Battery Buggy B

[illusionist]

Unless you're trying to crash it into a wall, you won't need a lot of strength for battery buggy...

[new horizon]

just wondering, but where did you get your balsa wood? hobby shop? online?

[illusionist]

I got mine at a hobby shop. They have a board 4 ft long, and 8 inches wide, and that you can cut down. Also, craft stores, such as Joan's, also carry balsa, but not as large boards.

[new horizon]

just wondering, how thick would the boards be? probably half an inch?

and also, i think what jocool was referring by strength is maybe
breaking while transporting (shouldn't happen with padding, i think) or maybe it's too soft and screws fall out? I'm not sure. but you're probably going to have to use glue or something to keep the screws in place or it'll fall out because the balsa wood is just so soft.

[Jocool]

that is correct. also, balsa just cant keep strong after many runs. it isn't very longevity-focused. and believe me, u want it to be strong. So bass is a better option for wood.

[new horizon]

If you look at the winning scrambler car at nationals last year, they used balsa wood. (I think it was solons, there's a pic on the image gallery). Balsa may break easily, but if you provide the proper padding, and glue the screws down, I'm pretty sure it will last. Anyway, we can say a well built balsa buggy will probably win over a well built metal/plastic/wood buggy, simply because of newton's second law.
And think, if a scrambler run goes wrong, your car is going to crash onto a wall. Buggy, not so much.

[illusionist]

Exactly, I have ziploc bags filled with air, and padding underneath when I transport my buggy. The screws are glued down, but you won't need a lot of glue. A wee built balsa wood buggy should definitely do better than a heavier buggy made for strength.
Also, the boards are 1/4 inch thick, that should be all you would most likely need.

[Jocool]

i just don't think its a good material for something like this. it is hard to cut without breaking.

[illusionist]

fair enough, people have different opinions

[new horizon]

all of you have legitimate points, i guess.