oh heck..I'm a 10th grade drop out!!!:tongue: