Balsa Source

[gklimber]

Assuming that the fine folks at Lone Star are still sidelined (I haven't heard otherwise) where's a good place to get decent balsa and the great service that I was used to getting from them??? It's time to restock the shelves

jer

[vintagesailplnr]

Hi I just got $200+ of balsa and plywood from National Balsa it was some of the best I've gotten in years - as good as lone star and maybe a bit less expensive. Quick shipping and packed better than anyone. 100 sheets of 4 by 1/16 by 48 - 1/2 balsa scrap at each end on and both side and in the middle. TOP DRAWER.
Jim

[gklimber]

Thanks Jim. I'll check them out.

jer

[soholingo]

Second National Balsa...

[gklimber]

Judging from their web site, they have everything I'll need for sure.
jer

[Thermaler]

Hi I just got $200+ of balsa and plywood from National Balsa it was some of the best I've gotten in years - as good as lone star and maybe a bit less expensive. Quick shipping and packed better than anyone. 100 sheets of 4 by 1/16 by 48 - 1/2 balsa scrap at each end on and both side and in the middle. TOP DRAWER.
Jim

If you are ordering sticks do a seperate order. They put them on top of the spacer scrap against the box making a bridge, shipping broke some of mine in the middle of the stick.
The sheets were not uniform in finish, looked like half of them had been packed after being rough sawn and not sanded. I was not happy and will not do business with them again. Balsa USA did a better job but there was A LOT OF DUST in the sheets.
Hard to mess up the plywood.
Neither could hold a candle to what Lone Star always delivered, I hope they get back soon!! Lone Star always put the sticks between the sheets, they always survived shipping. If you ordered plywood they put the sheets on the top and bottom to take the abuse and protect the balsa.
Not to mention the weight and grain selection, about the same price as Balsa USA which could not send me 6-8 lb balsa. Most of it was 9-12 lb!!!!!

Joe

[soholingo]

Joe,

I know you have had a bad experience with National, but the two times I have used them the wood was pretty good. It was no better or worse than LoneStars. May have been a bad day and you ordered right after the fire right?

Jay

[Thermaler]

Hey Jay,
I placed my order in early January.

Joe