So, you want to build your very own slot car track? It’s a fun project! Making a great track for your slot cars is something anyone can do with some time and care. This guide will walk you through building a fantastic track right at home.
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Getting Started with Your Track Dream
Building a slot car track lets you race cars you control. It’s a great hobby. You get to design the path the cars take. You get to build the track piece by piece. And you get to add cool details. Think of it like building a small world for tiny race cars.
A key part of this is choosing your slot car track building materials. Most people who want a really good track that they design just how they like use wood. This is known as making a wooden slot car track. This lets you make any shape track you can imagine. You aren’t stuck with plastic pieces that only fit certain ways.
This guide will show you how to build a track from wood, step by simple step. This is often called building routed slot car tracks. It means you use a special tool to cut the path for the cars right into the wood. We will cover everything you need to know, from drawing your ideas to wiring it up and making it look real.
Planning Your Race Course
Before you start cutting anything, you need a plan. Thinking first saves time and makes sure you get the track you want.
Deciding on the Path of Your Track
This is where the fun starts! You get to be the track designer. Think about the kind of races you like. Do you want long straight parts for speed? Tight turns for skill? Hills? Jumps? (Though jumps are tricky for routed tracks!)
This stage is all about DIY slot car track layout. You can draw your ideas on paper. Try different shapes. Make it simple at first. Maybe an oval or a figure-eight. Later, you can try more complex shapes with twists and turns.
Think about how many lanes you want. Most people build two lanes. This lets two cars race side-by-side. You can build more lanes, but it makes the track wider and harder to build.
How Much Space Do You Need?
Look at the space you have for the track. A basement, a spare room, or even part of a garage can work. Measure the area. Your track plan must fit in this space.
Remember that cars need room around the track too. They might slide off on turns. You will need space to put them back on.
Also, think about the scale of your cars. Slot cars come in different sizes. Common sizes are 1:32 and 1:24. 1:24 cars are bigger and need wider lanes and bigger turns. Make sure your track plan fits the size of your cars.
Drawing Your Plans
Get some large paper or use computer software if you like. Draw the outline of your space. Then, start drawing your track layout inside that space.
- Draw the edge of the track first. This is the outside line.
- Draw the inside line. Make sure the lanes are wide enough for your cars. A good width for 1:32 cars is about 3.5 to 4 inches per lane. For 1:24 cars, use 4.5 to 5 inches per lane.
- Draw the lines for the slots. These are the thin lines in the middle of each lane where the guide pin of the car runs.
- Draw the lines for the track tape (braid). These are two grooves, one on each side of the slot. The metal contacts on the car touch this tape to get power.
Label your drawing. Mark where the power will connect. Mark the start/finish line. Think about where you will stand to race.
Getting Your Building Stuff
Now you need the slot car track building materials. Building a wooden track needs specific items.
The Wood Base
The most common wood for making a wooden slot car track is MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard). It is smooth and easy to cut. It is also quite flat, which is good for a race track. MDF comes in large sheets. A good thickness is 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch. Thicker wood makes the track stronger.
You will need enough sheets of MDF to cover your track layout. Measure your drawing to figure out how much wood you need.
Track Tape and Wire
The cars get power from metal strips on the track surface. These are usually copper or brass tape. This is often called “braid” because older tracks used braided wire. Now, it’s usually flat sticky tape. You will need two strips of this tape for each lane, running along the grooves next to the slot.
You also need electrical wire. This wire connects the track tape to the power supply. You will need wire for each lane. 16-gauge or 14-gauge wire is usually good. You need red wire for one side (positive) and black wire for the other (negative) for each lane to keep things clear.
Paint and Other Stuff
You will paint the track surface. This protects the wood and gives the track color. We will talk about the best paint for slot car track later. You will also need primer first.
Other materials include:
- Wood glue: To join pieces of wood.
- Wood screws or nails: To hold the wood together, especially the base frame.
- Sandpaper: To make surfaces smooth. Different grits are good (rough to fine).
- Filler (like wood filler): To fill small holes or mistakes.
- Clear coat (optional): To protect the paint.
Tools You Will Use
You will need some power tools.
- Router: This is the main tool for building routed slot car tracks. It cuts the slots and grooves in the wood.
- Router Bits: You need special slot car track router bits. You need one bit to cut the main slot where the car’s guide pin goes. This is usually a straight bit, about 1/8 inch wide for 1:32 cars or 3/16 inch for 1:24 cars. You also need a smaller bit, often a ‘V’ groove bit or a small straight bit, to cut the shallow grooves for the track tape on each side of the main slot.
- Circular Saw or Jigsaw: To cut the large pieces of wood for the base. A jigsaw is good for curved parts.
- Drill: To make pilot holes for screws or to make holes for wires.
- Sander: An electric sander makes smoothing the wood much faster.
- Measuring tape, ruler, pencil: For marking your layout.
- Clamps: To hold pieces of wood while you work.
- Safety glasses and dust mask: Always wear these when using power tools.
Making the Wood Base
The first big step is to build the table or frame for your track.
Cutting the Base Pieces
Look at your drawing. You might need to cut the track area into several large pieces of MDF. This makes them easier to handle. Use your circular saw or jigsaw to cut out these main shapes from the large MDF sheets. Cut carefully along your lines.
If your track has curves, you will use your jigsaw to cut these shapes.
Putting the Base Together
If your track base is made of several pieces, you need to join them. Lay them out on the floor or work surface just like your plan. Use wood glue along the edges where they meet. Push them together tightly. You can add some screws from underneath or use special connectors to make the joints strong and flat.
Building a Sturdy Frame
The MDF needs support. It can bend or sag over time, especially in places. Build a frame or legs to hold the track base up. You can use 2×4 lumber or other strong wood for this.
Build a simple frame that goes under the MDF base. Make sure the frame is wide enough to support all parts of the track, especially wide turns or areas that might have weight added later (like scenery). Attach the MDF base to the frame using screws from the top or bottom. Make sure the screw heads are below the surface if they are on the top side where the cars will run.
If you want legs, build them strong so the table does not wobble. Make sure the table is level. A flat track is important for good racing.
Cutting the Slots and Grooves
This is the heart of building routed slot car tracks. This step needs care and practice.
Drawing the Track Lines on the Wood
Transfer your track layout from paper to the MDF base. Measure carefully! Draw the center line for the main slot first. Use a long ruler or a flexible strip of wood for curves to get smooth lines.
Then, draw the lines for the track tape grooves. Remember, these go on each side of the main slot. Measure the distance from the center slot line accurately. This distance depends on the width of your car’s wheelbase (the distance between the front and back wheels that touch the braid). Mark these lines clearly with a pencil.
Using the Router
Get your router ready. Choose the correct slot car track router bits. Put the bit for the main slot (the thinner one) into the router. Set the depth of the cut. The slot needs to be deep enough for the car’s guide pin. Check your car’s guide pin length. Usually, a depth of about 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch is good.
Practice on a scrap piece of MDF first! See how the router feels and how the cut looks. Make sure the depth is right.
Now, turn on the router and carefully guide it along the center line you drew. Hold the router firmly. Move slowly and steadily. Follow the line exactly. This cut makes the main slot.
Cutting the Braid Grooves
Change the router bit to the smaller one for the braid grooves. Set the depth much shallower. These grooves only need to be deep enough for the track tape to sit flush with the surface or just a tiny bit below. Maybe 1/16 inch deep, or even less. Practice again on scrap wood.
Now, carefully guide the router along the two outer lines you drew for the braid grooves, one on each side of the main slot. Be very careful not to cut into the main slot you just made. Keep the distance from the center slot even all the way around the track.
When you are done routing all the slots and grooves, you will have the basic track shape cut into the wood.
Cleaning Up
Routing makes a lot of fine dust. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean all the dust out of the slots and grooves and off the track surface. Brush away any small bits of wood left from the cutting.
Smooth the edges of the slots and grooves lightly with fine sandpaper. Be careful not to change the shape. You just want to remove any rough edges.
Putting Down the Track Tape
Now it’s time to put the power strips into the grooves. This is where the cars pick up electricity.
Types of Track Tape
The most common material is copper tape with an sticky back. It comes in rolls. Some people use brass tape. Copper is often easier to get and work with. Make sure the tape is wide enough to fit nicely into the grooves you routed.
Putting the Tape In
Peel the backing off the tape a little bit at a time. Carefully lay the tape into one of the routed grooves. Press it down firmly with a tool like a small roller or a flat piece of wood wrapped in cloth. You want the tape to stick well to the bottom of the groove and lie flat.
Work your way along the groove, laying down the tape. Do one groove all the way around the track. Then do the second groove for that lane. Then do the grooves for the other lane(s).
When you come to a place where two pieces of tape meet (like at a corner or if your roll runs out), overlap the ends slightly. You can solder these overlaps later for a better connection.
Connecting the Tape Sections
For the best power flow, you should connect the different sections of tape. If you had to use multiple pieces of tape in one groove, overlap them by about an inch. Solder the top piece to the bottom piece where they overlap. Use a soldering iron and electrical solder. Be quick so you don’t burn the wood. This makes a strong electrical connection.
You will also need to connect the tape from different sections of your track base if you built it in pieces.
Wiring Your Track
The track tape needs to be connected to the power supply. This is how to wire a slot car track. It sounds hard, but it’s pretty simple for a basic track.
The Simple Idea of How it Works
Think of electricity flowing in a circle. It leaves the power supply, goes along one strip of track tape, through the car’s motor, back along the other strip of track tape, and returns to the power supply. Each lane needs its own circle of power.
Here is a basic slot car track wiring diagram idea:
Power Supply (+) — Red Wire –> Track Tape (Lane 1, Side A)
Track Tape (Lane 1, Side A) –> Car Motor –> Track Tape (Lane 1, Side B)
Track Tape (Lane 1, Side B) — Black Wire –> Power Supply (-)
Repeat this for Lane 2:
Power Supply (+) — Red Wire –> Track Tape (Lane 2, Side A)
Track Tape (Lane 2, Side A) –> Car Motor –> Track Tape (Lane 2, Side B)
Track Tape (Lane 2, Side B) — Black Wire –> Power Supply (-)
Each lane is separate. This means you can control each car’s speed on its own.
Connecting Wires to Tape
You need to connect your electrical wires to the track tape. The best way is to solder.
- Drill small holes (just big enough for the wire) from the underside of the track base up to the routed grooves in a few places. These are called “power taps.” Having power taps in several spots around the track (like at the start/finish line and maybe opposite side) helps make sure the power is strong everywhere.
- Push the end of a wire (strip off a little plastic coating first) up through the hole.
- Carefully scrape or sand a small area of the track tape around the hole to make it clean and shiny.
- Solder the bare end of the wire to the clean spot on the track tape. Do this for a red wire connecting to one groove’s tape and a black wire connecting to the other groove’s tape for that lane.
- Do this for each power tap you made for that lane.
- Under the track, connect all the red wires for Lane 1 together. Connect all the black wires for Lane 1 together. Do the same for Lane 2. You can use connector blocks or solder them together neatly.
Wiring to the Controller and Power Supply
You will need hook-ups for your hand controllers. Each lane needs its own controller wires. These controller wires connect between the wires from the track tape and the power supply. A common way is to use a terminal strip where you connect the wires from the track, the wires from the power supply, and the wires from the controllers.
Look up diagrams online for “slot car controller wiring.” It shows how the wires go from the power supply, through the controller (which acts like a variable resistor to change speed), to the track tape, and back.
Make sure all connections are secure and that the red wires go to the correct side of the lane and the black wires go to the other side. If you mix them up for one lane, that car will run backwards! If you mix them up between lanes, cars might short circuit when they cross lanes. Double check everything.
Giving Your Track Power
Your track needs electricity to run the cars. This comes from a slot car track power supply.
Choosing the Right Power Supply
Slot cars typically run on low voltage DC (Direct Current). The voltage depends on the size of your cars (scale).
- HO scale cars (smallest): Need around 8-12 volts.
- 1:32 scale cars: Need around 10-15 volts.
- 1:24 scale cars: Need around 12-18 volts.
You also need to think about how much current (Amps) the power supply can give. Each car uses power. If you have two cars racing, the power supply needs to handle the total power they use, plus some extra. A power supply rated for 5 Amps or more is usually good for two lanes of 1:32 or 1:24 cars. More Amps means more power is available, which can lead to faster racing and less power drop around the track.
Look for a power supply that is designed for slot cars or is a stable DC power supply with adjustable voltage and enough Amps. Old train power supplies sometimes work, but they might not be strong enough.
Connecting the Power Supply
Connect the power supply to the main wires coming from your track. Usually, the power supply will have terminals or wires marked (+) and (-). Connect your main red wires from the track to the (+) terminal and your main black wires from the (-) terminal. Make sure your wiring setup (including controller hook-ups) is correct before turning on the power.
Making the Track Look Good
Now the track works, but it looks like plain wood. Let’s paint it and make it look like a real race track!
Getting Ready to Paint
Clean the track surface very well. Vacuum again to get all dust out of the slots and off the surface. Use a slightly damp cloth (not too wet!) to wipe down the wood. Let it dry completely.
Fill any small holes or dents in the wood surface with wood filler. Let it dry, then sand it smooth so it is flat with the track surface. Be careful not to fill the slots or braid grooves!
Use masking tape to carefully cover the track tape in the routed grooves. You do not want paint on the track tape, as this will stop the cars from getting power. Press the tape down firmly along the edges of the grooves. Also, mask off the main slot.
Picking the Best Paint
The best paint for slot car track surface is usually a matte finish latex or acrylic paint.
- Matte Finish: A flat or matte finish is important. Shiny paint can make the track surface too slippery. A matte finish gives the car tires grip.
- Latex or Acrylic: These paints are water-based, easy to clean up, and dry relatively quickly. They stick well to MDF, especially after priming.
- Color: Most tracks are painted gray, black, or dark colors. This provides good contrast with the cars.
You should use a primer first. Primer helps the paint stick to the MDF and gives a consistent color base. Use a good quality primer suitable for MDF.
Painting the Track
Apply one or two thin coats of primer. Let it dry completely between coats. Lightly sand after the first coat of primer for a super smooth finish, then wipe off the dust before the second coat.
Then, apply one or two thin coats of your chosen track color paint. Again, let it dry fully between coats. Thin coats are better than one thick coat. They dry harder and are less likely to chip.
Once the paint is completely dry (give it a day or two just to be safe), carefully remove the masking tape from the slots and braid grooves. Use a sharp craft knife if needed to score the edge of the tape along the groove before peeling it up. Make sure there is no paint left on the track tape.
You can paint track lines (like white lines on the sides or a start/finish line) using masking tape and a different color paint.
Adding Borders
Slot cars can slide off the track on turns. Adding borders or run-off areas helps catch cars and makes the track look more finished. You can make these from thin pieces of wood, foam board, or even cardboard. Paint them a different color (like green for grass or red/white stripes for curbs). Glue or screw them to the edge of the track base.
Making Your Track World Real
Building the track is great, but adding scenery to slot car track makes it come alive! This is where you build the world around your race track.
Getting Creative with Scenery
Think about real race tracks or invent your own place.
- Terrain: Build hills or slopes outside the track area using layers of foam board or wire mesh covered in plaster cloth.
- Ground Cover: Paint the ground green for grass, brown for dirt, or gray for asphalt. Use model railroad supplies like scatter (fluffy stuff) for grass or bushes.
- Buildings: Make small pit garages, grandstands, a control tower, or other buildings from wood, plastic sheets, or cardboard. You can buy model buildings or make your own.
- Details: Add little trees (model trees or make them from wire and foam), fences, signs, light poles, tire barriers, or tiny people figures.
Painting and Placing Scenery
Paint your scenery items to look real. Use brown, green, gray, and other natural colors. Add details like windows on buildings or logos on signs.
Place the scenery around your track layout. Glue it down once you like where it is. Be careful not to put scenery too close to the track edges where cars might hit it if they slide off.
Scenery makes the track more interesting to look at and adds to the fun of racing.
Checking and Making It Right
After all that work, it’s time to test your track.
First Runs
Place a slot car on the track in one lane. Put the guide pin into the slot. Make sure the metal contacts under the car are touching the track tape in the grooves.
Connect the controller for that lane and the power supply. Turn on the power supply.
Slowly squeeze the controller trigger. The car should move smoothly around the track. Try it for each lane.
Finding Problems
Watch the car carefully.
- Does it stop in certain places? This could be a “dead spot.” It means the car is not getting power there. Check the track tape in that area. Is it lifted? Is there paint on it? Is there a bad connection where tape pieces meet or where a wire is soldered? You might need to clean the tape, re-solder a joint, or add another power tap nearby.
- Does it run unevenly? Check the track surface. Is it smooth? Are there bumps or dips? Sand down any rough spots.
- Does it come off the track easily? Maybe the turns are too tight for the speed, or the borders are not high enough.
Tuning Your Track
You can make small changes to improve how the track runs.
- Clean the track tape regularly. Use a special track cleaner fluid or light rubbing with a cleaning pad. Dirt or oil on the tape stops cars from getting good power.
- Check your power taps. Are the wire connections strong?
- Make sure your power supply is set to the right voltage for your cars.
- For rough spots, very lightly sand the painted surface.
- If cars deslot often in curves, try slightly raising the outside edge of the curve (banking) or just race slower!
Building a track is an ongoing project. You can always add more details, change the scenery, or improve the power connections.
Conclusion
You did it! You built your own routed wooden slot car track from scratch. From planning the DIY slot car track layout to choosing slot car track building materials, cutting the wood with slot car track router bits (learning about building routed slot car tracks), laying the tape, figuring out how to wire a slot car track using a basic slot car track wiring diagram, connecting the slot car track power supply, painting with the best paint for slot car track, and adding scenery to slot car track – you’ve covered all the steps a pro would take.
This track is unique. It is made just how you wanted it. Now you can enjoy countless hours of racing fun on your own creation. Get your cars ready, grab a controller, and start your engines!
Questions People Often Ask
What kind of wood is best for a wooden slot car track?
MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard) is very popular. It’s smooth, flat, and easy to cut with a router. It gives a nice surface for painting.
How wide should the slot be?
The slot width depends on your car’s guide pin. For 1:32 scale cars, 1/8 inch (3mm) is common. For 1:24 scale cars, 3/16 inch (about 4.7mm) is common. Check your cars before you cut.
How deep should the slot be?
Deep enough for the guide pin to stay in, but not so deep that the car’s chassis drags on the track surface. Usually, 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch (6mm to 9mm) is about right.
What kind of tape should I use for the track rails?
Self-adhesive copper tape is most common. It comes in different widths. Choose a width that fits well into your routed grooves.
Do I need to solder the track tape?
Yes, soldering the overlaps where tape pieces meet is a very good idea. It makes sure you have a strong electrical connection all the way around the track. Poor connections lead to “dead spots.”
Where do I buy slot car track router bits?
You can find them at woodworking supply stores or online retailers that sell router bits. Look for straight bits for the main slot and small V-groove or straight bits for the braid grooves, sized appropriately for your track.
Can I make hills or banks with routed wood tracks?
Yes, you can build the wood base with slopes to make hills or bank turns. This is more complex than a flat track but definitely possible with careful planning and framework construction.
What if my car stops in some places?
This is likely a power issue. Check the track tape in that area. Clean the tape. Make sure the tape is pressed down firmly in the groove. Check any soldered joints nearby. You might need to add a power tap close to the dead spot and run a wire back to your main power connections.