I have been visiting this site for a couple of years, and may be ready to start my first shaping project. I think I have read every post on balsa surfboards, but may need some more advice, and I know there are some knowledgeable folks on this forum, so this is my introduction. Here’s my situation: I just returned from a vacation to Ecuador and had some balsa shipped home. I have a one-car garage and quality hand woodworking tools but no power tools. I was thinking that I might be able to sell some of the balsa to finance the project and maybe cover the costs of shipping the wood up here. After looking on the Internet, I have found balsa ranging from $4-8 per board foot, but it was all small. I have boards that are about 4’’x6’’x9’10’’. I know that price/bf increases as the dimensions increase, but I don’t know the going rate for larger dimensions. What do you think I could get? Many of the boards have a bend in one direction that I thought would be beneficial for creating rocker (I plan to cut the rocker into each board with a stringer tinplate, chamber it, glue the pieces together and then shape the blank). I know that shaping a balsa board is an ambitious first shaping project, but I look forward to the challenge. Thanks in advance for answers to my many questions to come.
If I remember correctly from recent chambered balsa threads it is customery to glue up shape (at least rought shape) break apart, chamber, then reglue and finish sand/shape.
The recent threads had several links to other sites giving quite detailed process of making a chambered balsa.
Thats great that you were able to get such nice long pieces. with some nose and tail blocks (from cut offs) you’d be able to get over a 10er even (rocker permitting). I’m a little jealous, Its a project I’d like to tackle as well someday, but too many other boards planned for now.
Oh and as for the too ambitious for a first board concern… everyone said I was being ambitious building a 10’6" resin tint epoxy board with resin pinlines and graphic laminats (rice paper) for my first board. It is what I wanted so that is what I built. I think regardless of the dificulty, your better tackling the project you want to do rather than the one that is easy. Sure the challenge may be greater but that is what makes the reward so much greater, and in the end you have what you want, not board that you comprimised on.
Contact FROST HARDWOOD LUMBER, in San Diego, and GENERAL VENEER, in Southgate. Both are in California, and both are traditional sources of Balsa. I bought my first Balsa from Frost in 1958. At that time the wood for a 9’6" board was $20.00, and it cost less than $20.00 to glass a board. A new VELZY and JACOBS would set you back a whopping $85.00 at the same time period. Ah for the “good ol’ days.” But I digress. I think you’ll end up selling the wood for approx. $4/ BF.
Hi cmg Looks like you have enough balsa for a few boards.I’ve packed mine in to Short sands a time or to. What I did was lay out my out line and rocker on my balsa blank. Before I glued it up. Then chambered the pieces. And glued together. I chambered with a jig saw. I had to cut from each side the blade wasn’t long enough to go all the way through. Post some pictures when the boards finished. Gordon
When I bought my balsa from them they said they were going to get out of the balsa business. I was bummed since their prices are great ($2.50 or so a board foot but you have to buy a lot)
Howzit DanB, That company has been selling Balsa for ever even back to the days of Simmons. I lived only a few miles from them and we would go there to get scrap wood for our bonfires. Aloha,Kokua
Well, it’s been a while since I posted on this site regarding my balsa. Long story short: I built the board with the help of a local shaper and it rides great. If any of you are interested, here is a link to a thread on the oregonsurf.com site that chronicles the process. There are lots of pictures.
