Author Topic: balsa wood (Read 7811 times)

jim · « **on:** June 08, 2016, 04:43:18 PM »

Where do you guys buy good quality balsa.All the stuff a find around here, local hobby store and such is ok for small planes, but I need some quality harder balsa. Where's a good place to get it from/
thanks Jim

Motorman · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2016, 04:59:09 PM »

Call Tom Morris. I'm sure after he sorts out the real light stuff he has some good quality med/hard balsa left over.

MM

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2016, 05:02:46 PM »

Why the hobby shops still sell Midwest balsa is beyond me (great for mixing paint), I get all of mine from National Balsa, they have great service. Check to see if they offer the really light contest grade balsa.

http://www.nationalbalsa.com/Default.asp

Fred

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2016, 05:33:43 PM »

Get your wood from Stunt Hangar Hobby. Great stuff and a good price.

http://stunthanger.com/hobby/

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2016, 05:48:28 PM »

I have quite a bit of 12-14 pound wood that I bought at a fire sale. It's good quality, and hard as a rock.

I'll trade it straight across for 4-6 pound wood!

RC Storick · « **Reply #5 on:** June 08, 2016, 08:24:43 PM »

http://stunthanger.com/hobby/index.php?cPath=43&osCsid=d800d5f73e7aafea7c01dbc00e236b8e

Larry Renger · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2016, 08:25:12 PM »

Quote from: Tim Wescott on June 08, 2016, 05:48:28 PM

I have quite a bit of 12-14 pound wood that I bought at a fire sale. It's good quality, and hard as a rock.

I'll trade it straight across for 4-6 pound wood!

Gee, what a deal!

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2016, 09:16:44 PM »

Quote from: Larry Renger on June 08, 2016, 08:25:12 PM

Gee, what a deal!

I do what I can to help out, man.

Sean McEntee · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2016, 05:44:34 AM »

If time and patience is on your side, get a digital scale and a balsa density chart, and hit up Hobby Lobby and sort through their stock. I've picked up a lot of good wood from them in the past.

Jim Carter · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2016, 09:57:41 AM »

I get nearly all of my balsa from Bud Nosen and over the years, I have yet to be disappointed with any of my orders.

Robby Hunt · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2016, 11:39:20 AM »

I call up Bubba and ask for an advance on my inheritance...

Motorman · « **Reply #11 on:** June 09, 2016, 12:15:26 PM »

Quote from: Robby Hunt on June 09, 2016, 11:39:20 AM

I call up Bubba and ask for an advance on my inheritance...

That's funny right there, I don't care who ya' are.

MM

Randy Powell · « **Reply #12 on:** June 09, 2016, 05:27:12 PM »

http://www.balsawoodinc.com/

http://www.balsawoodshop.com/Scripts/default.asp

http://shop.balsausa.com/category_s/44.htm

http://www.easybuiltmodels.com/bw.htm

Dennis Toth · « **Reply #13 on:** June 09, 2016, 07:07:15 PM »

Jim,
Hard balsa is usually heavy ish. The trick is to use thinner wood to keep the weight down but the strength up. Doing this makes the LHS supply very usable. Also, using either carbonfiber vail or light fiberglass combined with the thinner wood makes very strong parts.

Best, DennisT

jim · « **Reply #14 on:** June 10, 2016, 02:26:23 PM »

Guy's thanks for your responses. Is it just me, most likely is. But I can't find one of these companies that I can order all the different sizes and shapes I would like to order, from one company, then on top of that you have to order a minimum dollar amount. I'm not going to order $75 dollars worth of wood from three different places to get the $14 dollars worth of wood I need. Thanks again guy's, I'll figure it out some how. Have a great day.

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #15 on:** June 10, 2016, 04:49:41 PM »

Quote from: jim on June 10, 2016, 02:26:23 PM

Guy's thanks for your responses. Is it just me, most likely is. But I can't find one of these companies that I can order all the different sizes and shapes I would like to order, from one company, then on top of that you have to order a minimum dollar amount. I'm not going to order $75 dollars worth of wood from three different places to get the $14 dollars worth of wood I need. Thanks again guy's, I'll figure it out some how. Have a great day.

I just figure that I'll use it up anyway, so I order. National Balsa has all the sheet sizes I need, and I strip out sticks from the sheets, so that's taken care of.

If you just want to get the wood you need and nothing more then haunt Michael's or other local craft store. The one around here restocks every two weeks or so (it seems), so you can nip in about that often and pick through. You could even ASK how often they restock, and see if you can be first there.

Basically, the reason I order $50 at a time from National is that it's cheaper in the long run -- but, to each their own.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #16 on:** June 11, 2016, 11:42:32 AM »

The planes I have finished, the wood came from Hobby Lobby. Infact one size strip a couple of pieces the end was broken. The clerk said she couldn't sell them and I told her they were going to be shortend up anyway. I wanted them and it was all they had at the time. Local hobby shop didn't have the sizes I needed.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #17 on:** June 11, 2016, 09:37:18 PM »

Stuff from Balsa Inc is pretty good.

Peter_Gregory · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2016, 10:14:39 PM »

I have been buying fairly decent balsa from Hobby Lobby & Michaels. Remember to use the online discount coupon - 40% off one item. You can just pull it up on your smartphone and show them at checkout. There is a HL nearby and for a while I was going in every day on the way home from work, buying one sheet at a time.

Phil Krankowski · « **Reply #19 on:** June 14, 2016, 06:26:47 AM »

I didn't see SIG mentioned. They have the oddball shapes, LE, TE, airfoil planks...
http://sigmfg.com/

You are right though, getting the price of balsa down means buying a box of the stuff. Per piece it will cost less than half what the craft stores sell, but you will have to buy much more than the couple pieces you need. The quality is also generally higher than at the craft stores.

Phil

Ward Van Duzer · « **Reply #20 on:** June 15, 2016, 07:51:46 AM »

For smaller quantities try the C/L kit folks....Randy, Walter, Stunthanger, Etc. They buy the bulk stuff an may sell smaller quantities for your purpose. I still have gobs of Randy wood from my time there. Mostly Sig BTW!

Ward

Fredvon4 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 15, 2016, 11:13:44 AM »

Don't forget to attend a RC swap meet or two locally

I scored a Giant box of balsa for $25....
49" x6" x11" and nearly 20 pounds
It was a un opened Top Flite Douglas DC-3 82.5 wing span twin with a bunch of sheet and stick stock that was pretty good stuff and most of the punch cut sheets are usable for smaller re-cutting of parts
most of the hardware is also re-usable

Lots of ply wood also (mostly pre-cut) and most of that is reusable also

john e. holliday · « **Reply #22 on:** June 15, 2016, 12:33:39 PM »

If this is a complete kit you hit it lucky as that would make a beautiful CL scale project. I think if you look in the Tower catalog you will find their price the kit is ten times what you gave.

Avaiojet · « **Reply #23 on:** June 15, 2016, 01:07:45 PM »

Quote from: Fredvon4 on June 15, 2016, 11:13:44 AM

Don't forget to attend a RC swap meet or two locally

I scored a Giant box of balsa for $25....
49" x6" x11" and nearly 20 pounds
It was a un opened Top Flite Douglas DC-3 82.5 wing span twin with a bunch of sheet and stick stock that was pretty good stuff and most of the punch cut sheets are usable for smaller re-cutting of parts
most of the hardware is also re-usable

Lots of ply wood also (mostly pre-cut) and most of that is reusable also

Fred,

That DC-3 is a great model. I actually made graphics for a few of them back in the day.

The Doc is right on, it would be nice to see it built as a CL model.

Any chance of that?

Charles

Fredvon4 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 15, 2016, 02:10:17 PM »

No sir, zero desire to take on a multi year project with all my other multiple combat and profile stunt plane plans

I always have at least three in various stages of building

Avaiojet · « **Reply #25 on:** June 15, 2016, 02:23:31 PM »

Quote from: Fredvon4 on June 15, 2016, 02:10:17 PM

No sir, zero desire to take on a multi year project with all my other multiple combat and profile stunt plane plans

I always have at least three in various stages of building

You could sell that DC-3 kit and purchase some really great wood with the loot.

Doc said it was worth much more than you paid. I have no idea what that kit sells for?

Thing is, back then, most kits wern't using exceptional contest grade wood.

Charles

john e. holliday · « **Reply #26 on:** June 15, 2016, 09:31:10 PM »

Tower has it listed at $269.99. But it's your kit.

Fredvon4 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 16, 2016, 10:20:40 AM »

I suppose I could have tried to resell it but shipping would be killer

Too late though as I got one Black Hawk Demon kit and used part of the DC-3 balsa to scratch out three more and a Mongoose

I think the first day this box (at the swap meet) was marked $150 when I went back the afternoon of closing most of his stuff (a lot did not sell) was marked "Make any offer" he accepted my $25 as it was all I had in cash

Avaiojet · « **Reply #28 on:** June 16, 2016, 12:24:23 PM »

Quote from: Fredvon4 on June 16, 2016, 10:20:40 AM

I suppose I could have tried to resell it but shipping would be killer

Too late though as I got one Black Hawk Demon kit and used part of the DC-3 balsa to scratch out three more and a Mongoose

I think the first day this box (at the swap meet) was marked $150 when I went back the afternoon of closing most of his stuff (a lot did not sell) was marked "Make any offer" he accepted my $25 as it was all I had in cash

Fred,

Not a bad investment so far. You could sell the plans, decals, instruction book?

Charles

Motorman · « **Reply #29 on:** June 16, 2016, 12:32:36 PM »

One mans rare kit is another mans box-O-balsa.

MM

Fredvon4 · « **Reply #30 on:** June 16, 2016, 01:09:32 PM »

Motorman
and the point of the post for the gent looking for good balsa

These same deals are seen at EVERY swap meet

I figured correctly that the giant kit would have more in it than I would have to pay from Sig/Balsa USA/LoneStar (boy I wish Riley would resurrect that resource)

Already noted here but I have to re say:

I get very good balsa from Sig, Stunt hanger Hobby, AND my local Hobby Lobby...in the later I try to memorize grains and take a small $10 HF scale to grade it before selecting...I also use Hobby Lobby Cellphone coupons in the store for a better deal

Also do not forget getting short kits from Pat Johnston, Builtright and others ... They seem to always select very good wood for their offerings.
In fact the last few full kits I got from Sig and Brodak were much better wood than in old TopFlite and Sterling kits of the same model

Motorman · « **Reply #31 on:** June 16, 2016, 05:29:01 PM »

Yes, I meant to compliment you on re-purposing the kit.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #32 on:** June 17, 2016, 08:04:53 AM »

Keep all the parts sheets. plans and any moldings. Might be interested. Keep all the sheet wood. Also don't forget the hardware. What is left might make for a smaller package for shipping. Might even have a kit to make a trade.

Fredvon4 · « **Reply #33 on:** June 17, 2016, 08:40:12 AM »

Sorry Doc most of the hardware, cowlings, shaped bits went to a fellow RC multi engine plane builder

I did not intend to hi-jack this thread with a kit I got cheap discussion...just trying to point out the swap meet angle for scoring ok to good wood. Many kits have some decent sheet and stick stock in them, some times even the correct weight and grain for the different areas of the model

On the other hand you could find a un-built older popular airplane kit, pay too much $60. Mail man delivers and you find the only thing remotely usable is the LG wire and the plan; because Goldberg crushed the VooDoo parts out of war surplus raft balsa and de-laminated plywood