Where to get balsa

[Wild Dingo]

Im thinking Id like to get some balsa to make a canoe with rather than kiri... so anyone got any ideas where it could be sourced from? in lengths up to 16ft? say 8in wide x 2in thick?

Cheers!

[bsrlee]

There is a mob called something like 'Pacific Balsa' that is growing the stuff in PNG and milling it for the world market - you could give them a go - a mate recons they have an Oz office.

Their main production problem is to get the trees milled & stabilized before they rot.

[bitingmidge]

http://www.riley.com.au/

$90.00 per 3m length of 150x75


Cheers,

P
:D

[Boatmik]

The cheapest way to get it is unmilled flitch.

The balsa used to come to australia in 100 x 100 and 100 x 75 rough sawn flitch. So if you can get hold of some of that

Getting the stuff that has been machined is much more expensive. To resaw it yourself is pretty easy - it does saw very easily and nicely.

Here are some recent links I have got

Warren Meyers
Managing Director
Auszac Pty Ltd
59 Boothby Street
Panorama, South Australia
Australia 5041
P. 61 8 8276 4122
F. 61 8 8276 4133
[email protected]
www.auszac.com.au (http://www.auszac.com.au/)
And I thought this was a different company but it is the online part of the one above.

www.balsacentral.com

I have been in contact with Warren a few times - and he is a bit interested in boatbuilding projects - I would suggest emailing him directly and asking whether the rough sawn flitch was available.

Michael

[dazzler]

Dis gunna be gooooood :D

Wild Dingos crazy canoe move to Tassie..............:stretcher:

:D :q

[journeyman Mick]

Dis gunna be gooooood :D

Wild Dingos crazy canoe move to Tassie..............:stretcher:

:D :q

Maybe he's going to go like that Thor Heyerdahl and build a huge balsa wood raft to get across to Tassie :D (remember the Kontiki?)

Mick

[rona]

Hi Ding,
Interesting project, have never tried anything large from balsa, so will be watching with interest. Balsa of course is a hardwood so I am not sure how
that will affect the project either moisture wise.

Good Luck,
Cheers, Ron.

[Boatmik]

Howdy Dingo,

I have been in contact with the balsa people. They do supply rough sawn. They will give me a quote for freight too if you tell me which town you want it delivered to.

Ain't that kind of them - and there is no obligation!

Also Rona
I built a balsa strip canoe a few years back. I go into the ups and downs and ins and outs of building in balsa.

See here
http://www.storerboatplans.com/Balsacanoe/Balsacanoe.html

[Wild Dingo]

Mik that would be brilliant cheers :2tsup: rough saws best should be cheepest to eh? :;

Delivery would be to Brunswick Junction West Aus post code 6224

Again cheers