Adrian Smith 1 Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Sometimes I wish I had more time to build from scratch. On the odd times that I need to replenish my ply and wood strip supplies for ARTF modifications I always order it from SLEC. And this time was no different from past orders in that the wood was great quality, superbly packaged and delivered via courier within 48 hours. What more could you want? Great work folks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff S Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I've had excellent service from SLEC recently as well. I'm currently scratch building an 1100mm waterline length Thames sailing barge (that's horizontal flying ) and their quick efficient supply of wood has helped greatly. The web site makes it very easy to find what I need ... once I make up my mind, that is, which isn't always easy. Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Yes, I agree, SLEC are absolutely fab at sorting and sending out wood packs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanN Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Totally agree with all the above Plus, if you think a project or two ahead and maximise the available discounts by buying in bulk they can be amongst the cheapest - aswell as the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Don't forget Balsa Cabin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 216 Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Having read the above comments and with the prospect of a 60 mile round trip to my LMS with no guarantee that they would have all the wood I needed I decide to use SLEC. I can only concur with the comments posted, the service is excellent, I ordered Friday morning and the wood arrived Monday at 08:10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy G. Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Just a bit of a shame that, in keeping with most Internet suppliers, getting things shipped to my """" Extremely remote and distant planet. ..... I live on the Isle of Wight! !!""""" nearly doubles the purchase price. . Seriously thinking of changing my name to Thor Hyerdal and ordering a full size Kontiki raft, sailing it home and then slicing my own balsa sheet from it.. O.k rant over. 😠 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 It's about time there was a bridge and do away with the ferry's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SR 71 Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 I live in Cyprus and the cost of getting my building materials sent over is very high indeed but Slec are the cheapest and the best in my experience i find them superb Would not deal with enybody else for my balsa, ply and glues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon P Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 In my experience Slec have the slickest online ordering system for balsa wood in the UK but I believe that things could improve further. Maybe I've been unlucky but across two seperate orders the shaped balsa I received was made from very, very heavy wood. I chose a selection of different shapes so I am guessing they choose to make the shaped parts from heavier stock. They do not allow weight choice when it comes to shaped balsa and I think that is a problem. They also bodged the update to their website so that **LINK** now goes to some sort of advertising / place holder web page whereas simply prefixing www onto the URL so that it becomes **LINK** goes directly to the correct website. That is the exact same top level domain! While on the subject of the website, I don't like having to click the 'online shop' link from the home page to begin shopping. When I go to the home page I am effectively navigating a very elaborate 'splash' page until I click the 'online shop' link. I want to start shopping right away. Take note solarfilm.co.uk, your flash based splash page causes me much annoyance. I would excuse the website entirely if they could let me choose from even more paramaters while selecting wood. I would love to be able to specify grain type and density. I think they should also hive off competition grade balsa which I would gladly pay extra for. That's my tuppence anyway, otherwise a very nice bunch to deal with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denis parkinson Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 I am going to have to try SLEC, because last week, I took a trip to my (nameless) LMS to pick up a few sheets of 12x12 lite play. I went through every sheet of lite ply in the shop, and every sheet was so badly warped, it was all totally unusable, yet they were still trying to sell it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormB Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 SLEC are good, but if you want to specify both Grain type and Density as does Simon P, then give Balsa Cabin a try. There's no sophisticated on-line ordering but the service is excellent as has been the quality of balsa and ply I've had from them over the past few years. Norm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Parker Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 I have used SLEC for many years now and they have always delivered what I wanted when I wanted it, can't fault them. Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delta Foxtrot Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 I have used both and they are both excellent. I tend to stock up at the Nationals, mainly from the balsa Cabin. The lady in the Balsa Cabin really knows her onions, she spotted a stray sheet of c-grain balsa amongst a load I was buying for sheeting wings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 I beg to differ here! I sent them a cutting list a while back. I heard nothing. I rang them a week later and they said that they have just received it. Another week. I rang again. They then informed me that the guy who did the cutting had just gone on a weeks holiday. Over a week later, nothing. I emailed them and cancelled the order. Not even an acknowledgement. I visited the SLEC tent at Headcorn. Oh yes they said, we had that order up on the wall but we didn't do it did we? Not ordered from them since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 SLEC = perfection. I normally ask for assorted sheet but sometime specify two different grades. Always works! Sections do tend to be harder but they will select softer strips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Dav 2 Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 From my experience with SLEC, if you want something special regarding density or grain etc in wood, just contact them and they will try to meet your requirements. Just for the cost of a phone call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 I cannot recommend them highly enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Harrison Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Used yes, at the Shows. Post and Packing charges are too expensive, even for a small item!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 The SLEC website is not as nice to use as it was a few months ago! SLEC are a very nice supplier to deal with at shows. Balsa Cabin is equally good. However SLEC sell balsa up to 5.75 inch /146mm wide which might be useful for some projects. Dont forget that they sell a load of useful accessories so this can mitigate the postage costs. This is what the SLEC website says about grades "All our balsa is graded for normal modelling use. For example 0.8mm (1/32" sheet would be hard, 1.6 to 6.5mm (1/16 to 1/4" would be medium and 9.5mm (3/8" sheet and over would be soft. If your balsa requirement is different to normal use, you can specify an alternative grade before adding it to your shopping basket. " Edited By kc on 03/03/2015 11:45:45 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Pearce 4 Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 One thing I like very much about SLEC is there non-greedy policy on postage charges for small packages. Many suppliers have a standard charge, usually around £4-£5. Not SLEC, I just paid £2.90 which can't be any more than they paid the post office. This means that if you need that small accessory you don't end up paying more on postage than for the item. They're fast too! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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