Photo: Pixabay

What happens to balsa wood when it gets wet?

Balsa Wood is a very popular coring agent due to its strength to weight ratio. The material is very light, yet incredibly strong. The problem is not the Balsa Wood - it's water egress and boat building techniques. If Balsa gets wet, it acts like a big wick and sucks in the water spreading it like a paper towel.

linkedin.com - Balsa Core Must be Sealed - LinkedIn

Is it too late to learn the piano at 70?

No matter when you begin piano, you can have the enjoyment of playing an instrument, plus all the great mental, physical, and emotional benefits....

Last updated Feb 8, 2021

Are guitarist more attractive?

Storypick.com reports "an astonishing number of 9 out of 10 females agree to the fact that they find guitarist way sexier than an average male."...

Last updated May 11, 2022

Promotion

We've all heard the saying: "An ounce of prevention is worth it's weight in Gold" But who really follows it. We get our oil changed, sure, but what about the Body of our Boat? What can we do to ensure the health of the boat?

Many of our boats are cored with Balsa wood. Even the word Balsa Wood sends shivers down the spine of many boat owners. Some folks say, I'd never own a boat with Balsa Wood. Others understand the value it can bring. Balsa Wood is a very popular coring agent due to its strength to weight ratio. The material is very light, yet incredibly strong. The problem is not the Balsa Wood - it's water egress and boat building techniques. If Balsa gets wet, it acts like a big wick and sucks in the water spreading it like a paper towel. As additional water gets in - the water spreads and spreads throughout the Balsa Coring. Eventually, like your paper towel, it gets saturated. When Balsa gets saturated with water, in an environment with limited oxygen and light, it turns to mush. Now your once strong core, that was a benefit to the boat, has become a serious structural liability. Fixing wet core is something we do, but it's expensive too. So what can you do to prevent this serious condition? We can prevent the water from getting to the Balsa Wood! Some boat builders will install balsa wood, but leave a margin of pure fiberglass and resin near any hull penetration - Port Lights, Hatches, Thru-Hull Fittings, for example. These are the most common areas of water entry. With Fiberglass and Resin near these areas, water that leaks will not get into the Balsa Wood. Other boat builders will install unprotected Balsa right up the edge of these penetrations almost asking for trouble. To prevent a serious repair project in the future, we strongly recommend that we re-bed your all your penetrations and seal the balsa with Epoxy. Take a peek at these pictures on a recent project. This customer is extremely prudent. We just completed a total re-bed of all of his port lights and hatches. We removed each hatch, dug out a margin of the balsa wood and replaced with a special epoxy that allows a little flexibility. Each port light is then cleaned and re-installed with 3M's 4000 sealant. Smart Move! A few of his port lights did show signs of water entry, but we were able to arrest that and prevent further damage. ReBedding Hardware is something that should be done every 5 - 7 years. Preventing water intrusion is the #1 Key Component to Preventative Maintenance for the Body of your Boat. Protect your investment - Ask us how we can help.

#BalsaWood #WetCore #BoatBuilding #Boats #Fiberglass #Gelcoat

How many hours does it take to learn the piano?

If you want to be a professional classical performer, you're looking at a minimum of 10 to 15 years of concentrated study with a master teacher,...

Last updated Nov 26, 2022

What is A suspended 4 chord?

As a general rule, the fourth is always two guitar frets above the minor third. Note that the sus4 chord is neither major nor minor (this is why we...

Last updated May 31, 2019

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Promotion

Is basswood durable?

However, basswood is non-durable when it comes to heartwood decay and has poor nail holding or steam building qualities, even though suited for hand-carving as it finishes and glues well. Moreover, it does not have any odor, and there are no health reactions that basswood is known to be associated with.

wearetropical.com - A Guide to Basswood: Characteristics, Working Properties ...

CHARACTERISTICS OF BASSWOOD

Basswood is considered a soft, light wood that is easy to work with, and it has become one of the top choices for lumbers to produce lightweight wood products. This type of wood also has made its place in the commercial space owing to its odorless and finely-grained qualities. However, basswood is non-durable when it comes to heartwood decay and has poor nail holding or steam building qualities, even though suited for hand-carving as it finishes and glues well. Moreover, it does not have any odor, and there are no health reactions that basswood is known to be associated with. This wood dries quickly and at times tends to distort. Once it dries, it is stable. Regardless, such wood could go through shrinkage when it’s under the drying process.

Is Moonlight Sonata classical or romantic?

6. Is Moonlight Sonata classical or romantic? Although this was still the classical period, this sonata is a romantic composition. So much...

Last updated Feb 2, 2018

What scale is Harry Styles?

As It Was is written in the key of A Major. According to the Theorytab database, it is the 4th most popular key among Major keys and the 4th most...

Last updated May 2, 2020

Promotion

Are weighted keys necessary?

From making it easier to transition between the keyboard and a piano, to helping you develop essential finger strength and dexterity, to learning...

Last updated Jul 5, 2021

Promotion

What year did they stop using ivory for piano keys?

1989 Many American piano manufacturers discontinued using ivory in the early 1970s, however, some international manufacturers in parts of Europe...

Last updated Aug 25, 2021