What Type of Balsa Is the Best for Columns?

Balsa Features

• Balsa trees dwell in the moist rain forest of South and Central America. Balsa is a unique wood, providing strength with a lightweight feel due to its cellular structure. Each balsa wood cell has very thin walls, as well as a large structure. Water naturally fills the cells, creating the wood's structural strength. The wood's lightweight characteristic is due to the overall ratio of more open cellular space as opposed to solid matter.

Column Building

• Model builders use columns for supporting a structure's main weight, such as a rooftop. Subsequently, the balsa type for a column must be inherently strong. The C-grain balsa wood is a cut that offers the most strength for a column. C-grain cuts follow the balsa wood's natural grain lines. As a result, the wood's structure is reinforced with its natural growing rays that emanate from the balsa wood's trunk center. Unlike many tree types, annual growth rings are barely visible on the balsa wood

Application

• Many model building instructions guide builders to a specific wood strength for a particular part's construction. The instructions refer to a wood's strength as light, medium or hard, as opposed to indicating the grain type. Additionally, the wood description can become more specific, indicating ultra light or medium hard. However, balsa wood for a column should fall under a hard or extra hard description, signaling that you need the C-grain cut for the best structural integrity.

Use

• The C-grain cut is extremely rigid, adding to a column's structural strength. However, constructing the model initially requires careful handling of the balsa wood. The grain's rigidity does not give it a lot of flexibility, such as maneuvering the piece into a snug area of the model. As a result, the wood can split along the grain if too much pressure is placed against it. A model builder must not bend or manipulate the C-grain balsa too far in one direction or the wood will need to be replaced.

Choices

• Many model building stores offer balsa wood for their customers. However, the B-grain cut is the most common since it offers some rigidity along with flexibility. Verify the balsa wood grain cut before purchasing to avoid an incorrect wood choice that compromises the model's structure.