Balsa Wood

Balsa is an extremely lightweight hardwood known for its soft texture and ease of cutting, making it ideal for modeling, crafts, and lightweight structural projects. Despite its low density, it offers surprising strength for its weight and is a favorite for hobbyists and builders alike.
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Balsa Wood

Balsa Wood

From $16.95
Balsa Wood Thins for Sale

Balsa Thin

From $21.95

Balsa (Ochroma Pyramidale)

Pricing

Moderately Expensive

Hardness

67

Janka

Distribution

Humid rainforests of Central and South America

Availability

Difficult to source

Appearance

Balsa sapwood is typically white to off-white or tan, sometimes with a pink or yellow hue.

Workability

Generally very easy to work with virtually no dulling effect on cutters. Balsa stains and finishes well, though it has a tendency to soak up large quantities of material on the initial coats.

Uses

Buoys, rafts, surfboards, model airplanes, musical instruments, packing/transport cases, core stock in sandwich laminations, and fishing lures.

Additional Comments

Balsa is a wood that is famous worldwide. It is generally the lightest and softest of all commercial woods. Balsa has excellent sound, heat, and vibration insulating properties, and is also incredibly buoyant: in fact, “Balsa” is the Spanish word for “raft.”

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Why choose Balsa Wood?

Balsa is the lightest commercial wood in the world and that is what makes it so remarkable. It is so light that it almost feels like you are holding nothing at all, but don't let that fool you because pound for pound it is actually one of the stronger woods you can work with relative to its weight. It has a pale white to light tan color with a straight grain and a coarse texture that is incredibly easy to cut, shape, and sand by hand. That combination of light weight and strength is why it has been the material of choice for model airplanes and architectural models for decades because you need something that holds its shape without adding unnecessary weight. It is also widely used in surfboard cores, life preservers, and insulation panels because of how well it performs in applications where keeping weight low is critical. Balsa is not a wood you would reach for when building furniture or flooring, but for the applications it was made for there is simply nothing else that comes close.

Frequently Asked Questions About Balsa Wood