Old Balsa Wood

[Mark Misegadis]

Balsa Wood.. Does it get old and brittle?

Hi, I have a question about Balsa Wood. I was told that it gets old and dries out and is brittle because of this. I am not really sure that I buy this. If it were to be kept dry and away from pests then I don’t see that there should be any structural issues with using vintage balsa like one would get in an old kit. Or with an old plane.. or that you have had for.. years….

After all.. this stuff is Kiln Dried …. So its Dry other than relative humidity. As far as relative humidity…. I am in Colorado. We are as dry as popcorn.

So is this an urban legend? What are your experiences?

[Dick Byron]

I have a large stock of sig contest balsa purchased in the 1980's. I am building a new scale ship and it is perfect. Storage is important. I stored it in the garage in Texas in high humidity and high heat. No problems here.

[Mark Misegadis]

Thanks for the reply.

Talk to me about the Humidity deal.

As we are dry (Remember.. Popcorn) here in Colorado.. is that an issue.

One of the examples that was brought up to me was that this guys CA wouldnt work because there wasnt any humidity in his wood. (Sorry..I know that sounds bad)

Well..Okay. but that doesnt mean that the wood is Bad or now structurally inadequate. Thats a condition of his adhesive.

I might be all "dry" on this but I am sure all of you will put me right.

Mark

[Robertc]

I have a lot of old balsa that has been here in El Paso TX in very low humidity for most of the time, but it also spent 4 years in high humidity in Florida and
another year in the cold of Colorado.  No problems.  The only balsa I have that got brittle was the balsa that got soaked when the water heater broke
in Colorado.

[Randy Powell]

Yea, a fine mist spray bottle of water works pretty well. I've used this for kicking joints occasionally.

[Wayne Collier]

My dad started a P-51 back in the seventies and still hasn't finished it.  He has worked on it now and then over the years.  In the interim it spent several years in an attic in Texas.  He started back on it a few weeks ago and has been complaining that the wood has gone bad.  Maybe it "got cooked" in the attic?

Some time back I ran across some scented water in a dollar store that sprays a very fine light mist.  It is good for adding light moisture when needed.  I really got it to moisten tissue when covering rubber powered models, but have found it to be good for other uses also.  Smells good too.

[Garf]

One thing about old kits. the glue that holds the plywood together usually disappears. I had this happen on an old Top Flite Nobler, and an old PDQ baby clown.

[Andrew Borgogna]

I just used a sheet of 1/16 that I have had for many years to sheet the center section of a new Ringmaster.  The wood is from a stash I used for free flight planes.  Dry equaled light and was considered a good thing.  Well guess what, while I was sanding it just cracked down the middle of the center section.  I had to remove and replace it with newer wood. This is the first time I have ever had this happen, and would have said no problem except it happened.  The wood was brittle, so it could be a one off or it could be something to think about.
Andy

[Mark Misegadis]

Good Morning,

It sounds like we are looking at a case by case basis answer. It could be no issue .. however pay close attention to what your using while using it...

Any further thoughts from the experianced out there?

Mark