How to Make CO2 Dragsters
CO2 dragsters are basically wooden toy cars that are powered by CO2 gas and can be raced against each other. Kids in high school woodshop or even middle school science classes make CO2 dragsters to race against their classmatesto learn about woodworking or to learn about the physics of racing. You can make your own CO2 dragsters at home for entertainment purposes or as a hobby. Making CO2 cars is made easier by the wooden wedge that is now standard for CO2 dragsters and is usually sold in a kit.
Things You'll Need
- CO2 dragster kit
- Jigsaw
- Drill
- Sandpaper
- Spray paint (any color)
- CO2 canistero
Instructions
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1
Draw the design for the CO2 dragster you want to make directly onto the CO2 car wedge. A standard CO2 dragster kit can be purchased at any hobby shop, hardware store or online and includes the wedge, two metal rods and four plastic wheels. Make sure that the design incorporates the CO2 canister hole which has been drilled into the wedge.
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2
Cut out the design from the wedge using a jigsaw. Make sure to make the cut out about one quarter of an inch bigger than the drawn design to give you room to smooth down the wood later on.
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3
Drill a hole into the front and back of the dragster. The holes should be big enough to fit the metal rods from the kit but not much bigger. The holes should be no more than about one quarter of an inch from the bottom of the car.
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4
Smooth out all the surfaces of the CO2 dragster using sandpaper, and then paint the dragster using spray paint. Use any color paint, or paints, you prefer.
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5
Insert the two metal rods into the holes of the dragster and attach a plastic wheel to each of the ends of the rods sticking out of the car. The tires should fit tightly onto the rods.
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6
Insert a CO2 canister into the hole at the back of the dragster. The CO2 canister can be purchased at the same locations as the CO2 dragster kit.
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7
Puncture the tip of the CO2 canister with a nail and the CO2 dragster will race off, powered by the escaping CO2 gas.
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References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
