When building a balsa wood bridge it is important to keep a few things in mind. In order to get the best results out of the bridge, we should follow these simple tips. They will make the bridge stronger and work with the light balsa wood.
The glue used to keep the bridge together is very important. Balsa wood is porous, and due to this, glue that stretches out when its drying is the best that can be used. Gorilla Glue and Probond meet the criteria. However, they will both increase the weight of your bridge more than other glues. When building a bridge, it should be remembered that a lot of glue is unnecessary. It just needs to hold the pieces of the bridge together, such as a joint.
Every piece of wood has a grain, and balsa wood has two very different types. On some balsa wood, the grain is thinner and almost reaches from one end of the cut to the other. This is favorable if there will be a lot of tension on the bridge. The second type of balsa wood has very short grain lines. It is best to use this when we are dealing with compression. This type of balsa wood is stiffer than the first.
Another tip is to keep the bridge in as dry of an environment as possible. The humidity can make your bridge heavier. When using the glue, try not to overload it onto the bridge; a small, simple amount will do the trick. All the while, make sure our hands are relatively clear. The oil on our hands can ruin the glue job, especially on the joints.
If we have enough balsa wood, try to make more than one bridge. With more bridges, we can see the weak points in each and relate that to our final bridge. Also, make sure to add lateral bracing when planning out our bridge. Lateral bracing prevents the bridge from turning, or twisting.
These tips are simply pointers and are not completely necessary. Although, they should be taken into consideration when we are building a bridge, because they will certainly help you make a stronger one.
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