Pear Wood for Pens?

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Spinzwood

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Joined
Jul 25, 2017
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57
Location
Santa Rosa, CA
I have some nice looking blanks that are pear wood. I don't see a lot of grain in the unturned blanks. I could take a photo.. but, if necessary, I'll have to wait until sometime tomorrow in daylight.

Have any of you turned this wood? If so, did you finish as is, or did you apply a stain?

Thanks
 
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Oct 15, 2016
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Location
Davis Oklahoma
I have some nice looking blanks that are pear wood. I don't see a lot of grain in the unturned blanks. I could take a photo.. but, if necessary, I'll have to wait until sometime tomorrow in daylight.

Have any of you turned this wood? If so, did you finish as is, or did you apply a stain?

Thanks

I've done some and it turned out looking almost like bone it was so white. I left it like it was and turned out really pretty.
 

robutacion

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Joined
Aug 6, 2009
Messages
6,514
Location
Australia - SA Adelaide Hills
Not all Pear tree wood look the same, species variety has something to do with it but, tree age and how long it has been cut is another major factor for colour variations.

Pear tree wood around crotches and "compressed" limbs and in other parts of the trunk can show amazing grains that will always "jump out" when fine sanded and coated with something.

This type of wood is most stable and is used often in flute and other wind making instruments, this would need to very straight grain pieces/blanks something that would be easy to process from mature pear trees.

Works/turns and finishes beautifully, in my opinion...!

Best of luck,

Cheers
George
 

magpens

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Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
15,913
Location
Canada
Pear wood is fine ... looks great and works well. . Just a little boring, so go ahead and stain it any color you like. . Or use if for creative segmenting with some other darker woods.
 

KenV

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Joined
Oct 28, 2005
Messages
4,720
Location
Juneau, Alaska.
I have turned some Bradford Pear that was swapped for. Turned well for the most part, but one piece was splintery. Was advised that the wood can vary from tree to tree and can be different depending on soil.

Made decent but plain bowls. Did not need plain pen blanks, but it would have worked. Good practice wood of even grain.

Lots of different kinds of pear wood.
 

Herb G

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Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Messages
1,461
Location
Southern Maryland
I have turned fruit pear wood. It had a nice grain & great color to it.
Lots of subtle colors in it like pink, purple, and even some salmon.
It turned well, and finished beautifully.
 
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