How To glue Pinewood Axles

How To glue Pinewood Axles after tuning steering a derby car.  Before even starting the process of tuning, a builder needs to address the following. If I am drilling my own axle holes, how do I keep the axles in place? After all once I install them, I will not be able to drill through the metal.

A series of glue holes need to be drilled prior to painting, prior to installing the wheels and axles. It is not crucial to make them perfectly spaced or in a perfect line. What is important is that you leave room from the edge so that the glue does not accidentally leak on your pinewood axles.

Graphite Wheel Channel Pinewood Derby Body

Unless you build a lot of cars, one of the problems you will quickly find out is that with drilled axle holes, there is practically no way to add graphite to the pinewood axle at the hub once you have installed the wheel and gaped them properly.  While you drill glue Pinewood Axles holes for your axles, do this next step.

Here’s a builders tip. Add a graphite lube channel. With the BSA slots, you have wood removed that allows you access the inner wheel hub. With Drilled body you literally run into a brick wall. So, just add some angled channels that allow you to to get to that spot. I do mine with a rotary tool. This can easily be done with a file or some sandpaper. I just like power tools.

If you accidentally take off too much and end up in the axle hole, no worries, just remember that with the BSA blocks, there is an entire slot all the way across the body. It’s not going to hurt a thing.

What glue to use to glue Pinewood Derby axles and wheels

What glue should I used for pinewood axles?  Super Glue or CA glue is glue of choice for many years. Just remember this stuff is super runny or liquid, a little will go a long way and I have ruined many wheel sets because of this. Use just a few little drops of glue on your axle. And make sure your car is nice and flat so that it does not run into the wheel. It WILL.

Expert builders are now choosing RED locktite screw thread anti-vibrate treatment to glue pinewood axle. They apply it the same way as super glue. It seems that it penetrates the wood better and it literally locks the axle in place. Not going to move the tune job. So, if you are out of super glue or want to give that a try I highly recommend it.