[Big Bill]

Hi,

Not sure if this question belongs here but I've received help from this forum in the past, so I thought some may have some ideas.

My daughter entered a Powder Puff Derby for Girl Scouts and needs to make a race car out of wood. The wood is pine, and is 7" long x 1 3/4" wide x 1 1/4" deep. The theme she wants to make is a hair brush but I'm having trouble making the bristles.
I tried a router to make "slots" horizontal and vertical, skipping every other one with the hope of leaving a "post" to be the bristle, but they keep breaking on me when I crosscut against whichever "slot" I make first. I then tried drawing a pattern, then drilling every other "hole", but that isn't working out too well either.
Any ideas how I might make these bristles out of the block of pine?

If this question dosen't fit to this forum, I understand. Thanks

 

[DangerMouse]

Can you post a picture? I'm having a hard time imagining what you are attempting to do.

DM

 

[Ron6519]

Why not just drill holes and insert the bristles in there.

 

[Big Bill]

Can you post a picture? I'm having a hard time imagining what you are attempting to do.

DM

Hi, Here's a picture:

 

[Big Bill]

Thanks,

I guess I could drill holes and insert the bristles, but I was trying to keep it as a total wood theme. I just want to give the impression of a brush, I think it would look cool if I could do that.

 

[DangerMouse]

The way you're trying to do it will continue to fail. The rotation of the router is working against you.
I would either use a table saw to do the second passes or drill and use round wooden dowels for the bristles.

DM

 

[Big Bill]

Thanks DM. That's perfect advice! I'll try the table saw on the second pass and see what happens. Thank you!

Bill

 

[DangerMouse]

If you have a fine tooth blade, it'll chip out less too.... (hopefully)

DM

 

[DangerMouse]

If it were me, and the second pass worked out, I'd also attempt diagonal cuts to 'round' out the bristles too.

DM

 

[Big Bill]

True.... maybe I'll try one of my hand saws first to (hopefully) control the chip out? Hey.... if I can't get it right I can always change the "theme", but I'm not a quitter so I'll give it my all first! Thanks again. :thumbsup:

 

[kwikfishron]

I think even if the table saw works the pieces will be very fragile (especially with Pine), too much so for the intended use.

I like the drill and dowel idea better. You could even use toothpicks. A little bit of curve to the block wouldn’t hurt either.

 

[Big Bill]

Another good idea!

 

[DangerMouse]

Wow, I didn't read well enough to see "7" long x 1 3/4" wide x 1 1/4" deep".
Is this just to be an ornament for a soap box derby type RIDEABLE car(t)?
Or is this the base for a small toy type car? If this is the case, drill and dowel/toothpick, yup.
Working this small of a project is hard and can even be dangerous on a table saw.

Sorry about that.

DM

 

[kwikfishron]

Big difference between the Soap Box and the Powder Puff class.:laughing:

 

[Big Bill]

LOL! Not a rideable derby. It's the same as the Pinewood Derby that the Boy Scouts have.... except for the girls:

http://www.pinewoodderby.org/

I'll be careful whatever way I do it. Thanks

 

[DangerMouse]

OhKaaaaaayyyyy..... :laughing:

ummmm, I hate to bring this up, but isn't the KID supposed to be making this?

DM

 

[Big Bill]

lol

Yeah .... we're "bonding" and doing this project togeather! You know how that teamwork goes, I do the work and she gets the award.... :thumbsup: Teamwork! LOL

Seriously though, she'll do some sanding and painting.. after she's finished shopping w/mom for more clothes she don't need... :laughing:

 

[DangerMouse]

:laughing::laughing:
:laughing::laughing:
:laughing::laughing:
:laughing::laughing:

DM

 

[Willie T]

Sticking some wheels on a block of wood is now called a 'derby'? That's embarrassing to the memory of our old soapbox derbies.

 

[kwikfishron]

Sticking some wheels on a block of wood is now called a 'derby'? That's embarrassing to the memory of our old soapbox derbies.

Were talking 1st and 2nd graders here Willie.

They might just be a little bit young to be greasing up the bearings and shooting them down the hill. :laughing: