Roger Bird Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I order more wood than I require knowing that some of it will not be up to the job. A while ago I received some wood from The Balsa Cabin and it was poor, most of it not straight or square and the grade was questionable. The same order more recently from SLEC was slightly better but very dissapointing to say the least. Can anyone please advise me on a reputable supplier. I don't mind paying a little more if get what I ask for. I may have been just unlucky but I really need my confidence restoring. Edited By Roger Bird on 11/08/2011 20:47:36 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I must say I've always found SLEC to be very good - but then I tend to buy at shows and the Nats rather than mail order - so I get to pick! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon B Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Am I the only person who sniggered at the thread heading? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Probably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon B Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Kelvin did Edited By Simon B on 11/08/2011 23:47:23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 And your point is? BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Bird Posted August 12, 2011 Author Share Posted August 12, 2011 As much as I appreciate the humour fellers, I still need some glorious good wood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon B Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 Balsamart might be worth a go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Binnie Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 Just got to pick it yourself, I see the offer of suppliers to pick grades that you ask for but even if they try their best and get it right it might still get trashed in the post. I never mail order balsa, ply and Liteply possibly but I've not been tempted either. I would take your complaint up with the supplier at the first instance to give them a chance to correct any problems, complaining on the internet can ruin an established company's reputation very quickly (and we don't need to lose any more). I have been using the same model shop in Oxfordshire (Ride a cock horse to...) for 40 years (with the same assistant behind the counter!), I select rib stock or normal grain and then weigh each sheet with a digital fishing scale (attached to the sheet with masking tape to avoid damage) to find what I want. Doing all this on my knees on the floor coz that's where their balsa rack is!! Never any problem and I get 10% discount for being a BMFA club member without asking. I lived in Scotland for many years and trips to model shops were difficult so I ordered kits, hoping that the balsa would be ok. The quality of wood was good but they always forgot to put the wing fixing rubber bands in!! GB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanN Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 SLEC. If you buy in enough bulk to qualify for the discount and free postage you'll end up paying around 60% of high st / lms prices and, just as important, the quality is second to none. Try them. You won't be disappointed. Unbeatable imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 SLEC. They have the best quality wood and will select the grades that you specify. As yoiu can imagine, I use a lot of wood and SLEC is the only place to go as far as I am concerned. They also do a vast range of hard woods and ply woods. On top of that they do a huge range of accessories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 SLEC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 While I agree chaps - as I've said I use SLEC myself albeit in person rather than by post - the OP says he's tried SLEC and is not happy with them either. Any other suggestions. BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 Well. if the OP is not happy with SLEC he won't be happy with anyone. He could try buying from the USA although I have had some Midwest balsa imported into this country and that was horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinBrian Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I usually browse the wood stock whenever I visit a model shop and buy a few sheets/strips of the kind of wood I use. At any one time I have enough balsa in stock to build several models. I have noticed recently that prices for balsa is increasing at an alarming rate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 Keith at Balsamart does stock pretty good wood....thats where most of mine comes from cos he's my LMS!!! Surprised to hear you don't like SLEC....I think thats the first time I've heard that.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Bird Posted August 12, 2011 Author Share Posted August 12, 2011 Many thanks for all your comments but to get this issue into perspective I would like to make the following comments. I have no wish to damage the reputation of any of the suppliers mentioned, I have had very good service in the past. I had no problems with the grading from SLEC, it was only that I required some straight 4" width, (exactly that width), balsa of different grades for my project. It was very difficult to find any piece that was straight and true enough to use. I would imagine that mail order supplys are always going to be a little inferior to self selection, the suppliers are never going to know your exact requirements. Also, as the price of balsa increases it must be a problem to provide value for money, a higher cost or a lower spec product. Anyway, the concensus seems to be that I was probably a tad unlucky and therefore I will give SLEC another go. Thank you all once again for your input.Edited By Roger Bird on 12/08/2011 15:07:56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy watson Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 Well my first answer was viagra, but if that's no good SLEC or Balsamart for me. SLEC if I am ordering a lot (the discount for a big order is excellent) or balsamart for more sensible qualtities. From assorted stickers I have seen on wood, I think SLEC supply the wood for a lot of model shops. One of the problems with the decline of building is shops which used to carry reasonable supplies of Balsa now have cut back on their stock, and that which they do keep hangs around for ages picking up knocks or if not stored well gradually bending and warping. I recently had call to pop to Rossendale models for some emergency sheets of 1/16 and I managed to find 2 out of a stock of about 8-10 that were useable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Bird Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 I just had another order from SLEC delivered and to my delight the balsa was of excellent quality, uniform and warp free. The grading was quite disernable too. I had also sent an email windging about the quality of my previous order and much to my suprise they offered to replace the balsa that was not up to scratch. I am now a happy balsa basher and intend to stick with SLEC if this is their normal service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trex700e Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Hi, I would highly recommend getting all your wood from The Balsa Cabin located in Maldon in Essex. They mainly do mail order but you can visit them to buy wood which is what i do. They wrap their packages very well and have never had a costumer complain about broken wood (something i found was a problem with SLEC!!!!!) They have an amazing selection of wood ranging from really light stuff to the more dense wood and if you actually go there to buy your wood then they hand you the whole wood stock so you can select your own wood so you get it right. That is brilliant in my opinion! They also have a huge range of other stuff like spinners, model kits, foam wing cores, etc. And they can Laser cut your kits (I think) They are well worth it and I wouldn't recommend going anywhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Yeates Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I have had great service from the folks at balsa cabin mail order and driving down to visit and selecting my own wood. Any supplier worth their salt would refund reimburse if the product was not up to spec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Well I have always bought balsa from the Balsa Cabin and found it excellent. If you visit them at Maldon or at shows you can select it yourself.Note that you need to phone them to visit to ensure they are open. Also they have a new address this year........somewhere just down the road it seems. Ask for directions.when you phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trex700e Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 yeah they have a bigger premises this year. I hope its a sign that they are expanding! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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