Bradford pear source

[John Torchick]

My son has a stack of Bradford that was cut in the last couple of weeks. Some will fit my lathe. Your thoughts?

 

[Bob Franklin]

Very prone to cracking , just like any fruit wood, remove pith ,cut over size and seal right away. I love Turning Bradford pear especially for anything that has a lot of detail, like basket illusion pieces, cuts well, polishes easily and has pleasant pinkish/ reddish brown color when dry.

 

[John Torchick]

Not sure what you are saying about removing the pith. These are small branches and logs up to about 16-18 inches diameter.

 

[Bob Franklin]

Not sure what you are saying about removing the pith. These are small branches and logs up to about 16-18 inches diameter.

The pith is the heart /center stem going all the way up the tree, its the first area that cracks will develop from . You should also try and select logs with less branches coming out as the branch areas will be prone to cracking as well , below is a cut diagram , the pith / heart gets thrown away and the rest gets used

 

[Alan Weinberg]

The pith is the heart /center stem going all the way up the tree, its the first area that cracks will develop from . You should also try and select logs with less branches coming out as the branch areas will be prone to cracking as well , below is a cut diagram , the pith / heart gets thrown away and the rest gets used View attachment 86952

Great picture.

 

[John Torchick]

Familiar with the pith. Just wondering that you were suggesting. As Alan stated, thanks for the picture. Any way to copy it for future reference? Next is to find a place to store the wood.

 

[Mike Brazeau]

John - if using a Windows computer just Right Click on the photo and save it. On an iPad just press on it and save to photos. I have maintained a folder on my computer of wood turning web finds for about 25 years. Now have more than 3 GB in 80 folders of various categories. I export from my iPad to the computer by emailing to myself.

 

[John Torchick]

Mike, thanks for the help. Will print and save it in a shop file.

 

[John Stiehler]

Bradford Pear turns very well, it also finished very well… color is nice… you do have to be careful with bark inclusions that may be weak when you can avoid those…

 

[Brent@TurnRobust]

Like any wood, especially fruit wood, you'll have your best luck with the trunk of the tree that was hopefully growing nice and vertical. Branches can be a problem, as there is a lot of stress in the wood from supporting itself in a more horizontal orientation. As Bob mentioned above, get the pith out before prepping it for storing. It's probably already cracking. As an additional FYI, Bradford pear is typically planted as an ornamental, and many communities have outlawed them, as they are highly prolific and considered an invasive species.

 

[John Torchick]

And they stink when in bloom. Wife and I used to walk a couple of neighborhoods when we noticed a bad odor. Bradford pear trees!
The selection will be trunk sections and branches. Will be picky when I look this weekend.

 

[John K Jordan]

Terrible trees, but I save every bit of good sized bradford pear wood I can get. I cut it through the pith then cut squares as large and long as possible with the bandsaw, coat the ends with thickened anchorseal, and let them air dry, track the dryness by weight. Great turning wood - hard, fine grain, love it. (I of course turn it dry, not green.) Have pieces from a log drying now. I don't bother with small branches, not my thing.

FYI, Bradford pear is typically planted as an ornamental, and many communities have outlawed them, as they are highly prolific and considered an invasive species.

In addition the way the branches grow from the main trunk they tend to split off, make a mess, an expense. Some towns/cities that planted them long ago for the white blooms are taking them out now.

JKJ

 

[Tim Hunter]

Here's a Walnut bowl with feature ring of Bradford Pear and Mesquite. The somewhat muted colors work well with each other.



Tim