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Just finished my youngest's last PWD (he crossed over into Boy Scouts earlier this month). PWD was a great excuse to teach the boys how to use woodworking tools, and practice some patience ("Am I done sanding yet, Dad?"). IMO, the key to speed is weight placement and axle/wheel prep. Keep the added weights just ahead of or centered over the rear axle. Put the axle pins in the chuck of a drill and use a file to remove the spurs under the head (you run the drill, while the boy can hold the file). Then use wet 220 sandpaper to burnish the pin, followed by a rag with Brasso to polish it. Again, the boy can help chuck the pin, then hold the sandpaper/rag while you run the drill. Lightly sand the outer circumference of the wheels to remove injection spurs/holes and help round them. Put the axle in the wheel, then chuck the axle in the drill, add LOTS of graphite in the wheel center hole where the axle rubs and have Jr. hold the wheel still while you run the drill. Add graphite occasionally. Repeat the graphite process 2 - 3 times. Between the 2 boys, they have 5 1st place pack finishes out of 6 derbies to show this technique works well.
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