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Are silicones the tires of choice on a wood track ???

I am in the slow process of installing a ceiling then track in my basement. Using 1/2' MDF.
Will a plunge router be easier to use than a traditional router ? Note...I have never use a router before.
My track are will be flat and on a 5 x 10 frame? Suggestions for a specific layout are encouraged. Once I see/use/get bored.. I may want to build a new layout with bridges and banked turns etc.
How do you think Scaleys will perform on wood ?
:text-thankyouyellow: :text-thankyouyellow: :text-thankyouyellow: ...from Bob in Buffalo

Bob

A plunge router is not harder to use than a regular router, just make the starting cut on the routing easier to do as the plunge router will go straight down instead of trying to start the cut at a angle with the normal router. Practice in some scrap wood until you are use to it..

Scaley will run fin on a routed track. All the makes will run well with the right voltage. Are you using copper tape, braid or magna braid? magna braid will let you run with magnets. also I suggest you get a variable power supply for the track, will make running non magnet cars easier.. All the routed tracks that we run on use Silicone tires, but rubber and urethane tires will work find too.
you will find that most all the stock tires on Scaley car will not work that well on the any track if running non magnet cars.

We have a group that race in Tonawanda and in two routed tracks in Rochester. we race twice a month and run non magnet cars. WE run Trans-Am (mostly modified Sacley cars) Can-Am ( slot-it and NSR cars) NASCAR (again Scaley cars) NSR GT class, Sideways Racer Group 5, DP , GT and C2 cars. There is also a 150 foot routed track in Niagara Falls Ace Hobbies that race non magnet cars on Monday and Friday, and magnet cars on Sat.

We would be glad to have you over to the track in Tonawanda in a few weeks. Contact me for more info.

Chris

Silicone tires will have the best grip on a clean track. Rubber tires work better if there is a layer of rubber on the track. If you want to use rubber tires on some of your cars urethane tires might be a better choice for the rest of them.
I see no advantage to using a plunge router. Be sure to us a high quality carbide bit like the one that Slot Car Corner sells. If your track is well designed you will be less likely to get bored with it. Tracks with elevation changes are more interesting than flat tracks. It would be a good idea to do a full sized mockup of your track design with craft paper or cardboard. You could design your track to make it easier to change later on. Braided tracks are easier to change than taped tracks.
This track had to be changed to fit into a new space.

Thanks Rich !!!
The tracks look great !!!!
Especially the Ferris Wheel !! LOL

Hi Bob
Goggle Father Bobs slotcar site Comcast and check out the build pics, it my help.

Phil

TY !!

Bob, I highly recommend you give urethane tires a try - they are far better for wood than the basic rubber that comes on most of the slot cars.

Here's the quick link to my summary of making tires (it's easy too!!):

http://www.outriggercanoe.com/mypics/2005_24.html

My son has been running ProTrack silicones on his SuperStox, and they grip pretty good.

Super Tires silicone tires are great on routed mdf tracks. Check out Slot Car Corner they have a wide selection.