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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Pyrus communis Trade Name Pear Family Name Rosaceae Common Names Choke-pear, Common pear, Parontrad, Pear, Peartree, Pearwood Regions of Distribution Eastern Europe, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States Common Uses Bearings & bushings, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Decorative veneer, Engraving, Furniture, Handles: general, Marquetry, Mathematical instruments, Moldings, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Musical instruments: strings, Rulers, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Native to Britain, the species has a wide distribution throughout Europe and parts of Asia. It has naturalized in the United States and can be found from Maine to Missouri, Florida, and in the north western region of Texas. It grows on moist soils near houses, fences, roadsides, clearings, and borders of forests. Pear trees are reported to have been cultivated since ancient times and numerous varieties have been been developed from the species and its hybrids. Heartwood Color Black Brown Yellow Pink Pale red to pink Greenish to greyish Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Red Pinkish brown Distinction between heartwood and sapwood is usually not clear in younger trees. Heartwood color is darker and more distinct in old trees. Pearwood is sometimes dyed and used as a substitute for Ebony. Sapwood Color White Brown Red Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Figure Other (figure) Straight Even Wavy Distinct (figure) Closed Variable (figure) Other figure Straight Wavy Variable figure Distinct figure Typically straight Large mottled figure. Quartersawn surfaces are reported to often show a Texture Medium Coarse Fine Very close Uniform Luster Lustrous Dull Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack The wood should be protected with chemical preservatives if it is to be used in exterior applications since it has little or no resistance to decay. Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1 UK=A Drying Defects Checking Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Ring Shakes Discoloration Severe twisting/warping Moderate twist/warp There is a marked tendency for the wood to distort during air-drying if stacks are not weighted down. Ease of Drying Slowly Moderate Heavy weighting of stacks is essential to prevent degrade Easy Air-dries slowly The wood responds satisfactorily to mild kiln drying schedules Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Product Sources Material with the most superior properties comes from Germany and France. Supplies are limited since the tree is valued for its fruits, and only old trees are typically harvested for timber production, much of which is exported to Europe. Veneers are the main form of Pearwood imported into the United States and their prices are usually high. Domestic supplies in the US are scarce and are usually of poorer quality than material from the European market. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Very good to excellent results Carving Excellent weathering characteristics Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Retains its shape well after manufacture Dimensionally stable Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Holds nails well Good nailing properties Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planed surfaces are reported to have a mild silky sheen Ease of planing is moderate Difficult to plane The wood responds very well to ordinary tools and works to produce smooth, clean surfaces in planing and other machining operations Resistance to Abrasion High Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Yields smooth, clean surfaces Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good screw holding properties Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Easy to turn Responds very well to preservative treatment Used for fancy turnery work Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Pearwood is reported to peel readily for veneer. It is used for marquetry to produce a color similar to human flesh. Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Polishing Good results Heartwood has very high natural resistance to decay Staining Poor to Very Poor Results Finish is generally good Pearwood has staining properties that are superior to most commercial woods. Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Weight = high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Strength properties are comparable to those of Oak, but Pearwood is tougher and more difficult to split Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7711 12078 psi Density 45 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Weight 44 35 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 542 849 kg/cm2 Density 721 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Weight 705 560 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin. Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods - Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32 HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Kline, M. 1981. Pyrus communis - Pearwood. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 300-301. Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Stone, H.,1924,The Timbers of Commerce and their Identification,William Rider & Sons Ltd. London T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet No.85 Pear (Pyrus communis,TRADA Timber Leaflet Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd. Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition