PITSCO EDUCATION PE•0921•0000•00 Fusion Body Blanks Instructions
- June 12, 2024
- PITSCO EDUCATION
Table of Contents
PITSCO EDUCATION PE•0921•0000•00 Fusion Body Blanks
ABOUT THE PITSCO FUSION BLANK
Pitsco has supplied balsa and basswood blanks for CO2 dragsters for more than 45 years. With the supply of balsa wood being limited and the technological advances with composite materials coming of age, Pitsco has invested in the future by diversifying our dragster blank range to include Fusion (polyurethane) blanks. We provide you the opportunity to choose the material that best suits your needs.
- Pitsco’s Fusion CO2 dragster blank has been officially approved by the Technology Students Association (TSA) for use in CO2 dragster competition.
- Pitsco’s Fusion CO2 dragster blanks are manufactured for precise and uniform mass distribution throughout the body of the blank.
- Each blank is within ±5 grams of the 82-gram overall mass.
- The blanks are made of high-density polyurethane foam and are molded to exact standards so every student has an equal starting point for their dragster.
- The mass of the Pitsco Fusion Blank is approximately equivalent to lightweight balsa wood blanks.
- The structural integrity of each Pitsco Fusion Blank extends in all directions, not just along the longitudinal axis (following the wood grain) of balsa or basswood blanks. This enables you to utilize designs that have thicker parts or features without making the dragster heavy.
FORMING THE DRAGSTER BODY
Standard hand and power tools can be used to form the Pitsco Fusion Blank into a dragster for racing. One thing to remember when using tools (especially power tools) with the composite blank is that tools will remove material from the composite blank much more quickly than from a wood blank.
- Do not use a hot-wire cutter on the composite blank. Toxic fumes are released from the foam as the foam is melted/cut.
- Use a dust mask and eye protection when cutting or sanding the composite blank as these processes will produce ultrafine dust.
- Use tools (especially power tools) carefully as the tools will remove composite material very quickly in comparison to wood. If vacuum devices are available for the power tools, be sure to turn the vacuum on to assist in dust collection.
- As with wood blanks, use a drill press for accurately drilling perpendicular holes in the composite blank.
- Use a straw “bushing” to reduce drag between the rotating axle and the hole through the dragster body.
- For fine contouring of the dragster body, use sandpaper to get the blank down to the final dragster form. Two different grits of sandpaper are included in the kit for this purpose: use the 100-grit sandpaper for rough contouring, and use the 180-grit sandpaper for fine smoothing of the dragster surface. If possible, use a sanding table (such as The Pitsco Sand Box) to help keep the dust out of the air.
FINISHING THE FUSION DRAGSTER
Finishing a composite dragster is similar to finishing a traditional wood dragster. Careful attention to detail will be the greatest factor in producing a smooth, lustrous finish on the dragster.
- Sand out any machining lines (those left from rough cuts) for the best appearance.
- Be sure to use fine-grit sandpaper (180 or higher) to make the dragster surfaces as smooth as possible before finishing.
- Use a water-based sanding sealer to help fill the porous surface of the Fusion blank. After the sealer has dried, sand the body down with fine sandpaper. If needed, apply a second coat of sanding sealer to further smooth the surfaces. Note: Do not use sanding sealer or paint inside the cartridge hole of the blank. This can cause the CO2 cartridge to fit too snugly.
- Apply one or more coats of paint over the sanding sealer. Acrylic paints can be brushed on, or spray paints may be used if adequate ventilation is available. If acrylic paints are used, a coat of clear gloss finish can be sprayed on to further smooth the finish and provide a glossy coat.
- Due to the structure of the blank, using longer screw eyes on the bottom of the dragster is highly recommended. Adding a drop of CA glue will assist in holding the screw eyes securely.
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Pitsco Education • P.O. Box 1708, Pittsburg, KS 66762 • 800-835-0686 • Pitsco.com • © 2021 Pitsco Education, LLC. All rights reserved.
