how do you seal a Balsa Alaia?

General Discussion
1

I happend to get my hands on a balsa alaia blank recently, and I was wondering what the best way to make it water tight/glass it is. I was thinking I would just use linseed oil, but someone told me that with balsa, I would actually have to use epoxy to glass it. what are the facts here?  let me know, thanks.

2

There will be many others more knowledgeable than me. My understanding is given the water absorption properties of balsa, oil isn't an adequare sealant. A thin layer of glass is pretty standard. I'm sure there is also an old thread about applying a prior prep coat.

 

Bob

3

 IMNSFHO glassing an alaia just ain't right. 

Some balsa is very absorbant, some not.   

In the Surfing Heritage Foundation collection we have several very old balsa/redwood boards built before glass and resin came along, that were varnished. Many of them are still in surprisingly good condition.

  A modern compromise would be to apply a sealer coat of epoxy and then several coats of quality marine varnish, giving special attention to the end grain and fixing any dings promptly.

 My 2 cents.

     

  

 

 

4

I made a balsa hand plane from balsa scrap and put a cheater coat of resin on it.  At some point it fell off the table and broke.  So, I would think that you most likely would break it in the water if there was only sealer on it.  

 

Worth a shot though.  Easy to fix and glass if you choose to only seal it at first.

5

thanks for the info guys. that helped. ive done marine varnish on a alaia before so maybe ill go with that!(of course with the sealer coat of resin first.)  does it make a difference if i use epoxy or polyester resin?

6

Plenty of info here:

 

http://www2.swaylocks.com/forums/epoxy-cheater-coat-wood-board

http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1009228

http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1029005

 

Bob

7

would it work to use with resin thats not epoxy?

8

Its generally accepted that you always glass balsa boards......but this is only to make them more waterproof and mainly ding resistant.........you could make an ultra-light high-performance shortboart without a glass job (just a sealer) and it would kick absolute arse !...........but sadly , it would lack durabilty for day to day use........very high maintenance.