Stay with Basswood

  Basswood or styrene plastic are much better for scratch-building a structure.  Balsa is way too 'soft' for cutting and is way too porous for painting/staining.

Jim

Where to buy

Most hobby shops I've been in carry basswood. My local TruValue hardware even carries some of the larger hobby/project basswood sheets. I've also bought scale lumber from Mt. Albert.

Hobby Lobby

I can't recall whether our HL stocks basswood or not. They have Balsa and  plywood. You might also check the dollhouse area there.  I remember looking at stuff there and thinking it was too big for HO but if might be fine for On30.

Michael

Hobby Lobby and Michaels

I have purchased both balsa and basswood at both. Also Hobbytown is my closest hobby shop.

Michaels, Hobby Lobby, pretty

If you can wait a few days

If you don't need it immediately off the shelf, with the bonus of free shipping - try:

http://midwestproducts.com/store/products/eaae295c-b726-4d76-875f-11b5a0ee283f/1/Scale_Lumber.aspx

When I last ordered, there was a small delay only because they had broken the saw blade just before I ordered - hence a few days for them to replace their blade before cutting.

...

It's typically in the same rack as the balsa.

You can also order it from Northeastern Scale Lumber products.

Supplier

Thanks guys,

I found a supplier today in Saginaw,Mi. That's over an hour away but I had to drive there for a TV interview for my upcoming steam excursion in March. So I got the material for the floor joist but not sure what I'm going to use for decking.

I use Alder wood for a lot of

Scale Lumber

Try Northeastern Scale Models. They've been making scale lumber and shapes for many years. Plus they sell direct.

http://www.northeasternscalelumber.com/

Scale Lumber

Michaels and A.C. Moore carry midwest wood products.

Balsa

I recently built a 3' Howe Truss bridge completely out of balsa. I added grain with a MicroMark hot knife grainer, stained it with cabinet stain and at 2' distance, it looks darn good. Also, I have put at least 10# on it with no problems. Takes my big 4-8-4 and cars without out any movement. 

I agree, foreground models generally are better in bass wood but there is still lots of places that balsa makes a lot of economical sense. Consider interior building bracing, especially those corner blocks. Balsa has a lot of compression strength but not as much shear strength. 

Basswood

I have used these folks and they have good service and the wood was terrific.  Russ

http://www.nationalbalsa.com/Basswood_Sticks_s/46.htm

Sccale Lumber

It appears that Frank T and I use the same source for Basswood and other fine hardwoods in scale modeling.

I also make a lot of my own from cut offs that occur when I am making my other full sized furniture and cabinets.

Steve

Forget balsa

Please by all means take the time and find basswood. You will not be disappointed. Balsa will not take paint very good . About all balsa is good for is inside bracing. I use some for that as I bought some 25 years ago and that is all it works for.Brian

Balsa

is handy in places where one wants a soft wood. In the old days we'd make clap board siding by scribing in the beveled boards  with the back of a knife or a screw driver blade. If the balsa needs to be harder for some applications soaking it with ca glue hardens it up a lot......DaveB

Balsa Wood for scratch building vs Basswood. Who supplies it?

I have been scratch building N and HO scale structures for more than 30 years.  My first couple of projects used Balsa but Basswood seems to work out much better and takes paint better. In my area Hobby Lobby carries plain basswood sheets and strips.  I have also found plain bass wood at recently established hobby outlet that specializes in radio control models and airplanes.  It appears that many hobby shops have stopped carrying scribed basswood.  Most tell me that hardly another builds from scratch anymore.

PRR fan in Duncan, OK

Not to disagree with the experst but for my...

first scratch building project, early 90's, i built this residential coal distribution structure from plans in MR. I think it has stood the test of time. Just sayin...

John

How's your memory?

Anybody remember E.L. Moore who wrote many articles for RMC? He used nothing but balsa. I even gave one of his projects a try.

As far as painting. Spray with a sealer first.

Bernd

Stained balsa over styrene

Hi all,

for several reasons the tipple deck on my Corrimal Colliery layout was built with balsa over styrene with several planks being removable to allow "future maintenance" access to the screws holding the styrene foundation level deck to the dowel piers. The planks scale out at 20'. 

The balsa was stained (not painted) with an Isopropyl alcohol/India ink mix of different concentrations - lighter stained planks were used for higher foot-traffic areas. Darker stained planks were used for areas where grease and coal dust could accumulate.

Yes balsa can be very useful.

https://www.handlaidtrack.com

https://www.handlaidtrack.com/mt-albert-scale-lumber

I use this lumber.

https://www.handlaidtrack.com

https://www.handlaidtrack.com/mt-albert-scale-lumber

I use this lumber.

Does Hobby Lobby or some other craft store carry basswood?

I've never been to a hobby lobby but our local art supply store carries some bass wood sticks and sheets so I'd guess hobby lobby might have some. ....DaveB