Balsa as bow/stern filler

[Roks82]

I would like to hear your opinion whether to use balsa as bow and stern filler or would you suggest to use some other type of wood? Thanks for your pros and cons!

[jbshan]

If you use it as a shape to help the plank go around the curve only, and not as something to fix the plank to, it might be OK.  It wouldn't, I think, hold a pin or other physical fastener, those planks on an apple-bowed hull have a lot of strain on them, but I could be wrong.

[Pete Jaquith]

I would suggest basswood or pine for filler blocks.  Easy to shape but providing more support than balsa wood.  See attached picture of my "Fair American" build.

 

Regards,

Pete

[Eddie]

Hey howya goin Roks82 mate, I've always used balsa wood for my filling as long as there is a piece of wood up against the Bow of the ship where I can nail into.  You can't nail into balsa wood but you can glue to it.

[Roks82]

Thanks to everyone! Seems that each one of us has a different opinion / method. I've raised the question as I found out in some posts that some people tend to avoid using balsa but was not sure why. Definitely pine and basswood offer much more support but it also requires heavier sanding. 

 

Since my filler is only used for additional support/shaping of the bow/stern and I am a bit lazy I will stick with balsa  

[mtaylor]

If you're going to glue to the balsa, after shaping it, coat it with a layer of glue and water (50/50).  It will help hold anything being clued to it.

[HIPEXEC]

Balsa seemed to work for me in past models.

[Ulises Victoria]

I have used balsa with no problems. True it doesn't hold a nail, but you seldom need it.

[jbshan]

I'm actually with Peter on this, for my own work.  Please note the wiggle words I used.

If balsa is all you've got, it might work for you, within limitations.

[Eddie]

Hey howya goin all, the only reason the filler block is there for me is to keep curvature of the planks all even and I have put pins in the balsa wood to just keep the plank up to it while the glue dry not nail in the planks.  

[Moxis]

Balsa wood has been used for decades as construction material for model airplanes. Also in very thin strips. And they are only glued together without any other fasteners, and still the constructions are/were very rigid. Filling blocks used in shipmodels are solid wood, much more stronger than thin strips, so I don't know any reason why they couldn't be used. And as Roks82 said, they are much easier to sand as heavier wood.