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Pear Tree Wood Question

Started by Cypressstump, September 19, 2012, 03:30:43 PM

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Cypressstump

I have been offered to take out two very large trunked Pear trees, have no idea what sub speices they may be, but they are very large trunked trees up to about 8-10 feet above ground.


Anyone have experience with pear wood?  Is it worth milling? I would think it should have light color and nice grain, but never fooled with it before.
thanks, stump
Stump

Timberking 1220 25hp w/extensions -hard mounted
Case 586E 6k forklift
2001 F350 4X4,Arctic Cat 500 4 wheeler wagon hauler
Makita 6401 34",4800 Echo 20"er, and a professional 18" Poulan PRO , gotta be a 'pro' cuz it says so rite there on tha' saw..

LeeB

Very much worth milling. It has a nice color used by the folks that do marquetry to simulate flesh tones. When spalted, it is some of the most beautiful spalting I have ever seen. Most pear wood on the retail market comes from Europe, and I believe the majority of that from France. Very nice to work with. Wish I had more of it. All I have is a few small pieces of spalted wood.
'98 LT40HDD/Lombardini, Case 580L, Cat D4C, JD 3032 tractor, JD 5410 tractor, Husky 346, 372 and 562XP's. Stihl MS180 and MS361, 1998 and 2006 3/4 Ton 5.9 Cummins 4x4's, 1989 Dodge D100 w/ 318, and a 1966 Chevy C60 w/ dump bed.

Cypressstump

Thanks for the feedback LeeB.... The two trees offered to me are very old, but solid looking. Both are mirror images of each other with bases 28-30 inches and they are very straight up to where the branches begin, approx 8 feet or so.

I'm planning to take them down later in fall, along with a couple nice cedars also given to me to take down.

Stump
Stump

Timberking 1220 25hp w/extensions -hard mounted
Case 586E 6k forklift
2001 F350 4X4,Arctic Cat 500 4 wheeler wagon hauler
Makita 6401 34",4800 Echo 20"er, and a professional 18" Poulan PRO , gotta be a 'pro' cuz it says so rite there on tha' saw..

LeeB

To find them that large is kind of rare. Hope they are solid. If not, I hope they are spaulted for you. The wood has no rot resistence to speak of, so keep the logs out of the weather if it will be a while before you mill them.
'98 LT40HDD/Lombardini, Case 580L, Cat D4C, JD 3032 tractor, JD 5410 tractor, Husky 346, 372 and 562XP's. Stihl MS180 and MS361, 1998 and 2006 3/4 Ton 5.9 Cummins 4x4's, 1989 Dodge D100 w/ 318, and a 1966 Chevy C60 w/ dump bed.

Cypressstump

I agree,, I have never seen pear trees this big before. Very tall with limbs not pruned for fruit in many years it seems. They are fine shade trees for these folks, but since the last hurricane, they want Everything taller than the house gone........I will gladly help!
The trunks seem to be very solid without any trunk defects,holes, etc., fingers crossed.
Stump

Timberking 1220 25hp w/extensions -hard mounted
Case 586E 6k forklift
2001 F350 4X4,Arctic Cat 500 4 wheeler wagon hauler
Makita 6401 34",4800 Echo 20"er, and a professional 18" Poulan PRO , gotta be a 'pro' cuz it says so rite there on tha' saw..

LeeB

Here's a pic of some spaulted pear, a belt buckle and a small board.



 
'98 LT40HDD/Lombardini, Case 580L, Cat D4C, JD 3032 tractor, JD 5410 tractor, Husky 346, 372 and 562XP's. Stihl MS180 and MS361, 1998 and 2006 3/4 Ton 5.9 Cummins 4x4's, 1989 Dodge D100 w/ 318, and a 1966 Chevy C60 w/ dump bed.

shelbycharger400

That picture looks a LOT like maple when it spalts.

WDH

I am eagerly awaiting some pics of pear wood!
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

Cypressstump

LeeB,, That spaulted pear piece you pictured is awesome looking!  Was that out of a fresh live tree or one that had been down for a while. I am fairly new to spaulted aspect of wood. I've read where people will allow some species to 'age' a while before cutting in effort to acheive the spaulted features.

thanks for sharing.
Stump

Timberking 1220 25hp w/extensions -hard mounted
Case 586E 6k forklift
2001 F350 4X4,Arctic Cat 500 4 wheeler wagon hauler
Makita 6401 34",4800 Echo 20"er, and a professional 18" Poulan PRO , gotta be a 'pro' cuz it says so rite there on tha' saw..

LeeB

It was from a tree that had been down for a while. I had originally cut it up for wood for the smoker. I think it had been down about a year. I knew next to nothing about hardwoods at the time.
'98 LT40HDD/Lombardini, Case 580L, Cat D4C, JD 3032 tractor, JD 5410 tractor, Husky 346, 372 and 562XP's. Stihl MS180 and MS361, 1998 and 2006 3/4 Ton 5.9 Cummins 4x4's, 1989 Dodge D100 w/ 318, and a 1966 Chevy C60 w/ dump bed.

Handymark

I learn something new from you guys every day. I have seen spaulting in maple many times but I did not know what it was called or that it was i any way desirable.

Cypressstump

Yeppers !  Handymark, I too am way deep still in the learning stages from these guys. I lurked in the shadows for quite a while before posting.

There's lots of folks on here with many years of experience, and the best part is that all of them are very willing to share their information readily.

LeeB , looks as if I may choose to mill one of the pears soon after taking it down, and leaving the other sheltered for a spell in order to get some nice spaulting. I'm thinking a table with the interior all spaulted and the exterior edges banded with 2-4 inches of fresh pear may look nice. Any tips on enhanceing the spaulting action?
Stump

Timberking 1220 25hp w/extensions -hard mounted
Case 586E 6k forklift
2001 F350 4X4,Arctic Cat 500 4 wheeler wagon hauler
Makita 6401 34",4800 Echo 20"er, and a professional 18" Poulan PRO , gotta be a 'pro' cuz it says so rite there on tha' saw..

two tired

cypresstump, I think the wood will spalt a little quicker in our climate, I also am new to the spalting. Man, if i would have known what I was doing I would not have left all that wood in the woods, I thought the wood was to far gone. Shows how much I know!
when wondering about weather conditions call the dog in and see if he is wet

Cypressstump

I know what you mean two tired,,, I know find my self looking at fairly dead standing trees and thinking,, hummm,,, wonder what that one looks like opened up ?..
Stump

Timberking 1220 25hp w/extensions -hard mounted
Case 586E 6k forklift
2001 F350 4X4,Arctic Cat 500 4 wheeler wagon hauler
Makita 6401 34",4800 Echo 20"er, and a professional 18" Poulan PRO , gotta be a 'pro' cuz it says so rite there on tha' saw..

LeeB

Standing trees don't often spault. Dark and moist are the key. Cover the one you want to spault with leaves in a shaded spot and keep it moist. Shouldn't be a problem in your area. Check regularly. It can go from spault to rot quickly. Do a search on spault or maybe spalt. There are quite a few threads on here about it.
'98 LT40HDD/Lombardini, Case 580L, Cat D4C, JD 3032 tractor, JD 5410 tractor, Husky 346, 372 and 562XP's. Stihl MS180 and MS361, 1998 and 2006 3/4 Ton 5.9 Cummins 4x4's, 1989 Dodge D100 w/ 318, and a 1966 Chevy C60 w/ dump bed.

Dodgy Loner

I'm not so sure I would attempt to spalt a 30" pear log. The wood is highly prized by toolmakers. It's hard and heavy and used for saw handles, chisel handles, mallets, and plane bodies. It can be a pain to dry, though. Likes to warp and twist. Very, very pretty wood, so worth the effort. Like LeeB said, it has a skin-colored tone that is pretty unique.
"There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey." -John Ruskin

Any idiot can write a woodworking blog. Here's mine.

Cypressstump

Twist of fate on the pears. I had seen a downed cedar in a front yard. Stopped to inquire, was given the tree, as well as offered two large standing cedars by the owners daugther, the two standing pears, and a old barn in the rear of the property. The barn is well built of cypress with tin that must be 80 years old, very heavy and still is excellent condtion.

I stopped by the mans house that past Saturday to plan my plan. The pears once taped are both 26"s. I thought a bit larger upon first visit.... The cedars will be easy enough to fall, buck and load on the trailer.
As I was looking at the barn with the elderly gentleman, his son drove up. Apparently his son ( unlike his daugther) does not want to cut the pear trees down and suggested to wait on the barn, but not the cedars....... :-\  Go figger ! 
Next time I am there it will be to drop the cedars , no more visits, as they are costing me my day dreams..... ;)
Stump

Timberking 1220 25hp w/extensions -hard mounted
Case 586E 6k forklift
2001 F350 4X4,Arctic Cat 500 4 wheeler wagon hauler
Makita 6401 34",4800 Echo 20"er, and a professional 18" Poulan PRO , gotta be a 'pro' cuz it says so rite there on tha' saw..

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