Do I really need a balsa building board? I dont have a soft enough building board that 1" T Pins will go into. My workbench is a thick, flat, smooth, hard wood surface. Can I get by building my first kit without a building board? What do you think/suggest?
Thanks for your help.


KB

If its flat yes you can use it. Go to Lowes and get a 2' x 4' ceiling tiel and lay on it for your T pins to stick into.About $3

Randy

A peace of 1/2" dry wall , the size you need will work.

Check out Homasote, information available here: [link=http://www.homasote.com/]Building Board Material[/link] If you really want to get fancy, purchase a piece of 1/4 inch thick glass, 18"X60" (a good size - it can be ordered thru any competent glass shop) and glue the Homasote to the glass. Why glass? Because it is flat, flat, flat. But you get a bonus with the glass. Just turn it over after you are done building and now you have an excellent surface for cutting cover material on.

I agree with the fiber ceiling tile. I got 2 that had corner's beat up at my local lumber yard for freebies. They work just fine. The tiles we are referring to have a base of grey fiber material similar to homasote. They will do just fine.

Mark Shuman

I have tried just about every type of building board in the past, and I recently bought the Great Planes Pro Building Board 16" x 48". Now that I have used it to build an airplane on, I wish I had bought it sooner. ...Brian

Ceiling Tiles: 24X48

What's a T-Pin? Just kidding, I stopped using pins about 10 years ago. The main thing is a perfectly flat firm surface. I built my benches with 3/4" particle board, sanded and sealed with urethane varnish. I checked the level and flatness carefully.

If you use the 2'x4' tile, just be sure it is securely fastened down to maintain flatness.

BO

Just my opinion but I would use drywall.It holds the pins better than the ceiling tile stuff.I started out using ceiling tile but after trying drywall I won't be going back to ceiling tile.

I guess I do things a bit different. I have a buffet table with a soild mahagony door that is very flat and have been using the same side since 1992. When I am done building I rest my palm sander on it with 100 grit and very lightly sand in case there are any bumps from glue etc. I also have a long bench going down one side of my shop with solid doors and 1/4" mahagony on top of those, can you say flat, total of 24' of work bench when you can find it!!!![] I have been using pins since Moses was a Corporal in the Army and still do, work fine for me.

And he's been flying since Pontius was a Pilot.

Another vote for drywall...

I have ceiling tile glued with 3m contact glue on a bi-fold door. It works great and is very flat. I put a handle on the end and hang it from the wall in my garage when not building. I am in the process of taking the second part of the bifold and adding a piece of glass to it. I will then hang it on my wall using strong hinges. When not in use, I will fold it UP against that wall leaving the glass facing in to avoid breakage.

I bought a cheap standard 3-0 house door. T pins stick and its very straight. Plenty of building room too
Donnie