Wood Species Guide
Balsa
Ochroma pyramidale
Also called: Balsa Wood, Balsawood, Lanero, Topa
What Balsa looks like
Commercial balsa is the sapwood: white to pale beige or light tan, sometimes with a slight pink cast. The rare heartwood is pale brown.
Grain and texture
Straight grain with a medium to coarse texture and a silky luster. The lightest pieces feel almost like foam.
Working Balsa: planing, cutting and gluing
Cuts with a hobby knife and sands in seconds, but dull tools crush and fuzz it, so use fresh blades. It does not hold nails or screws; glue is the way to join it. Weight varies a lot from board to board, so sort by feel.
Finishing Balsa: oil, film finishes and epoxy
It soaks up finish, so seal it first with sanding sealer or thin epoxy. For surfboards and models it is usually wrapped in fiberglass and epoxy. Stain goes on blotchy unless you seal first.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Perishable and quickly attacked by insects and rot. It is never used bare outdoors; wrap it in fiberglass or keep it sealed and dry in Florida.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Balsa is the lightest commercial wood there is, and it shows up in model planes, fishing lures, surfboard cores and as core stock in composite panels. It is not a furniture wood. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it. For hobby use, small sheets are easier to find at craft stores.
Common uses for Balsa
Model airplanes, fishing lures, surfboards, rafts and floats, composite and wind-turbine core stock, packing and instrument parts.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List. It grows very fast and most supply comes from plantations.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
Skin irritation is reported occasionally. The very light dust stays airborne, so control it well.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Skin irritation has been reported, but serious reactions are uncommon. The fine, light dust floats a long way, so use dust collection and a mask.
Balsa in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Balsa listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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