[MrFlippant]

Slot Car Tire Truing Machines Past/Present/Future


This is intended to be a reasonably comprehensive list of "commercially" made tire truing machines. That means a machine was made in some quantity to be sold to other people than it's creator. This does not include every DIY machine ever made, though some are included at the end if they have appropriate models/instructions to follow. It also does not include any machine that does not hold the wheels/tires at a set and adjustable distance from the sanding medium. Sandpaper-on-a-track type devices do not qualify as truing machines, no matter how steady your hands are. I'm sure I'll have missed some, and some machines will be forthcoming, so please post any I missed and any upcoming machines yet to be listed. It's also worth noting that there are lots of RC machines out there, but without confirmation that they work with common slot car axle and wheel/tire sizes, I chose not to list them, even the Mini-Z ones. If you know of a machine sold to RC racers that definitely works for some kind(s) of slot car wheels, please mention it.

The list is divided into machines designed for metal wheels, usually only truing one wheel/tire at a time, and machines that are designed to hold the whole axle of the car with both wheels still attached and being trued at the same time. Each list is then divided by whether the machine is still available on the retail market in some capacity (even if out of stock, assuming more are being made), and those which are no longer being manufactured by anyone. The order in which any machine appears in the list is NOT an indication of quality or rating. No subjective assessment of any machine has been made. They are in no particular order aside from those mentioned above. Links and images are what I could find while writing this list and may be out of date or no longer accessible in the future. Updated or better links are welcome. Prices listed are retail prices in USD at the time of writing and does not include accessories, taxes, or shipping.

Removable/Metal Wheel Machines

Currently Available

Mid America Precision Diamond Tire Truer
- Single wheel at a time, counter-rotating sanding drum
https://slotcarstore.net/pages/Mid-Ameri...39365.html

Hudy - $300
- Single wheel at a time, counter-rotating sanding drum
https://www.hudy.net/xhudy/products/prod...tegoria=62

TWP Products - $200
- Single wheel at a time, counter-rotating sanding drum
https://www.electricdreams.com/Shop/part...25520.html

PN Racing - $240
- Single wheel (maybe two) at a time, counter-rotating sanding drum
https://www.pnracing.com/product/tire-truer-parts/

Backtrack - $500
- two wheels at a time, counter-rotating sanding drum
https://e-slotcar.com/tools-except-motor...ire-truer/

ILPE TTM-2 Reifenschleifmaschine
- single wheel, spinning sanding disk
https://www.slotcars.nz/product/ilpe-tyre-truers/

Hot Grinder Pro
- two wheels or whole axle, counter-rotating drum
https://www.freeslotter.de/index.php?thr.../&pageNo=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4snSZNm...Slotracing

Eben Brand's Slot Car Tyre Truer - $480
- Single wheel, 3d printed, detailed electronic controls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pGIYghq5Mw
https://www.facebook.com/eben.brand


Secondary Market Only (no longer manufactured)

WrightWay tire truer - $??
- Single wheel, counter rotating drum

NSR 4401 - $300
- single wheel, spinning sanding disk, tire treatment applicator
https://www.slotcar-union.com/en/tools/1...chine.html

ScaleAuto - $??
- Single wheel (can do two), counter-rotating sanding drum
https://www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/scale...chine.html

Frankenslot RSM
- Single wheel at a time, counter-rotating sanding drum
https://www.slotcarfactory.de/FRANKENSLO...-1039.html

S&K Tire Truer
- Single wheel at a time, lathe style
https://www.eagledist.com/sk-tire-truer-...k0102.html

BSV Tire Truer
- Single Wheel at a time, lathe style
https://www.eagledist.com/bsv-bsv-tire-truer-bsvtt.html

Werner Lange tire truer
- Single wheel at a time, counter-rotating sanding drum
https://slot32.de/reifenschleifmaschine_...etail.html

Slotcars Technology (slotcars.it)
- unable to find functional link for more info or photos



Whole Axle Machines (both wheels at the same time)

Currently Available

Overdrive RSM
- Sliding Plate. 3rd party reciprocator available.
https://www.overdrive-shop.com/Reifensch...chine-RSM4

Main Street Racing MSR - $250
- Sliding Plate. 3rd party reciprocator available.
https://www.mainstreetracingvt.com/produ...tire-truer

CG Slotcars - $190
- Sliding Plate. OEM reciprocator available.
https://cgslotcars.us/machinery

G&S Tire Grinder - $150
- Dual counter-rotating sanding drums
https://www.printables.com/model/459450

Rob Bush Swift Sixteen - $160
- Sliding plate.
https://www.swiftsixteen.co.uk/product-p...tyre-truer


Secondary Market Only

Tire Razor - $145
- Sliding Plate. 3rd party reciprocator available.
https://www.homeracingworld.us/PitRow/Ti...erazor.htm
https://www.facebook.com/TireRazor

Tyre True (Area3 or Professor Motor) - $240
- Sliding Plate. 3rd party reciprocator available.
https://www.youtube.com/@AREA3SLOTSCOMAU/videos


Do It Yourself

JMay Simple 3dp Tyre Grinder
- Fixed sanding plate, powered by slot car motor and gears, two wheels at a time, variety of axle carriers for a variety of axle/wheel types.
https://slotracer.online/community/showt...p?tid=2642

Johnnie Hobby's 3DP machine
- whole axle (two wheels at a time), Sliding Plate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdpiB4u4P_U

Tyre Truer MKIII for slot cars 1/32
- Single wheel at a time, counter-rotating sanding drum
https://www.printables.com/model/481067

G&S Tire Grinder
- whole axle (two wheels at a time), Dual counter-rotating sanding drums
https://www.printables.com/model/459450

Tyre & Wheel Trimmer for 1:32 Axles
- whole axle (two wheels at a time), Sliding Plate.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3724463

SSR Tire truer
- whole axle (two wheels at a time), Sliding Plate
https://www.printables.com/model/417870

Slottolution Reifenschleifmaschine Tire Truer 3mm
- Single wheel at a time, counter-rotating sanding drum
https://www.shapeways.com/product/52KKFQQVW

KOMPLETTACHSENSCHLEIFMASCHINE SLOTCAR CARRERA DIGITAL 132 /124
- whole axle (two wheels at a time), Sliding Plate
https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/various/...al-132-124

SlotCar 3D 
- Dual counter-rotating sanding drums, Carrera 1/24 only.
https://www.freeslotter.de/index.php?thr...tester-ges

[JMay]

A good comprehensive list Greg, and a nudge to myself that I didn’t publish the update modifying the pod to take inline axles assemblies complete with cog and flanged bearings to avoid the faff of removing wheels from knurled axles. Will have a look at a sidewinder pod to take complete axle assemblies in due course.

The post,

https://slotracer.online/community/showt...4#pid22074

has been updated to include the revised pod STL file to take inline axle assemblies.

Cheers
John

[Kevan]

I saw another recently with what looks like a piece of angle iron on a hinge and an automated slider.

[MrFlippant]

I saw another recently with what looks like a piece of angle iron on a hinge and an automated slider.

I've seen several one-off milled machines people have made that give production machines a run for their money. :)

[MrFlippant]

A good comprehensive list Greg, and a nudge to myself that I didn’t publish the update modifying the pod to take inline axles assemblies complete with cog and flanged bearings to avoid the faff of removing wheels from knurled axles. Will have a look at a sidewinder pod to take complete axle assemblies in due course.

The post,

https://slotracer.online/community/showt...4#pid22074

has been updated to include the revised pod STL file to take inline axle assemblies.

Cheers
John

Excellent! So that opens it up to press on wheels. I'll update the OP. :)

[KensRedZed]

Greg,

Thank you very kindly for all the legwork. That's quite the amazing list.

Here's a little more useless information. The Hudy can also true AFX and Tuff Ones HO tires. A mandrel needs to be made for both sizes of tires. A bit of aluminum needs to be filed off the inside of the slide arm to reach. It works like a charm on rubber and urethane tires.

   
   
   
   

[MrFlippant]

Greg,

Thank you very kindly for all the legwork. That's quite the amazing list.

Here's a little more useless information. The Hudy can also true AFX and Tuff Ones HO tires. A mandrel needs to be made for both sizes of tires. A bit of aluminum needs to be filed off the inside of the slide arm to reach. It works like a charm on rubber and urethane tires.

Nice! Did you make that, or is there someone out there making/selling them?

[KensRedZed]

I went to a local machine shop with a pencil drawing of both mandrels. The guy sort of laughed, and told to come by the next day. Some of those serious businessman chuckle at what we do with our hobbies. It's grand to be retired.