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Exceptionally lightweight and incredibly easy to work with, balsa wood is a favourite among hobbyists, model makers, and crafters. We offer premium balsa products ideal for building models, prototypes, crafts, and other precision projects that require a soft, workable material with minimal weight. Despite its softness, balsa boasts impressive strength-to-weight ratio, making it perfect for delicate constructions like architectural models, RC aircraft, and custom displays. It cuts, sands, glues, and finishes effortlessly, allowing for detailed, accurate work—even with hand tools. As a proudly Canadian company, Windsor Plywood is known for sourcing hard-to-find materials and providing expert, personalized service. Whether you're a seasoned model builder or just getting started, our selection of balsa wood helps bring your ideas to life—light, precise, and beautifully easy to shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a wood species a specialty or hardwood lumber at Windsor Plywood?
Specialty lumber includes domestic hardwoods like maple, walnut, oak, cherry, ash, and alder used primarily for furniture, cabinetry, and fine woodworking rather than structural applications. Exotic species sourced internationally also fall in this category. These are premium materials sold by the board foot rather than by the linear foot.
What does board foot mean when buying hardwood lumber?
A board foot is a volume measurement equal to a piece of wood 12 inches wide, 12 inches long, and 1 inch thick, or any equivalent volume. When you buy hardwood lumber by the board foot, the price accounts for the width and thickness of the actual board, not just its length. Wider and thicker boards cost more per linear foot.
What hardwood species is best for cabinetry?
Hard maple is the industry standard for painted or stained cabinet boxes and doors due to its hardness, fine consistent grain, and smooth machining characteristics. Cherry and walnut are popular for stained natural finishes where visual warmth is important. Oak is traditional and widely available; its open grain requires filling for the smoothest painted finish.
Can I purchase hardwood lumber at Windsor Plywood in smaller quantities?
Yes. Windsor Plywood sells hardwood lumber by the piece and by the board foot, not only in full bundles. This makes it accessible for smaller woodworking projects, furniture repairs, and custom builds where only a few boards are needed. Staff can help select pieces for grain, figure, and defect-free requirements.
What is the difference between quarter-sawn and flat-sawn hardwood?
Quarter-sawn lumber is cut so the growth rings run roughly perpendicular to the board face, producing a tighter, straighter grain pattern with a distinctive ray fleck in some species like oak. It is more dimensionally stable and resists cupping. Flat-sawn produces wider boards with a cathedral grain pattern and is the more common and affordable cut.