Dry Lube for Axles and website suggestion

Steele_Mill_Racing Thursday, 2/4/2016

Hey as a new member I am finding some great information about the hobby on this board.  I have also had some great communication with some members via the message service and this is definitely a friendly and welcoming group.  I am glad I found you!  Like most new people, I have a bunch of questions and sometimes it is challenging to find specific answers using the search bar on the site.  I saw there is a website update coming, and, if it wasn't already in the plans, wanted to see if it is possible to get a FAQ section added. A FAQ would be a good resource for us new folks who may be shy about asking a "dumb"question in fear that it may have been a topic that has been beaten to death in the past.  For example, my specific question (in fear of getting eyerolls from the veterans haha): What specific dry-lube options for axls are available? What brands are preferred? Which brands are "outlawed" from competition due to ingredients?  DIY options? Any tips on application? I know thats a lot of questions but...you know...I'm new!  Thanks!


Discussion

WELCOME FRIEND!

If you happen to have Hobby Lobby nearby , take a gander down the Pinewood derby area. They have a couple pretty good dry Graphite powders. The names of which i cannot recall at this time, ( Someone, please, help me out hete...)but they are in black and white packageing. They come in small plastic toothpaste looking containers. 

You might also check local hardware stores, as some power tools require dry lubes for proper function. I found some at Lowes once.

2 Bits of advice... 

A) Be careful how fast you squeeze the tube. It's a VERY fine silvery powder, that looks like glitter. It goes EVERYWHERE, including eyeballs and noses.

B) If you have a spouse, do not hesitate or delay sharing OUR definitions of "Strippers" and show them first hand, the TRUE source of all the glitter they will surely find on your clothing!!

GOOD LUCK!! ENJOY!!

And, again,  WELCOME!!


Personally, I just went on eBay and got the first tube of graphite that I saw...and I've been using that for about a year and a half now. I'm pretty sure that graphite is graphite, but like CTD said, I'm sure the Pinewood Derby guys would have figured out what is best.

Oh, and Welcome! I hope to see you doing some racing!


Thanks guys.  How do you apply it to the axle?  Do you have to take the frame off or do you sprinkle it on?  Can you direct me to a tutorial video?  


  • just puff it in between the axle and wheel, spin,spin,spin,puff,spin,spin,spin,spin,spin. — CrzyTrkrDude
  • Thanks CrzyTrkrDude — Steele_Mill_Racing
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Just_Will 2/5/16

Here is a previous post that has a video on polishing. It was posted by TE.

http://www.redlinederby.com/topic/axle-chassis-polishing/2353





  • Thank you! — Steele_Mill_Racing
  • Thanks for this Just_Will. It is good info, however he did not do the graphite step on the video. Anybody have a video on that process? — Steele_Mill_Racing
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fordman 2/5/16

welcome aboard...

  I was given a spray can of graphite 30 years ago..

 dries instantly on contact... apply to axle, spin the wheel till you are tired, wipe the axle clean... spin till tired, wipe clean... keep it up until the napkin shows no color from wiping the axle...

 I feel this keeps the graphite in the negative areas of the contact surface inside of the wheel... doesn't have to plow through extra graphite... just my opinion...


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redlinederby 2/5/16
Site manager

Welcome to Redline Derby Racing, Jim...glad you found us and are having fun learning about the hobby. As you've found, there's a lot of knowledge here to get your started in racing...and all of it good!

Here's what I use for graphite on wheels. Got it at Hobby Lobby...lasts forever. Just give it a little squeeze on the axle and wheels, then spin and run it on the track a few times.

http://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Hobbies/Hobbies-Collecting/Pine-Cars/Hob-E-Lube-Dry-Graphite-Lubric...

http://img.hobbylobby.com/sys-master/root/hb7/h7b/h00/8923516895262/259333_1[5].jpg

Regarding the upcoming web site update, part of the motive for the redesign is better organization of information. As you've found, we suffer from what a lot of community sites suffer from...too much (great) info buried way down in threads. The updated site will try to address some of these issues while also laying groundwork for future features that help all around. Better tagging, collections of articles and a "Diecast Racing 101" type section are all in the plans to try and help new racers like yourself.

If you have any trouble using the web site, just post or shoot me a PM and I'll do my best to help out (and fix anything that's broken).



  • ( yeah, that is the stuff. yep!) — CrzyTrkrDude
  • Oh yeah there is a TON of info on here! You are doing a great service @redlinederby thank you! — Steele_Mill_Racing
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