Talk to me about balsa as a core

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Talk to me about balsa as a core

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drumbum675	drumbum675 posted 10 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 8, Visits: 19	I've never used balsa as a core material, however I'm very familiar with balsa from other hobbies. I'm thinking it may be my best bet as a core that needs to be shaped. I know I'll have to drill it. What else do I need to know that is different from a cloth or honeycomb based core?
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Zorongo	Zorongo posted 10 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 40, Visits: 330	If stresses on your part will be high, balsa is a good option. Or also PVC foam or honeycomb. Remind that balsa must be used "end grain". Not the flat panels used for small plane or boats construction, etc. As said, filling and sanding gaps may need money for filler, weight and some man hours... Strictly, polyurethane should not be used as a core as its shear strength is low. It shows cohesive failure. Each particle debonds from its next particle, ending in a core failure. Same as polyestyrene. (or maybe on the last years polyurethanes got better (?) That´s the difference between the called "structural" or "non structural" cores. If stresses are low polyurethane may be ok, but I would choose another material. Balsa can absorve water on external environments (boat decks, for instance) if bolts/fittings on the sandwich skin are uncorrectly sealed. So, best use end grain balsa, PVC or honeycomb for your core. If you need to shape, PVC can be found in low density, and also low thickness (I´ve used 3 and 4 mm). You can make complex curves bonding multiple thin PVC foam plies. Cheers ! Edited 10 Years Ago by Zorongo
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Talk to me about balsa as a core

drumbum675 - 10 Years Ago

Hi drum, Balsa is very efficient core but probably best for flat panels, it can be shaped to a...

The Fibreglass King - 10 Years Ago

Depends what you mean by needing to be shaped. Do you mean being able to form a sheet over a curve,...

dbcrx - 10 Years Ago

If stresses on your part will be high, balsa is a good option. Or also PVC foam or honeycomb. Remind...

Zorongo - 10 Years Ago

Polyurethane Foam is a completely different material to polystyrene Foam, Any resins or solvents...

The Fibreglass King - 10 Years Ago

Thanks for the advise. So the thin sheets from the hobby shop that are normally used on RC airplanes...

drumbum675 - 10 Years Ago

You can use flat balsa as it comes from a hobby shop, itis just not the typical way with composites....

Fasta - 10 Years Ago

I have very successfully used Balsa cores for making a number of riflestocks. I have used 1,5 to 2...

Dravis - 10 Years Ago

I know this is a very old thread, but may I ask what criteria you used to select laminating epoxy to seal the stock? And, would you use the same epoxy today? Are there any newer materials that might....

HansenJC - 6 Years Ago

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Talk to me about balsa as a core

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