ASK Cubby – Corona Ain’t Stopping This Train

“Going cordless

What’s a good cordless drill set-up for wrenching Cubby? I am finally ready to make the switch as I am getting older and my arthritis is kicking my ass.

Randy B.”

Cubby- Well hello there oh Great Randy, thanks for shooting me an email.

Ya know, I have used MIP hand tools for close to, ummmmmm, like gee, over 20 years now. Wow, amazing how time flies, but lately I have pretty much gone exclusively to using a cordless drill for wrenching.

More specifically, I use a small Makita (as I have been using Makita cordless tools since the 1980s in car stereo) that I got from Home Disappointment. Combine that with some MIP hardened hex tips and I have totally been crushing my wrench game lately. WFO in top gear on removal, “low/slow” gear putting bolts in until they are close, then snug’em down with a normal MIP hand tool.

Makita 12-Volt MAX CXT ($99)

MIP Speed Tips (Price varies)

That’s what I use bro, and my wrenching game has never been better.

“Axial Portal Axles

Hey Cubby, is it worth the cash to convert my crawler over to portal axles? Right now I drive an SCX10 II that is highly modified and gets through rocks extremely well, that’s why I am hesitant to make the switch.

Daniel N.”

Cubby- How ya doing there Danny? I remember it wasn’t that many years ago that I NEVER got any rock crawler questions, but now days they are making up about 50% of what’s hitting my box.

Nope, heck no, I am not a scale crawler guy. However, I work for an rc media outlet that does a lot of rock crawling, so about 3 years ago I started getting my feet wet in crawlers. Now, I don’t take them super hardcore serious like someone that specializes in the genre, but I do bring a wealth of general rc knowledge to the table when partaking in the crawling scene.

With that said, there is a good reason that the newer SCX10 III comes stock with portals. When out driving, even larger pieces of gravel can become a real issue for ground clearance. A 1/10th scaled crawler just doesn’t have a lot of ground clearance compared to what you are going to find out in nature. While portals don’t give a “ton” of extra clearance, often times that extra half inch or so can make all the difference between gliding over a section, or getting hung up.

Is it worth the cash for portals? IMO, absolutely. I’ve been a huge fan of them since the TRX-4 was first released, and they have done nothing other than prove themselves to me over time. For your SCX10 II, I would look at the AR45 portals that come on the SCX10 III, or simply cut the check on an SCX10 III as it does come with a slew of improvements over your older model.

Cut the check bro and shoot me some pics with whatever ends up arriving on your front doorstep.

Have some sort of rc related question? Need quite possibly the worst answer ever? Have a bunch of rage built up in your chest that you just how to spew into my mailbox? Email me- thecubreportrc at gmail dot com.