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Archive through January 25, 2006

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Dec. ~ 2006 Feb.: The only Dumb question is the one not asked (Q&A) (ARCHIVES): Archive through January 25, 2006 users admin

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Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Monday, January 23, 2006 - 7:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
LOL- sorry, I can't help you on this one but I have to say that's the absolute BEST plea for help I've read here! :-)

Jimmer
Member

08-30-2000

Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
Love the plea for help (cute picture too). Must be rough having those parents!

Unfortunately, when it comes to wood-working, I think that I fall into his parent's category.

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
I found a website just for that...

Building a Pinewood Derby Car

It starts out saying "The Cub Scout Pinewood Derby is probably the most popular "fun event" that a young Scout will participate." so I assume it's for that and it includes templates. It looks complicated to me though. Don't think car building of any sort is in my future.

This link has links to help you...

Pinewood Derby

This site might help. It's not instructions, but there are books for sale, kits with stuff pre-cut, and plans....

Pinewoodpro. I think you may have seen that site since the car picture is on there though that you posted.

E-How has some step-by-steps too.

E-how

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
0 for 2 so far... :-)

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Oh, I wrote too soon. Off to look at Kaili's site. Thanks Kaili!!!!

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
Maybe you can ask other parents that may have done this before?

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Well in our tiny den, all the boys are new to the scouts. So we are all newbies. Though the other dads are handy.

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Monday, January 23, 2006 - 3:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Julieboo, given your description, your number one goal (besides the obvious goal of having fun helping your child build a car he likes ) is to build a car that will make it to the bottom of the track. Nothing worse than having your car stop halfway down the track.

Forget about speed or contending. Too many dads take the race way too seriously and will use special tools to build the cars, polish the nails, smooth the wheels, optimally place the weights, etc...
You will quickly identify these dads at the derby. Often it isn't pretty.

So, how do you get your car down the track?

1. Your car must be as close to 5 ounces as you can get it. Depending on how much wood you remove, you'll need to add 2-3 ounces. Don't buy expensive weights from Hobby Lobby. Go to the fishing section at Sports Authority and get the cheapest lead weights in a couple of different sizes. You can drill a hole in the middle of the wood to add the weights. A hot glue gun is best for securing the weights.

2. Get the wheels on straight and make sure they all spin freely. Don't reduce the width of the block of wood and you won't have any problems getting stuck on the track.

Everything else is an advanced maneuver. :-)

As far as design goes, there are a few simple designs:

1. The easiest design is to not cut the wood at all. Call it a truck and he can paint it his favorite color. He can add some stickers if he really wants to make it cool.

2. Cut it diagonally (like a wedge of cheese). This can be done by hand or find a friend with a miter cut saw. Don't cut it too thin, since you want to have room for the weights and you'll need more weights if you cut off more wood.

Find a dad on the day of the race that has a tube of powdered graphite (there will be plenty of them) and ask them if you can borrow it. Spin a wheel and puff the graphite onto the axle (nail) where it contacts the wheel. After a few spins and puffs, the wheel should spin more freely. Repeat until you are out of wheels. The graphite will make a mess, so don't squeeze too hard and try to do it over a garbage can.

That's it from the top of my head.

Don't wait until the night before, even though you probably will! LOL!


Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Monday, January 23, 2006 - 7:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
And put an itty bitty SpongeBob in as the driver.

Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Monday, January 23, 2006 - 9:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
lol juju.

hi, i've become "quite the expert at googling" thanks to TVCH. however, unfortunately...we must remember all things are relative.

so, this is one more dumb question that i have. i explained in detail on the thread Home Improvement Shows/HGTV my problem.

to make it shorter: i need to record a show on video that was shown yesterday on HGTV/Generation Renovation. i have searched (hgtv site, zap2it, tvguideonline)....but can't find when/(if) the show will be repeated.

the episode i'm talking about (well, i think) is about ECO designers of homes. our friend's home he designed is on the show and i was supposed to tape it. well, i thought it was today (not yesterday).

so, can someone tell me how to find out when it will be repeated? i need to tape it. thanks in advance. i can give you detailed info if you need it (about the show).

Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Monday, January 23, 2006 - 11:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
Abby7, Generation Renovation airs at 8:00 ET/PT on Wednesdays. However, they show reruns at other times. :-)

The one on Sunday at 6:30 ET/PT was Episode HGREN-401, Married to the Renovation, Seattle Farmhouse, LA Modern, New Jersey Kitchen
A woman updates a 1920s Pittsburgh foursquare and has so much fun in the process that she winds up marrying her contractor. A renter talks his landlord into turning over a 19th century farmhouse and then undertakes a two-year renovation. Renovating a mid-century modern in Los Angeles opens the home up with a stunning view. A New Jersey couple spends more than a year building their ultimate kitchen.


Unfortunately, they don't show any additional repeat time for that episode.

Sorry I can't be of more help than that. You might want to check the website occasionally to see if they add a new air date. Here's the web page for that episode.

:-)

Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 12:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
Max, thank you, thank you.(i just got back online after last posting). just knowing when generation renovation airs is A GREAT HELP TO ME. i can go from "there" hopefully.

here's more information:

here's part of the e-mail from the designer:

......home that I designed will be on HGTV on Jan. 22, 2006. It will be on with other homes so of the 8 hours of tape and photos I am sure that there will be at least 2 minutes.

Set your TIVO.
---------------------

darn, he also sent us an attachment with all the details of the episode on HGTV....but for some reason i can't copy and paste it.

here's an article about the house (the photos on the right is the house):

http://tinyurl.com/8w93n

-------------

that article shows the home that was shown yesterday, the house he designed. that article is a year old ...just so you know.

thanks again. i will be looking for the repeat. again...does HGTV usually repeat shows over and over again like some of the other cable channels?

again...thanks MAX! i really want to tape this for our friend.

eta: the info i could not cut and paste stated the time was January 22, 6:30 pm PT/ET. however he sent us that e-mail weeks ago. when we were with him just a few days ago he told us the time changed. (i still had the DAY wrong unfortunately).

Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 1:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
http://tinyurl.com/8w93n

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 5:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Hey Bob, Thanks!!! That is great information. Do you have to drill holes for the wheels? (As opposed to just hammering?) You rock! I'm not looking forward to seeing the dads (or moms) that take the race so seriously. Yep, you know me too well with waiting til last minute...

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 10:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Dawg! Excellent idea for the driver!

Julieboo: Most of the kits I've seen have 2 little notches (slits) cut into the bottom. You can actually push the nails into this notch or tap it with a small hammer if it is tight. You can put some glue in the slot to keep the nail from sliding out. Make sure not to get the glue near the edge of the wood on on the tire.

If there is not slot, then drill holes as close to the bottom as you can, almost coming out of the bottom of the wood. You want to make sure that the car has the proper clearance above the strip on the track that keeps the cars in their lanes. Your instructions should tell you what that height is.

Also, if you are drilling your own holes, make then as close to the ends as possible, but still keeping the wheels from extending over the front or back edge. This will allow you to place the weights farther back on the car, without causing the front to lift up.

One of the many speed tricks is to have most of the car's weight in the back. This is because all the momentum the car gains is due to gravity before the car reaches the flat part of the track. Since the cars start on a slope, the back end of the car is slightly higher and this allows gravity to work on it for just a bit longer. Watch the cars that win. Most cars will be very even when reaching the bottom of the track, but the cars with the weight in the back will seem to jump ahead on the flat portion and will carry just a little more momentum through to the finish. This is where cars that are only 2-3 ounces will stop, since they will not have enough built up momentum

One last thought, thanks to Dawg's comment.
If you go with the uncut truck design, you could drills some small holes of varying sizes in the block, paint it yellow and make it a sponge!

Here's a template to help with the design:


Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 2:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Thanks again Bob!!! Your tips are way more what I was looking for than what I find when googling. :-)

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 3:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Next question(s):
1. What age is good for a "real" video game system? (not V-smile or plug n plays)
2. X-box, Play Station or Game Cube?

Jagger
Member

08-07-2002

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 3:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jagger a private message Print Post    
LOL at your question Julie, in my opinion no age is good to get a kid an x-box or Play Station, but that's just my opinion. I'd rather kids grow up playing with the kind of toys we had when we were younger. Boy if I ever had a kid he or she would hate me.

Wendo
Member

08-07-2000

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 5:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wendo a private message Print Post    
Julie, the Nintendo game system and the games available for it are typically good for younger gamers. While some games are more adult oriented, the Nintendo system, compared to the others, has more games available for younger kids. What age are you talking about?

Jagger, video games, in moderation and with parental oversight, can be a great thing for kids. They help develop hand eye coordination, reasoning, and problem solving. Like anything else, one shouldn't go overboard using it. Balanced with other daily activities, video games are great for kids.

Graceunderfyre
Member

01-21-2004

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 6:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Graceunderfyre a private message Print Post    
Julie I'm pretty sure last time I was at Hobby Lobby they had stuff on derby racing - books and weights and all that jazz. . .

Justavice
Member

11-22-2005

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 6:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Justavice a private message Print Post    
Julie- Many of the home repair stores will cut wood for free if you buy it there. Perhaps if you make a pattern on paper and then buy the block of wood at a Home Depot, or other store, they will do the main "body style" cut for you and then all you have to do is sand it down... Not sure if this is true of all home repair stores...

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 7:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Great ideas, thanks a lot all of you!!!

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 7:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
I bought a PS2 for myself for Christmas....I wasn't sure which I wanted but it seemed the X-Box games are more fighting games which I don't like. They have similar games, but I like the games like Finding Nemo, the Harry Potter games. I don't know much about the GameCube at all except that it's the least expensive. I got the PS2 because you can play the PS1 games on it, then I bought some and it turns out I never play them anyway because they don't looks as good as the newer games.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 8:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
We started with the nintendo (more of the younger kid games like Wendo said) and then moved to the X-box.

And yep with parental guidance and strict time limits, video games can be good. You have to find the right balance that works for each family. In our house, homework and chores have to be done, the kids have to "give" me 30 minutes of reading each day they want to play, they have a time limit on how long they can play, and it's balanced out with outside play and playing with toys that aren't on a screen. We do occassionally bend these rules, but only when Caleb and dad are playing together. Since they don't get a lot of time to do that we're not as strict on the time limit (like tonight they played for an hour and a half before dinner.)

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 6:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
So there is another choice? There are 4 choices then; Nintendo, x-box, PS2 and Game Cube?

Can anyone give me a little synopsis about each one? (so far I see nintendo is for younger kids and xbox has more fighting type games).

Also, the only prerequisite is that there has to be a spongebob game involved. Though I am assuming that all 4 would have one. Is that right?

Thanks for any opinions, answers, comments, etc.