Balsa vs Walnut
Natural Material · grade comparison
Balsa and Walnut are both natural material grades. Walnut is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) against 24 MPa (3.48 ksi) for Balsa, about 4.2 times as much. In exchange, Balsa is the more ductile: elongation 1.5% versus 1.2% for Walnut. Balsa is lighter (0.16 g/cm³ vs 0.61 g/cm³ for Walnut) and Walnut is stiffer (11.6 GPa vs 3.4 GPa). On the shop floor, Walnut sits in a lower cost tier (standard, $$) than Balsa (premium, $$$).
BalsaChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when weight is the constraint.
WalnutChoose it when strength drives the design, or when cost is the deciding factor.
Balsa vs Walnut: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Min Service Temperature
Same in both: Max Service Temperature (continuous) 90°C194 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Dielectric Strength
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Typical Recycled Content
Same in both: Embodied Water 600 L/kg71.9 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Balsa | Walnut |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $$ Standard |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Balsa vs Walnut — frequently asked
Is Walnut stronger than Balsa?
Yes. Walnut has a typical tensile strength of 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) against 24 MPa (3.48 ksi) for Balsa — about 4.2 times as much.
Which is cheaper, Balsa or Walnut?
Walnut is the lower-cost material: it sits in the standard tier ($$) while Balsa is premium ($$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
When should I choose Balsa over Walnut?
Pick Balsa when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when weight is the constraint. Pick Walnut when strength drives the design, or when cost is the deciding factor.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Balsa and Walnut side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.