Solid wood boards...

General Discussion
1

I know there is a lot going on in the wood board building arena. Chambered, wood over foam, and other techniques. Besides Balsa, is there any other wood, maybe Pauwlonia, that is used to shape solid boards. Or is it just too heavy? I’m interested in getting a wood board for winter surf, something with a little weight but not a redwood plank. Maybe Balsa would work? I don’t know, any thoughts? thanks

2

Agave Catus, century plant stems.

The center flowering part I’m told is a viable option.

I hear the sawdust is toxic so protect yourself.

3

Chambering is generally the accepted method. Even with Agave your looking at very high weights without chambering. Balsa is the lightest and if you cherry pick the peices you can get a longboard blank that weighs in the 12 - 15 lb range which nets about an 22 - 25 lb finished longboard range. Not too bad but the weight of the wood has all to do with that finished board weight without chambering. If you can’t find a place to cherry pick the wood your looking at a board weighing up to 50 lbs.

4

port orford(sp?) cedar

alaskan spruce

hawaiian wiliwili

maybe south eastern cypress

naturally fallen of course

5 
Howzit Greg, I have a Larry Strada 9'1" chambered balsa gun that weighs under 15 lbs. Aloha,Kokua
6

I built a 6’1" single fin out of sugar pine and redwood that came in at 19 lbs. My kneeboarding buddy said it was a freight train down the line but turning was a beeyatch. It will become a quad in the spring.

7

Thanks for all the responses guys…I’ll keep researching!