Bradford Pear

[djg]

Neighbor kept all the smaller stuff for firewood from their Bradford Pear tree, but the main trunk and a crotch piece is available. At a glance, the diameter appears to be 16" to 20". I don't turn yet, but has anyone turned Bradford Pear and what kind of grain does it have? Pics? I'm thinking the crotch piece would make a couple of nice platters.

Thanks

 

[Trob115]

Neighbor kept all the smaller stuff for firewood from their Bradford Pear tree, but the main trunk and a crotch piece is available. At a glance, the diameter appears to be 16" to 20". I don't turn yet, but has anyone turned Bradford Pear and what kind of grain does it have? Pics? I'm thinking the crotch piece would make a couple of nice platters.

Thanks

It's really pretty wood and turns great. Be sure to get it end-sealed because it will be prone to check pretty bad.

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

Here is a small piece. It turns cleanly and takes a good finish. This particular piece has a bit of spalt for the color area. Turned green and never had a minutes trouble with cracking.
The crotch area is very cool if you can find one that is a union. Large portions of bradford crotch figure is nonunion so it will often fall in two if you cut too high into them. The areas with feather however is fine. Texture is minimal and wet/green turning is a pleasure.

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

Oh yeah, bout forgot

 

[DKMD]

One of my favorite woods to turn, green or dry. Lots of curl in the trunks around here. The crotch sections can be tricky with bark inclusions but worth the effort. It warps like any fruitwood when drying, but I don’t seem to lose many roughouts to cracking.

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

Btw if you can get low enough on the trunk there is often a visible graft/burl type area around the ground level to 12 inches deep depending on planting depth and blah, blah, blah. Almost every fruit or ornamental tree sold in stores seems to be a graft these days.