Sources for sheet balsa to skin planes

SteveM · Post by **SteveM** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:10 pm

I have read of Poppy and others using 1/32" x 6" balsa sheet to skin their planes. My LHS has maybe half a dozen 1/32" x 3" sheets and most are far too stiff to skin with. I have searched the internet for a good source but am having trouble. SIG has some wood, Peck-Polymer has some also, but none are 6" wide.

So far the only 6" wide I found was from National Balsa. But none are of contest weight that would be needed to skin a plane to fly like I've seen Smokin' Beaver do on his conversions of Guillow's kits to electric RC.

Where do you guys (and gals) get the balsa to skin your planes?

supercruiser · Post by **supercruiser** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:54 pm

Shorty's basement has 1/32" sheets. I think they are 3" wide by 30" long.
I've ordered from them before.... fast, courteous, reasonable price. Carol Kane, the owner, does a great job. One of these years, I'm going to try to sheet my Guillow Corsair with their 1/32 stuff.

BillParker · Post by **BillParker** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:19 pm

This is what I use, (buy it from all the hobby shops in town and Hobby Lobby)

But, I'm in Houston...

Midwest Balsa:

6601 Sheet 1/32 x 6 x 36

goto:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wt ... XAR95&P=FR

These guys'll fix you up...

bp

SteveM · Post by **SteveM** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:48 pm

I forgot about Shorty's Basement, but I probably discounted them on account of how small the sheets are. Though at least you know it is all 7 lbs or less.

Bill, do you know how much the Midwest balsa weighs? It wouldn't matter for static display but for flying planes it is a lot more important.

David Couch · Post by **David Couch** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:24 pm

I purchase mine at local hobby shops. Midwest has the best I have found and it comes in 6" widths. Some sheets are stiffer than others, but dampening them to bend works for me. I have found some, like Sig, that are so thin a light as to be unusable, yet they are labeled as 1/32.

SteveM · Post by **SteveM** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:38 pm

Thanks Poppy, I guess my LHS just doesn't have the balsa I need. They have mostly SIG and very little of it is 1/32". I guess I'll have to inquire to see if they can order some, but then I might as well order my own at that point.

JOhn M Oshust · Post by **JOhn M Oshust** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:18 pm

I purchase my balsa at an arts and crafts chain...Pearls. The have a lumber yard full of balsa and bass. All dimensions and you pick your pieces. Quality wood!

H65 Driver · Post by **H65 Driver** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:01 pm

I know this is something of an old conversation, but if anyone is interested, it appears that AC Supply has a pretty good selection of balsa in addition to their great prices on Guillow's kits.

http://www.acsupplyco.com/catalog/2008/50-59.pdf

SteveM · Post by **SteveM** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:43 am

Thanks for the link, I did not realize they had so many other supplies.

mi77915 · Post by **mi77915** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:33 am

http://www.balsausa.com/

thymekiller · Post by **thymekiller** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:49 am

http://tinyurl.com/cro7sz
The top one is a/c supply. Lone Star is back in business, but I dont know if inventory is up to the old way yet.
http://tinyurl.com/bezbvv
I didnt know you could get balsa in 6 icnh wide.

thymekiller

SteveM · Post by **SteveM** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:56 pm

Good to see Lone Star back in business, I just learned something else!

Guillow's Model Builders Forum

Sources for sheet balsa to skin planes

Sources for sheet balsa to skin planes

1/32 Balsa Sheeting

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