For the model makers, the balsa wood may be their most familiar materials. Do you know why choose the balsa woodto make models instead of other materials? Some people may consider the hardboard as the favourite model materials. However, the reality is than there is no other material which could be as stable as the balsa wood and attains the similar lightness as well.
In order to show the advantages of balsa wood, I would like to compare other materials with it. For example, the hardboard is easy to cut and glue. But it is not sturdy enough to endure the pressure while being used to make models. Further more, its property limits its use. Could you use it to make the model boat? Of course not, the boat would sink in few minutes when then hardboard absorb the water.
On the contrary, the balsa wood is endowed with enough strength and it could float on water. Thereby, its uses has been expanded. Without doubt, there are some wood are stronger than the balsa wood, such as pine. However, it is too strong to be cut. The pine wood is mainly used to make fine furnitures, but when it comes to the production of model, it is really not a clever choice.
There are some materials attain the same lightness and same flexibility, such as plastics. However, the plastic materials are not considered as the environmental material. There is a period that the surfboards are made from plastic rather than balsa wood. But when people have realized the importance of environmental protection, they abandon the usage of plastic and choose the balsa wood again.
As the most suitable material to make models, the balsa wood must be equipped with proper quality. Further more, the balsa wood is divided into several types and you should choose the suitable type to meet the production requirements.