HardwoodDurability class 5

Balsa

Ochroma pyramidale

Usually white to off-white/tan sapwood (most commercial stock), sometimes with a pink or yellow hue; heartwood can be pale reddish brown but is not commonly seen.

Balsa (Ochroma pyramidale) is an extremely light, soft tropical hardwood best known for its high strength-to-weight ratio. It’s widely used for model making, flotation, and as lightweight core material (e.g., sandwich panels), but it has very low natural durability and poor fastener-holding, so it’s generally not used for structural outdoor joinery without special design and protection.

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