I put an order in for balsa in about a month and a half ago. I ordered a lot of contest balsa. About 3 weeks ago I was given notice that it would be 3 more weeks to get my balsa in on a container. I thought it would be in my best interest to be patient and wait for the right product.

I asked about it again the other day and was told that the balsa had just shipped and would take another 20 days to get to the states. I'll be looking at waiting almost 3 months before I get my order, and that is only if they get my balsa in their container shipment.

I would really like to build a light airplane because I will be fiberglassing, but I'm wondering if being adament about the contest balsa is essentially shooting myself in the foot.

I don't even think this is the balsa supplier's fault. I think balsa is being snatched up faster by "another" newer industry faster than it can be replaced. I'm curious if scratch builders are going to need to employ new techniques with different materials to get what we want. I'm thinking foam and fiberglass for most everything.

Anyhow, my UFO may never be built at this rate.

AAAARRRGGGGGHHHHH! [sm=cry_smile.gif]

Brian

Balsa is being used to make the blades of wind turbines. There is big $$ to be made and I hear GE even bought a couple plantations to produce their own balsa. Unfortunately we are on the bottom of the priority chain.

As in several other post..... Here is a great source.. look around at the comments on RCU. http://www.thebalsastore.com/

Ask for Clay , I have been to his shop and the wood is great... I did a Deception a week ago and plane came in at 6 3/4 pounds using his wood.




Again the link is http://www.thebalsastore.com/


Scott

Hi Scott.

Yes, I saw this around after I had already ordered the wood. I even seen it in our CPA digest afterwords.

I might cancel the order and go through the balsa store.

The only thing holding me back is that my order has already been placed, and I could guarantee balsa weights when I ordered.

Brian

Brian,

If you call Clay and give him the max weight that your looking for he can cut or check his contest grade stock.... Tell him I sent you

scott

order from both vendors and store the excess for a future build. i have several boxes of excess wood and ply.

David,

There's no such thing as "excess" when it comes to wood! There might not be sufficient room to store it all properly (my situation) but I still don't have "enough" yet!

Andy

I agree with both Andy and David. Buy and store. I don't see this situation getting any better in the remainder of my life time.


Ed Cregger

Now that's depressing...

What other materials do we think we could use to continue modeling. There must be other options that are cost exchangable, and will lend themselve to this hobby well.

I was thinking (dangerous -I know) that foam, fiberglass, and composite materials might be an option to construct fuselages and wings. The costs would be exchanged in supplies. The obvious issue most modelers will face is the need to retool for the materials and learning new carving/constructing methods.

We might need to learn how to mold as a general part of the hobby to have what we want.

Any other ideas?

Brain

In talking with several Balsa vendors yes there is a shortage right now.. auto industry as well as the green revolution is creeping in... there is some other wood that Dennis Hunt (zimpro) used from south Africa it think a bit denser but still light when there was a balsa shortage many years ago... It take about 10 years for the trees to grow ans most plantations right now have already been bought prior to the trees even being full grown.

yes plug and mold making is a option and you will find it to can become costly and time intensive to start from scratch.....

What is the answer, hope that all the past vendors have orders in and get some good wood... I have been to Clay's place and seen the container load of wood and it was really cool to see that much wood in one place...

well back to the shop to make balsa dust.....

scott

I would assume it would be similar to entering a new hobby where you have to start fresh. At first it is very expensive, but after you have collected the right tools over time, the cost becomes lighter and easier to bear, much like where I am at now as opposed to first starting modeling.

The end might be worth the initial investment if balsa becomes too difficult to aquire.

Here is an idea I found in the kit building thread. Check Post # 39 and on:

[link]http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9582545/mpage_3/key_/tm.htm[/link]

Brian

Brian,

I do modeling for 45 years and never was limited in availability of materials.

I use anything I can get and if you like bipes, look at my picture, not a bipe, that was the DVII, this is the DVIII, first Fokker with fully sheeted wing. Whole fuselage structure is spruce from a do–it-yourself shop, only there is one or two sheet of (normal) balsa in the tail feathers.

For sheeting of the wing I will use cheap (Hobby) balsa plywood, 3 sheet and I remove one sheet.

Creativity is very important if you are not a kit builder, sometimes I run more projects in one period.

Also look at my solution of the turtle deck of the Oldest Taurus on Earth, Ed probably did use massive balsa, I the cheap 2 sheets of 3 sheet balsa plywood, could not get the original material.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8044060

See also posts 45 49 and 76

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8081461

Cees

That foam construction is pretty slick! Years ago I built a 1/2A wing and made the ribs from egg carton foam. Worked out great!

As mentioned previously, one way to cut back on balsa use would be to go with glass fuses and foam flying surfaces. The foam could be covered with 1/64" plywood skins instead of balsa and would only be slightly more expensive than contest balsa. Obeche would also be an option.

The lost foam method could be use for wing and stab tips. Carve the tips, glass them and remove the foam. A simple process that doesn't require making any complex molds.

Just my $.02!

I guess the ARF guys will never have to worry about this situation!

RG

RG, you write:

That foam construction is pretty slick!

Look this webpage: Sky Pup, 1/1 modeling:

http://machnone.com/wings.aspx

Cees

I'm beginning to think building with foam is a realistic solution.

Once a person is properly tooled, this technique may even be more affoardable. However, in some areas of modeling, this application would never work. I do believe classic pattern lends itself fairly well.

I think I'll be looking into this, and learning how to make molds. Don (Frequent Flyer) has been willing to share his expertise on several different threads.

Foam core flying surfaces sheeted with lite ply seems reasonable.

I appreciate everyone's input. If anyone would like to chime in with anything else- feel free.

Brian

Brian,

I sheeted a foam wing with 1/64" ply years ago and it worked out well. One thing to keep in mind if you decide to try it.......since the ply is so thin[.015"] any imperfections in the cores will show up after the ply is applied and you won't be able to sand out the flaws. So the cores need to be as close to perfect as you can make them.

RG

After reading the first post in this thread I became concerned about finding enough wood to finish my own UFO build! With the help of Clay at the [link=http://www.thebalsastore.com/]The Balsa Store[/link] and the folks at [link=http://www.nationalbalsa.com/]National Balsa[/link] I was able to come up with enough wood to finish the UFO and build my next Classic Pattern Model, whatever that might be!

I talked with Clay for quiet a while and he was very helpful. He seems like a good guy that will do whatever he can to get you the wood you need.

I also talked with someone at National Balsa, but I can't remember his name. Eric maybe? Anyhow, he told me everything that is listed on their Web site is in stock! He also said that getting contest balsa is not a problem. What is a problem is getting it in 48" lengths.

Regarding National Balsa, I ordered from them previously and was very unsatisfied with the quality of wood. The cut was very inconsistant as I swear they threw in 1/16" sheeting to pass as 3/32. The cuts were no where close. This is why I stay away from them as I feel I was sincerely cheated on my order. I have a friend who orders from them all the time, but he doesn't care about consistant cuts as I do. When I edge glue sheeting, I realize I may need to sand it to size to some degree, but this was seriously rediculous.

The reason I haven't ordered from The Balsa Store is because I already had an order in with Lonestar (Which I canceled this morning.). I'll be speaking to Clay soon.

48" contest is what I need. But I guess I may have to settle for 36"- which I am unhappy with.


Brian

Some of the wood I got from Clay was 42", I don't think he has any 48" left. The wood from National seemed decent to me, but none of the wood from them or The Balsa Store was perfectly straight. Lots of trimming will be required!

I think, considering how scarce contest wood is becoming, we are going to have to become less picky about what we get as long as the wood is of a decent weight and not ridiculously warped. Apparently the larger industries that are swallowing up most of the balsa don't care what weight they get. They just want balsa. []

I disagree. There should be some uniformity in width when cut by the same supplier.

I can live with trimming balsa and working with warped wood, but National Balsa simply ripped me off. I asked for 3/32" sheeting and they threw garbage at me. It varied anywhere from 3/32 to 1/16th. There were a few sheets that also were full of knots (which I could have forgave if not for the other issues). As a consumer, I have the right to believe the wood I received would be what I ordered, and of usable quality considering the money I gave them for the product, just as when ordering foam core wings. When we order a specific wing for a specific application, we have the right to expect that wing to be warp free, cut to the proper sweep, and cut to the proper length.

I never contacted them as I simply choose not do business with them anymore. This was blatent and unfortunate, and I have no remorse in sharing my experience publicly as they cared less about what they sent to me.


Brian

Edit:

Ralph,

I thought I should explain that this rant is not emotionally directed to you- personally. It was just an opinion that I probably should not have explained in a way that comes off argumentative to your opinion. I want to be VERY careful to keep friends here, not to burn them. I am very greatful for all the help you offer me.

Brian, i have long complained about my wood from National. no way would i ever order from them again. i still have some of their junk laying around, years after receiving it. when i see it it reminds me again of how poor the quality was. they had no interest in making me happy, btw. it has cost them several orders since then.

How does Balsa USA stack up for quality, price and service? Anyone have any experience with them?

FB

i've received 2 orders from them with zero issues.

I have ordered from National Balsa 4 or 5 times and always got great wood, prompt delivery and when I called with questions, always got straight answers to my questions. I will always buy my balsa from them.

No problem Brian, I understand your frustration!

After I read your post I went down and took a closer look at the wood I got from National. Took my dial calipers to about 20 sheets and they were all fairly consistent in thickness. Plus or minus .005" which is very good for wood, especially soft wood like balsa. With the exception of a couple sheets, the grain direction is decent with no knots. Maybe I just got lucky, but based on the wood I received so far I would order from National again.