Bals a
Och roma pyra midale • Hardw ood
Grain Pattern
S traight gr ain with a coarse, even texture; occasiona lly sli ghtly in terlocke d
Color Description
Pale whi te to oat meal color, sometim es with a pinkis h or yell owish cast. Littl e distinct ion betwe en sapwoo d and hea rtwood. Lo w luster.
Hardness Rating
100 l bf (Very S oft)
Durability Rating
N on-durabl e; perishab le. Highl y suscept ible to rot, deca y, and in sect atta ck if left untreate d.
Common Uses
M odel build ing, aircr aft compon ents, spo rts goods (su rfboards, table ten nis paddle s), buoyanc y devices , and insu lation.
Geographic Origin
N ative to T ropical Sou th and Cen tral Americ a
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$7.00 - $ 12.00 per b oard foot d epending on density an d grade
Wood Age Estimate
N ewly mille d stock based on the lack of oxida tion and f reshly cut fibe rs (probab ly under 1 year o ld).
Sustainability Status
Not CITES l isted; Lea st Concern per IUPN. Wi dely availa ble and fa st-growin g.
Workability
E xtremely e asy to cut with sharp hand tools , though it tends to f uzz or crus h if blade s are dull. Glues an d finishe s well but is too so ft to hold nails.
Notable Features
T he lightes t and soft est comme rcial hard wood. High ly buoyan t with exc ellent sou nd and hea t insulati on propert ies.
Finish Recommendations
S anding sea ler follow ed by lacqu er or enam el paint. I t absorbs l iquid fini shes rapid ly due to high porosi ty.
Identification Confidence
Hi gh; charac teristic p ale color, visible ve rse coars e grain, a nd obviou sly soft, f ibrous tex ture typic al of bals a lumber.