How do you buy good balsa for a bridge?
Where to buy balsa, what to look for on the shelf, how much extra to buy, and how to pick the best sticks from a bin or a bag.
Updated · 1 min read
Short answer: buy more than you need from a hobby or craft supplier, pick sticks by hand if you can, and weigh them at home. Check your rulebook, because some contests specify the size or supply the sticks.
Where to look
Hobby and model-aircraft shops, craft stores and online model suppliers sell balsa in standard stick sizes. If the contest names a supplier or a size, buy exactly that.
What to look for
- Straightness. Sight down each stick for bends.
- Even grain. Look for straight grain without a slope, knots or soft spots.
- Weight. Lift a few. In a bin of the same size, the lighter ones feel noticeably lighter. Heavier ones are stiffer. See choosing sticks.
- Clean edges without crushed corners or dents.
How much to buy
Buy about 50% to 100% more than the cutting list, since you will sort out the best, cut spares and break practice bridges. If you plan several practice builds, buy for each.
At home
Weigh and label every stick, then store them flat and dry. See storing balsa.
Balsa is sold by density grade, such as light, medium and hard. See the grade table in choosing sticks.