Campgems

A while back, I ran into an article describing the wood used in some ARFs as a balsa replacement. The article gave a link to a site you could buy the wood from. For the life of me, I can't remember the name of this wood, it was a new one to me.

Does anyone have the name for me???

Don

All Day Dan

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Hi Don, Does Lite Ply ring a bell? Are you familiar with it? I have seen it referred to as a balsa wood replacement because it is so light and a little stronger than balsa but it may not be what you are looking for. I've been building models since 1945 and I haven't found anything close to the strength to weight ratio of balsa. If you come up with something, I would certainly like to find out about it. Dan.

dhal22

what about the wood they use in europe? i can't think of the name at the moment? but it is even used over there to skin wings. the scale builders posting over here use the wood a lot. anybody?

dolanosa

Obechi?

Campgems

Bingo, that was it. Now to try to find a source of 1/16 and 3/32 sheets. So far all I've found is 8/4 stock. Not having a planer, I think my bandsaw will leave it a bit rough.

Don

WALKERS210-RCU

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A very good friend of mine is a retired gentleman that does a lot of wood working as a hobby and a way to pass time. He gave me some COTTONWOOD, he does have planer and is able to cut it to almost any size needed. It is strong and extremely light.

Nathan_L

Obechi is used a lot in wooden boat building and even in some glass boats. I'm not sure of the thicknesses but you can find some pretty thin obechi plywood, dunno about regular stock sizes. Might check with the wooden boat building supply sites.

Campgems

Thanks for the lead.

Don

3dd

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obechi comes so thin i used to use scissors to cut it for wing skins,but it ain't cheap

Campgems

Ron, do you have a source? So far the best I've found is 4/4 or 8/4 stock.

Don

w8ye

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These people were supposed to be a good source of Obechi

http://www.edensaw.com/products.asp

Typical 25 lb cubic ft

3dd

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i used to get mine from lonestar balsa but they are out of it since the fire. haven't used any obechi in many years,i just go with 1/16th or 3/32 balsa now days

Campgems

What i'm looking for is 1/16 sheets to make ribs from. Most of the 1/16 balsa I've found is to light weight/to weak. After seeing the wing structure of an ARF that was made up with it, it looked like a very good substute. I guess I could look for some Hard balsa thought. Kind of like the printed stuff in the old Coment Kits. I used to get my dad's used double edge razor blades and break them in half an put tape on the dull side, I still remeber the sting from the ambroid cement getting into the cuts. The wood was probalby better cut with a chain saw, it was so hard.

One other thing I've though of was to make some 3/32 balsa Ply. The hard wood would be easier though.

I'm going to have to give teh Edensaw folks a call, I haven't got much off their web site.

It must have been Lonestar that had the sheets and sticks of obeche. I sure can't any sources of thin sheets here in the US, the UK is a different story though. I must have found a dozen sites there with what I want.

Thanks for the leads guys.

Don