What is special about balsa wood?
Balsa wood is the lightest and softest commercial hardwood timber. White to oatmeal in colour with high silky lustre. Density 160 (120-220)kgm3, commercially preferred density range 120-160kgm3. Strength and stiffness approximately 50% that of Baltic pine (Pinus sylvestris).
Is balsa wood good for models?
All model-building fans know that balsa wood is an essential material for their craft. Sourced from the eponymous tree, this wood is lightweight, showcases minimal grain, and is favored for its softness—this is the easiest wood to carve and shape.
Why is balsa used for model airplanes?
Balsa wood (ochroma lagopus) has been one of the main materials for model aeroplane construction since about 1920. Balsa is light, but with high strength, it absorbs the shock and vibration of heavy landings quite well and can be easily worked with hand tools.
Why is balsa wood so strong?
The cells are big and very thin walled, so that the ratio of solid matter to open space is as small as possible. Most woods have gobs of heavy, plastic-like cement, called lignin, holding the cells together. In balsa, lignin is at a minimum. Only about 40% of the volume of a piece of balsa is solid substance.
Why is balsa wood so soft?
Balsa is the softest wood ever measured using the Janka hardness test (22 to 167 lbf). The wood of the living tree has large cells that are filled with water. This gives the wood a spongy texture. It also makes the wood of the living tree not much lighter than water and barely able to float.
What wood is used for RC planes?
balsa wood
The standard in model airplane-building since the late 1920s, balsa wood combines the two elements necessary to a successful flight: strength and lightness. Balsa wood is also easy to cut and carve with just a good, sharp hobby knife or razor saw, so no need for heavy power tools.
Can balsa wood be used in construction?
We’ve already mentioned that balsa wood is one of the lightest woods. However, it is used in structural applications due to its strength – and stiffness – to – weight ratio and is often used as sandwich panels in such instances as bridge decks and even ping pong paddles.
What are model planes made of?
Flying models range from simple toy gliders made of sheets of paper, balsa, card stock or foam polystyrene to powered scale models built up from balsa, bamboo sticks, plastic, (including both moulded or sheet polystyrene, and styrofoam), metal, synthetic resin, either alone or with carbon fibre or fibreglass, and …
What is the best material to make a RC plane?
The standard in model airplane-building since the late 1920s, balsa wood combines the two elements necessary to a successful flight: strength and lightness. Balsa wood is also easy to cut and carve with just a good, sharp hobby knife or razor saw, so no need for heavy power tools.