RE: selecting balsa
If you wish to know the density of a 3 x 36 in piece of balsa, just divide the thickness in inches into the weight in oz and it will give you the density in pounds per cubic foot. For example, a 1/8 in sheet weighing 3/4 oz is 6 lbs, 1/2 sheet weighing 5 oz is 10 lbs, etc.