balsa

[Bootlegger]

where do you get your balsa, and do they hand select it?
 I am looking for some  "C" grain and some "A" grain contest grade and National doesn't hand select. I prefer it in 30 " and 24".
 Need suggestions

[RC Storick]

where do you get your balsa, and do they hand select it?
 I am looking for some  "C" grain and some "A" grain contest grade and National doesn't hand select. I prefer it in 30 " and 24".
 Need suggestions

http://stunthanger.com/hobby/index.php?cPath=43&osCsid=7d1c4933cf898a2b27badd20a1959174

Just tell Tom what you want and you will get it.

[Randy Powell]

Yep. Stunthanger does it. I've been getting balsa from AK Models and he does it too.

[Bootlegger]

........THANKS Guy's...................Should have known.......

[Avaiojet]

I purchased my last batch of contest grade Stunthanger balsa, 161.00 worth.
 
I figured if Sparky can build light with it, then so can I, Right?

Well here's the results I got, my first attempt actually, using all contest grade Stunthanger balsa on my newest Warbird stunt ship.

33.4 onces as you see it and 55" in span, not the largest model but not the smallest model either.

I'm sold on Stunthanger contest grade balsa!

Charles

[Sean McEntee]

Get a pocket-sized digital scale.  If you have a smartphone, the NCLRA website has a balsa density calculator on it.  If not, make up a chart of minimum acceptable weights of balsa in commercially available sizes.  Then, once you have some time to kill, go hit places like hobby lobby, hobby town, michaels, and anywhere else that sells balsa.  A diligent worker can sort through a shelf of balsa in about 20 minutes or so. Revisit these places on about a 1-2 month basis and build up your supply.   I am building an Arthur Alfieri "Ruby" and every piece of wood from 1/4" down is wood I picked up from Hobby Lobby and Ace Hardware, and it is all within the 5-7 lbs range.  A little time will save you shipping costs, plus you get to drive home knowing for sure you got what you needed.  

[Tim Wescott]

If you go with what Sean said, here's two points to ponder:

First if you weigh a 1" x 3" x 36" hunk of balsa (well, of anything), it's weight in ounces is its density in lb/cu ft (do the math: it works out).  Since 3" x 36" is a really common size, it's Really Easy to work that out from there: weigh a 1/8" x 3" x 36" piece and multiply by 8.  Weigh a 1/4" piece and multiply by 4, etc.  3/32 is hard, until you realize that it's almost exactly 1/10".

Second, if you challenge yourself to guess the weight of the sheet before you weigh it, you'll have yourself trained fairly quickly to just pick up a sheet and know if it's good enough or not.  So you don't have to worry about having a scale when your wife has dragged you to Michael's so she can look at knitting stuff -- you can just wander off and pick through the balsa.

[Sean McEntee]

 if you challenge yourself to guess the weight of the sheet before you weigh it, you'll have yourself trained fairly quickly to just pick up a sheet and know if it's good enough or not.  So you don't have to worry about having a scale when your wife has dragged you to Michael's so she can look at knitting stuff -- you can just wander off and pick through the balsa.

     Thats why I tell my wife I'm going to Lowe's!

     Tim is right; after awhile you can tell by the look and feel of what is a light sheet and what is not, and will save alot of time as opposed to weighing every piece.