balsa anygood for carving ?

[invasion1973]

Was looking around a model shop website and noticed they had 2x2x18 balsa wood blocks. I was wondering, if this would be any good for carving ?

I am sure somone tolfd me basswood is from the same family ?

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Not really. About the only thing balsa and basswood have in common is that they both start with "b". Balsa is much too soft to hold detail. It's grain structure actually collapses when a heavy blade like a carving knife is used. Save it for model airplanes.

[invasion1973]

Oh well never mind. That is a real shame

Thanks for the info

[steve brown]

Its just good for model making. For the best detail stay with basswood. Basswood is from the hardwood family.
www.sbrownwoodcarving.com

[BeaverDon]

well, technically, balsa is also in the hardwood family. but it's THE softest hardwood.

[Eddy-Smiles]

It's good for making top water fishing plugs because even after you add the hardware it still floats.

[mobjack68]

Don't chuck it out!!! Give it a try...carving that is..
I have had some real fun with balsa. As stated above, forget the detail, way too soft. You can, however, remove a lot of wood in a real hurry. Use it for roughing out practice...

I saw a chain carved from balsa (friend of mine). About 3' long, stained and finished to look like a real chain. I was in his garage one day, he picked it up and hurled it at me. Real good thing I had underwear on, would have ruined a great pair of jeans. Didn't have time to think...just ducked, or tried to.

After it connected with me I was just kinda stunned trying to figure out what just happened...waiting for the pain receptors to kick in....He started laughing and couldn't stop laughing.....seems that someone he knew pulled the same thing on him.
I promptly parted his cheeks...than I laughed.

[Robson Valley]

If I didn't have blocks of hard plastic packing foam, I'd be using balsa to make quick models of things (massive bird beaks) that I planned to carve in something tougher. I can rough out an idea in a couple of minutes with a razor blade to see if it's what I have in mind.

[arbarnhart]

Someone in my local ww'ing club posted an owl he carved in balsa a few days ago. He bleached it and it looks like alabaster. He actually got reasonable detail in it and smooth curved surfaces. I had commented to him that it would work pretty well for he same sort of joke that mobjack mentioned.

Below is a link to the thread. Non members have to page down past the membership info, but you can view the thread:
Owl in Progress - North Carolina Woodworker

[jimmy joe]

You may be able to get a carving out of it but , I would stick with basswood .