How to polish the axles on your Pinewood Derby car . It's as easy as ABC!
view shopping cart    product catalog home 
 

Polish your Pinewood Derby Car axles

This is the process that we recommended for polishing your axles

What you will need:

  • Our Secret Formula Axle Polish
  • Old T-shirt or other light cloth.
  • Drill, vice or pliers.

1. Inspect your axles for flaws. Replace defective axles.

2. Check that your axles are straight by either rolling them on a flat surface or spinning them in a drill. Replace axles that are not straight or use our Pro-Axle-Press to straighten the axles.

The axles that are supplied in your Pinewood Derby kit have burrs and crimp marks that are created during the manufacturing process. These imperfections cause friction between the axle and the wheel.

3. Carefully remove the burr on the head of the axle and crimp marks on the axle shaft with a jeweler’s file.

4. Cut three 8” by 1” strips from an old t-shirt or other light cloth.


5. Spread a very thin layer of the Step 1 polish on a 4” center section of one of the cloth strips.

6. Mount an axle in a drill or vice or hold it with a pliers (drill is preferred).


7. Hold each end of the cloth strip and place the center of the strip under the axle shaft using moderate pressure. If using a drill, spin the axle while slowly moving the cloth about one inch over a 10 second period.

9. If using a vice or pliers, move the cloth back and forth 1” for 15 seconds. Turn the axle 90 deg. and repeat until all sides of the axle are polished.

 

10. If done right, there should be a dark residue on the cloth.

11. Using the same method, take one of the clean cloth strips and clean the axle of any excess polish.

12. Repeat steps 6 – 11 for the other axles.


13. Repeat steps 5 – 12 for the Final Step Polish.

 

"How To" Books
  "How To" Video
  Car Designs
  Car Blocks
  Pre-Cut Cars
  Car Parts
  Car Kits
  Car Fenders
  Painted Cars
  Completed Cars
Tools
Axles
Axle Sandpaper
Axle Polish
Wheels
Awana Wheels & Axles
  Weights
  Graphite and Lube
  Tools
  Car Decals
  Wheel Decals
  Racing Stripes
  Body Skins
  Paint
  Car Eyes
  Mud Stick
  Car Accessories
  Practice Track
  Car Carrying Case
  Car Tune Up Kit
  Digital Scale
  Down and Derby
  Car Paint Stand
  Car Inspection Gauge
  Product Catalog
Can't find what you are looking for?
Search our site.
  Home
  Site Map
  What is the Pinewood Derby?
  Pinewood Derby Rules
  Questions and Answers
  Shipping and Returns
  Privacy Notice
  Pinewood Links
  Contact Us
Design and build your Pinewood Derby Car
Build a fast Derby Car
Run a Pinewood Race
Build a Derby Track
  Build a Car Stand
  Paint Chrome Wheels
Use a Rasp
  Use a Coping Saw
  Use Decals

© copyright ABC Pinewood Derby ALL RIGHTS RESERVED