Ye Olde Rocket Forum - View Single Post - Balsa shortage 2020-2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by shuyge

I was unable to locate my scale when I went shopping, but it isn't a big deal when you're actually looking for heavy wood.

I discovered that Michael's craft stores no longer stock balsa or plywood.

The local Hobbytown USA had about 4 ratty-looking sheets in stock.

Hobby Lobby had a decent selection, but they placed their display in a high traffic lane and someone wanted to get through everytime I wanted to pull a sheet out, which blocked the aisle. It was a candid camera stunt or something. They had a decent selection, but I got to go there first thing in the morning.

I found a decent selection of balsa at Menards. Scales were of no use here because they wrap two to four 36" sheets together in plastic. I picked a few packs that had C-grain patterns showing, and out of about a dozen sheets of mostly pretty heavy (9-12 lb/cu.ft.) balsa, I scored one sheet of 1/16"x3" 6 lb.cu.ft C-grain balsa, and two sheets of 1/8" very heavy balsa (16 lb/cu.ft.). Lucky score for a random pick, but the "utility grade" balsa was what I wanted for some balsa-cored composite fins.