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Author: Subject: Wood For Making Buck
thegodplato

posted on 29/4/10 at 09:18 AM Reply With Quote
Wood For Making Buck

Hi there,
does anyone recommend any suppliers of balsa wood for using to make my buck for my car? All the suppliers I have come across seem to be model shops selling 300mm or 450mm X 100mm/75mm thin sheets.
I was looking at making the `profile` out of 6mm plywood along the length of the body and then covering it in 0.8mm or 1.6mm balsa, before applying a filler on top and smoothing it down to get the final shape from which I would then take the fibreglass moulds from.
If this isn't the best way to do it, please let me know as I'm open to any suggestions/advice





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tegwin

posted on 29/4/10 at 09:33 AM Reply With Quote
Balsa is pretty expensive...

I would be using ply for the structure and then builders insulation foam sheets for the main body... shape it wil a file, then put filler on the surface and sand it down to get the perfect shape etc for your buck...





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chrsgrain

posted on 29/4/10 at 10:13 AM Reply With Quote
I'v not done it, but the consensus seems to be ^^^^.

Have a look at the CANAMSA thread, Freds pictures tell a thousand words about how to do it right and reasonably priced (if not quick!)

Chris





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Canada EH!

posted on 29/4/10 at 02:22 PM Reply With Quote
A good friend of mine built ski boats, he used plywood and pine frames and covered it with what we over hear call masonite, wood and cardboard composite about 3/16" thick, very smooth surface, he then used body filler for the compund curves, his boats are still in vogue and he hasn't build one in over 15 years.
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skinned knuckles

posted on 29/4/10 at 02:40 PM Reply With Quote
i use ply, chicken wire, PU foam, and filler.

don't know if its right but it has worked for me in the past.





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Confused but excited.

posted on 29/4/10 at 05:13 PM Reply With Quote
Masonite = Hardboard





Tell them about the bent treacle edges!

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Fred W B

posted on 29/4/10 at 07:14 PM Reply With Quote
quote:

covering it in 0.8mm or 1.6mm balsa,



Won't be near strong enough to let you bring up a good finish, it will deflect as you try to sand the filler.

You can see what I did

HERE

Thanks for the credit Chris

Cheers

Fred W B


[Edited on 29/4/10 by Fred W B]





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thegodplato

posted on 30/4/10 at 12:23 PM Reply With Quote
What an impressive thread that was and all respect to you Fred for your perseverance. Fingers crossed I'll be able to keep going but as this has always been a dream of mine, I know I will have to.
Just waiting for my CAD software to arrive and then we can start the `easy` work!!





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