Hardening balsa, this works.

[Mike J]

Wanted a specific design of stick float at the back-end and could get to the shop so modified one I had.
The body was balsa wood and after modding I needed to paint it.
Looking along the shelves I found some wood hardener (the stuff used on rotting wood after treatment).
Dipped the balsa body 3 times and it hardened the wood perfectly, enough to withstand my thumbnail!

Just an idea incase anyone else is looking to toughen up any sort of wood.
Might work on reeds to?
Must give it a try.

[tigger996]

Hope the manufacturers of Polaris floats read this. Ordered six, four arrived broken. Four new ones sent, two arrived broken. Tried to use two and they snapped before the first cast.

[Duncan Holmes]

Wanted a specific design of stick float at the back-end and could get to the shop so modified one I had.
The body was balsa wood and after modding I needed to paint it.
Looking along the shelves I found some wood hardener (the stuff used on rotting wood after treatment).
Dipped the balsa body 3 times and it hardened the wood perfectly, enough to withstand my thumbnail!

Just an idea incase anyone else is looking to toughen up any sort of wood.
Might work on reeds to?
Must give it a try.

Thanks for the Tip, I have used superglue in the past but its a bit messy

[Mike J]

Hi Duncan
I use super glue on expanded foam, it does a really good job but I found the shape must be correct because its a right b if you want to modify anything after glueing.

With the hardner the shape could be smoothed with a sanding board (the thing wives use for their finger nails ) but anying more is nigh on impossible.

[OLDESOX]

bannana oil spirit from my modelling days is ok