Hobby store wood, was/ Re: Per the '10-'11 AMA rules for LPP

From: Mark F1diddler <f1diddler_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:06:23 -0000

--- In Indoor_Construction_at_yahoogroups.com, "jabiruchick" <jabiruchick@...> wrote:
...>
> After using some of my new skills for calculating balsa density, I discovered with much dismay that my stash of beautiful clear-grained, straight 1/32 sheet that I thought was light "enough" is actually 10 lb stock! Off i went to the hobby shop, where I found they didn't even have 32nd sheet. The dude working there tried his best to find it, even though he told me they probably don't make any sheet thinner than 1/16 because it's so fragile...>>

I've noticed that over the past 3 or 4 years, around here the pickins have become slim and slimmer for finding decent indoor-worthy balsa in the RC hobby stores I used to regularly check. Used to be not rare to find 5.0lb straight grained A, and sometimes C, in 1/16", 3/32", and (even more easily) 1/8" thick balsa. But I have heard good things about a couple of the mail order suppliers, such as Lonestar. Anyone here tried to use Lonestar to get 5-5.7lb lb wood? Apparently you can pay a premium to specify a weight range (but not necessarily that narrow.) I wouldn't expect every sheet to be useable, but if you end up with one good sheet out 6 or 8 sheets purchased, that would seem to be a good value, and should last for many models.

The pickins are probably still decent around large cities, IF you know what you are looking for.
Mark F1diddler
Received on Mon Mar 14 2011 - 12:06:31 CET