Solomoriah
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- Feb 12, 2009
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Interestingly enough, balsa *is* a hardwood. According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochroma, " Being a deciduous angiosperm, balsa is classified as a hardwood despite the wood itself being very soft. It is the softest commercial hardwood."I remember this kit. One thing that was unique about this kit was nose cone was made of hardwood instead of balsa. It was certainly durable.
If this is accurate then this is one of those times where the scientific community is disconnected from practical terms. To classify balsa as a hardwood is so counterintuitive to language it renders the word useless in any practical sense.Interestingly enough, balsa *is* a hardwood. According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochroma, " Being a deciduous angiosperm, balsa is classified as a hardwood despite the wood itself being very soft. It is the softest commercial hardwood."
Tell you what: Follow the links. See what the definitions are and how they're applied. It's very similar to the classification of a tomato as a fruit, not a vegetable. From my reading on the subject, not being very exhaustive, it would appear that longleaf pine, Douglas fir and yew are all harder than several hardwoods, not just balsa.If this is accurate then this is one of those times where the scientific community is disconnected from practical terms. To classify balsa as a hardwood is so counterintuitive to language it renders the word useless in any practical sense.
Rant over.
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