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Post by Mr. Slick on Feb 18, 2009 22:23:07 GMT -6
I figured with a title like that I'll get lots of people to read this thread! ;D ;D ;D Don't know (and don't really care) if the title is true so keep all your flames to yourselves. This is either the 14th or 15th year that I have been holding workshops of one type or another. This year I have 26 dates for workshops from 5:00pm until 8:30pm. We are averaging around 25 cars per workshop. I'm spending hundreds of dollars on tin, snadpaper, and sawblades on a regular basis. Luckily there are two Menards and two Home Depots near by. I have run 2 of the stores out of tin and had to fall back to the third one before the first one got restocked. I don't think they plan for the Pinewood Derby Season in their inventory/stock analysis. ;D I've gone through 7 of the Pro-Wheel-Mandrels this year and about 10 extra tips. Peiople were pushing down on the workbench with the wheel and bending them. I finally put up a BIG sign saying not to do that. I just got a refreshing stock of 6 tools and 6 extra tips from Max-V so I should make it through the rest of the workshop season. Here are some recent photos that I grabbed. . . Note the height of the tool benches, who is doing what, and don't forget the first and most improtant part of shop safety - your safety glasses. I think of Norm on New Yankee Workshop every time he starts to use the tools! Girl Scout at Scrollsaw A Lion Cub with the Pro-Wheel-Mandrel (yes, Lions are real - developmental/experimental program from what I understand) Big Brother with one of the Scrollsaws Helping a Tiger with a Scrollsaw The Doorway to FUN! Adding Hob-E-Lube Father and Sons with Pro-Wheel-Mandrel (note who has control of the speed!) Polishing the Axle Shaft (Mr. Slick's way is to fasten the abrasive and let the kids handle the drill and axle) Scrollsaw setup
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Post by gpraceman on Feb 19, 2009 19:59:24 GMT -6
Very impressive! You put my workshops to shame I guess I need more tools, a bigger workshop to put them in and a piped dust collection system I like seeing the kids using the scrollsaw, even if they need an adult's guiding hand. It seems your "workbenches" are just adjustable shelving units. That's a great idea to get them to any needed height. On your axle sanding stations, how often are you changing out wet/dry paper? How big of an army do you have helping you? On the safety glasses, you do Norm proud.
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Post by Mr. Slick on Feb 20, 2009 7:20:04 GMT -6
Thanks for the compliments!
We got the boot from our regular location at the community center when they tore it down last summer so this year we had to find ourselves a new spot. One of the parents from an area pack owns the AirTraffic stores and the one in the mall, Burnsville Center, has a "back room" that they use for things like their Pokeman league and other adventure game groups. He was kind enough to let us set up in there after the holiday season. All we did was rearrange the storage shelves and adjust the heights. Works rather well.
The sandpaper on the axle stations gets changed when it gets torn or when someone decides they want to use a new piece. I have a phillips screw driver there and a couple of large envelopes with the 1/2 inch strips pre-cut.
The first kids to show up each day get to unpack all of the sample cars, templates, books, pencils, etc. for the "Design table" and they get to put on new sandpaper for the axle stations.
I have been trying to get DerbyWorx to pick up the Axle Station as one of their tools -- with me dreaming of reaping in big bucks! ;D ;D ;D I have a shorter design (someday I may have to produce/sell them my self) that works perfectly for an individual or den that allows for easily switching of the media and a wider selection for those who want to go "Pro" on their polishing. The company that makes the abrasives used in most of the axle prep kits has some special versions that would be perfect.
The secret to the axle stations is to put the use into terms that the kids understand. "Kids, this is a part that you can do all by yourselves. For this station you need to be able to sing. Put the axle in like this. (demo) Then hold the drill level, not slanted up or down, and you don't push down on the drill because that will bend the axle. You need to use each side while (my favorite part) singing Happy Birthday to your self two times. So you need to sing Happy Birthday four times for each axle. (demo of doing an axle while mouthing the words to Happy Birthday four times. . . )"
Parents ask why I use the repeating song and I explain that every kid knows how to sing the song twice and then switch. Most kids cant keep track of something like 45 seconds very well.
Anyway - thanks and I hope the photos give people some ideas. . . and if someone has an idea on how to make them better, please speak up!
( I just realized that the photos of the axle station are from some previous year -- the current ones are on the OSB shelves like the saws. . . . You can see the two envelopes that contain the resupplies for the sandpaper on the table with the screwdriver barely visible on the left side. I'll try to get some current photos)
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Post by gpraceman on Feb 20, 2009 13:36:44 GMT -6
So, what do your sanding stations look like?
Do you have drill press(es) setup for drilling out weight pockets?
And out of curiosity, what dust collector are you using?
Where do you find the time to do all of these workshops and running all of those races? That is what truly amazes me.
Also a thumbs up on having the track available. I see a timer is attached. Do you let them see their times?
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Post by Mr. Slick on Feb 20, 2009 16:49:22 GMT -6
So, what do your sanding stations look like? I don't have any official sanding stations this year due to the "cramped" quarters. . . . used to have several Dremel's with different sanding drums on them for the kids to use. I also had a belt sander but that was abused so much that after a couple sets of bearings, I gave up on it -- besides that it was the most dangerous power tool that the kids could use. . . . Do you have drill press(es) setup for drilling out weight pockets? Yes, I have a drill press set up the is for "Staff Use Only" to put holes in the bottom of the cars which are then recessed on the bottom with a dremel tool. I'll find a photo. . . after the weight pocket is made "Staff" melts tin(solder) into the hole while it is on the scale. We bring the car up to 4.75 ounce to 4.8 ounce. And out of curiosity, what dust collector are you using? It is a JET DC-650. It has a 4" port and does 650 CFM. It is designed for quite operation in "the home or small workshop" so it isn't very loud and normal conversation can be maintained. www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19781Just remember to DOUBLE the price so you can get all of the tubes, adapters, clamps, gates, elbows, reducers, flex hoses, etc. . . . Where do you find the time to do all of these workshops and running all of those races? That is what truly amazes me. It is my true calling . . . . and my wife and kids get to see me if they come along and help out! Also a thumbs up on having the track available. I see a timer is attached. Do you let them see their times? The track is from Micro-Wizard with one of their timers from my "spare timer" collection. ;D ;D I am developing the lift system for it and I just need a few more hours to get it fully installed! If the crowd is small and someone has a finished car I will make a little "Alignment Demonstration" for the people who are there. (BTW, I can normally shave .05 to .5 seconds with a few quick tunings.) This really re-enforces what I stress at the weight station. "That the last 1/4 ounce of weight is not that critical compared to doing some alignment." The track is "Off Limits" during workshop hours but it is available for use during any of the other regular store hours. . . 7 days a week!
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Post by Mr. Slick on Feb 20, 2009 17:13:15 GMT -6
Some more photos. . . "Staff Only" Drill Press and Dust Collector top half. . . Drilling hole in bottom of car with forstner bit. Melting Tin(Solder) into car on scale. When the solder "roll" gets to the end there is a short section that is hard to melt with precision so we take those pieces and any other scrap pieces to remelt into bars that are about 8 ounces. . . Reduce/Reuse/Recycle especially at $14 per pound! Melting from one of the "recycled" bars. One of the "Informational Posters" (from past years) Some of the popular designs had metal profiles made for multi year durability!
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Post by gpraceman on Feb 20, 2009 20:50:10 GMT -6
Why a "staff only" drill press? I like to get the kids to run the press to drill out the weight pockets and have the adult position the car and let the kid know when to take the bit down (the limit stop is set so they can't go down too far). I do stress about loose clothing, so any jackets or sweatshirts have to be pushed up to their elbows or take off. Those with long hair need to tie the hair back. On the melting of the solder, you aren't worried about the fumes, especially indoors? I'm not so sure that beard and mustache qualify as a respirator. I wish I had enough juice to run a larger dust collector. I have a mini one from HF ( www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=31810). It is nice and quiet but really only has enough draw for one tool at a time. So, in other words, it doesn't get used for my workshops. On the sanders, you might want to look at a reciprocating drum sander. It is great on the curves. I never had any injuries with the kids using any of my sanders, other than maybe a minor scrape if a finger or knuckle got a bit too close to the paper. My bride got me a 1"x30" belt sander for Christmas, which was pressed into use for our January workshops. It is good for getting into those tight corners. HF has a 20% off coupon right now ( www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/common/displayCoupon.do?week=809&campaign=RetailC&page=coupon1.html&single=true&r=4180_445781&cust=00128809922&keycode=0000), so maybe it is time for a new sander. And one thing I notice that is missing from your photos. Where's the one pound bucket of wood putty? You need something for those "ooops" moments!
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Post by jevans on Oct 16, 2009 6:38:53 GMT -6
hey Mr slick loved your photos because of your posting i discovered we have had 2 harbor freight stores for over a year here in CT . i was like a kid in candy store. $59.99 drill press and a $59.49 scroll saw but don't tell my wife. I am interested in your axle station how you built it and do you just screw the sand paper down on either end? and would you cut a wider strip and bend over back to sand the under side of nail head?
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Post by DerbyDoc.com on Oct 16, 2009 20:28:55 GMT -6
hey Mr slick loved your photos because of your posting i discovered we have had 2 harbor freight stores for over a year here in CT . i was like a kid in candy store. $59.99 drill press and a $59.49 scroll saw but don't tell my wife. I am interested in your axle station how you built it and do you just screw the sand paper down on either end? and would you cut a wider strip and bend over back to sand the under side of nail head? Welcome to the harbor freight club. Theres no getting out now.
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Post by jevans on Oct 21, 2009 5:39:53 GMT -6
soon to go back for belt sander and drum sander
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