No-mess Pinewood Derby car painting

If your kids are like mine, they want to pick up their Pinewood Derby car while they paint it. Of course, they'll end up with wet paint all over their hands, and they'll be wiping the paint off of the car in the process. Here's a simple trick that will make for mess-free painting.

First, you'll need a scrap block of wood. It should be bigger than the Pinewood Derby car. Second, you'll need a long screw -- a couple inches longer than the height of the block of wood (when it's laying flat). Third, you'll need a drill with a drill bit that is the same diameter as the screw, minus the screw's threads. And, of course, you'll need the car you're going to paint.

First, we'll make the base by drilling a hole all the way through the block of wood and screwing the screw up through the bottom. You will need to countersink the screw into the block of wood. That is, you want the head of the screw to be flush or slightly sunken into the wood, not sticking out. If it sticks out, the block of wood will be wobbly. If you can't easily countersink the screw into the wood, drill a slightly bigger hole right over the hole you just made, but only deep enough for the head of the screw to sink into the wood.

Next, make a matching hole in the bottom of your car. Find a thick part of the car so that you won't damage it or go all the way through. Drill a hole (using the same drill bit as before) that goes about 1/4" into the bottom of the car.

Apply downward pressure as you twist the car onto the screw sticking up from your base. Once you have the car secured on the screw, your car should be ready to paint!