Affordable Balsa

[Pat Johnston]

This is Pat Johnston.  I do laser cutting mostly for stunt planes.  I use all contest grade balsa and in the last 9 years, the cost of balsa has a little more than doubled.  The big problem is that I have not updated my prices and the profit margin is way down.  I am in the process of updating my prices and that is painfull.  I am looking for a balsa supplier who can sell to a small manufacturer at a reduced price.  I've been getting my wood from National Balsa, and they do not have a discount program for businesses like mine.  Does anyone know of a good source for contest grade balsa?  Help!
Pat Johnston
Manufacturing Division
Skunk Works
aka Brothers of the Ring

[Avaiojet]

Pat,

PM sent.

CB

[Mike Griffin]

Pat I buy from Bud Nosen.  Great quality. 

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

I sent you a PM also Pat.

Mike

[wwwarbird]

 Just guessing, but I'd suggest checking with Bud Nosen too. My nearest hobby shop (100 miles away) carries Bud Nosen Models wood. I've used a lot of it over the years and it's consistently nicer (and cheaper) than the Sig stuff that they also sell.

[Dan McEntee]

   There is an add over in the Stuka Stunt classifieds from some one who is obviously and off shore provider  of balsa. I think that might be worth checking out especially if they are looking to get a foot hold in the US market. It's a few lines down the listings.
   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[Lyle Spiegel]

http://www.balsawoodinc.com/   This is another potential source. I have not tried them oe compared pricing.

[Peter Grabenstein]

maybe its worth a try   

http://controlline.org.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14111

http://www.karyadasarutama.com/

[Randy Powell]

I've been getting mine here: http://www.easybuiltmodels.com/ and here: http://www.balsawoodinc.com/ but balsa wood inc is hit and miss on quality.

I've also gotten wood here: http://www.specializedbalsa.com/

They are a bit different but the quality is superb.

[dave siegler]

balsa USA? 

http://shop.balsausa.com/Default.asp

[Pat Johnston]

Thanks to all for helping me out.  I just recieved the poop from Bud Nosen, Inc. and they will be my #1 provider in the future.  Good prices and what everyone says is good quality.  I hope to keep the costs down for all my supporters.
Pat Johnston
Balsa Division
Skunk Works

[Tim Wescott]

Thanks to all for helping me out.  I just recieved the poop from Bud Nosen, Inc. and they will be my #1 provider in the future.  Good prices and what everyone says is good quality.  I hope to keep the costs down for all my supporters.

I had been under the impression that they didn't do contest grade -- I am wrong?

[wwwarbird]

I had been under the impression that they didn't do contest grade -- I am wrong?

 No offense, and maybe I'm wrong, but I've always felt that "contest grade" has a lot more to do with the guy on the handle than the wood in the plane.

 Glad you came up with a good source Pat.

[Allan Perret]

No offense, and maybe I'm wrong, but I've always felt that "contest grade" has a lot more to do with the guy on the handle than the wood in the plane.

 Glad you came up with a good source Pat.

You gotta have "contest grade" at both ends of the lines. 

[Mike Griffin]

I had been under the impression that they didn't do contest grade -- I am wrong?

Tim I have been buying from Bud Nosen for years and yes they do sell contest grade balsa.  They have two prices on their price list, one for regular grade and one for contest grade and there is a big difference because I have ordered both from them. 

Mike

[Tim Wescott]

No offense, and maybe I'm wrong, but I've always felt that "contest grade" has a lot more to do with the guy on the handle than the wood in the plane.

People who fly better than me obsess over weight.  I take that to heart.  Building too heavy is something that I'm currently battling.  Folks who fly free flight say "take care of the grams, and the ounces take care of themselves".  I'm sure that with stunt it's "take care of the ounces..."

You gotta have "contest grade" at both ends of the lines. 

Yup.  I do think that there's less need for a super-duper light plane if the pilot can't make the best use of it -- in that case rugged and easy to repair is probably better.  But it also means that the better you fly, the more you'd better build light and straight and strong.