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Re: Mousetrap Vehicle C

Posted: March 30th, 2011, 9:35 pm
by bwy
What are you guys using to wrap your axles in to make them thicker, if you are doing so? (If not, does shortening the lever bar have the same effect?)
I've tried tape, velcro, and pencil grips but none of them is reliable and without its disadvantages...

Re: Mousetrap Vehicle C

Posted: March 30th, 2011, 9:53 pm
by starpug
bwy wrote:What are you guys using to wrap your axles in to make them thicker, if you are doing so? (If not, does shortening the lever bar have the same effect?)
I've tried tape, velcro, and pencil grips but none of them is reliable and without its disadvantages...
I do believe that the axle to wheel ratio and arm length to axle ratio both allow you to increase distance or speed at the cost of the other, so the key is to get the exact right amount of each out of the mousetraps.

Re: Mousetrap Vehicle C

Posted: March 30th, 2011, 10:48 pm
by bwy
starpug wrote:
bwy wrote:What are you guys using to wrap your axles in to make them thicker, if you are doing so? (If not, does shortening the lever bar have the same effect?)
I've tried tape, velcro, and pencil grips but none of them is reliable and without its disadvantages...
I do believe that the axle to wheel ratio and arm length to axle ratio both allow you to increase distance or speed at the cost of the other, so the key is to get the exact right amount of each out of the mousetraps.
Yup. I'm wondering how(what to use) to thicken my axles, since it seems to help more for speed than shortening my arm bar.

Re: Mousetrap Vehicle C

Posted: March 31st, 2011, 3:25 am
by starpug
bwy wrote:
starpug wrote:
bwy wrote:What are you guys using to wrap your axles in to make them thicker, if you are doing so? (If not, does shortening the lever bar have the same effect?)
I've tried tape, velcro, and pencil grips but none of them is reliable and without its disadvantages...
I do believe that the axle to wheel ratio and arm length to axle ratio both allow you to increase distance or speed at the cost of the other, so the key is to get the exact right amount of each out of the mousetraps.
Yup. I'm wondering how(what to use) to thicken my axles, since it seems to help more for speed than shortening my arm bar.
I was answering your second question, I really don't know about the first one.

Re: Mousetrap Vehicle C

Posted: March 31st, 2011, 3:44 am
by illusionist
I use electrical tape, works great. What are the disadvantages that you seem to be experriencing?

Re: Mousetrap Vehicle C

Posted: March 31st, 2011, 10:00 pm
by bwy
illusionist wrote:I use electrical tape, works great. What are the disadvantages that you seem to be experriencing?
Well, the tape compresses after a few winds.
The pencil grips are too inflexible (I can't get the exact thickness I need)
Covering the center part of my axle with Velcro makes it hard to find a place to attach my string to...
I haven't tried electrical tape, though (just masking and scotch tape). I'll give that a try.

Re: Mousetrap Vehicle C

Posted: April 1st, 2011, 4:07 am
by illusionist
It does compress, but it certainly does not make a big impact on your vehicle. I have been using the same tape for a couple months now, and it's fine.

Re: Mousetrap Vehicle C

Posted: April 1st, 2011, 5:25 pm
by jarrred_1415
bwy wrote:What are you guys using to wrap your axles in to make them thicker, if you are doing so? (If not, does shortening the lever bar have the same effect?)
I've tried tape, velcro, and pencil grips but none of them is reliable and without its disadvantages...
i suggest that you take your axel to your local hardware store and trying several things to see which will fit over it tightly

i found that nylon spacers worked really well but i think you could use rubber also

Re: Mousetrap Vehicle C

Posted: April 4th, 2011, 8:57 pm
by Draylon Fogg
ive seen people use wooden weels to increase circumference

Re: Mousetrap Vehicle C

Posted: April 4th, 2011, 9:03 pm
by mrsteven
Here's my question: why aren't you able to find thicker axels that you don't NEED to make them thicker? Our local hobby shop has a varity of thick/ thin materials to make axels from.be creative