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Materials Used in Ornamental Turning - Pear

Ornamentally Turned Objects

Pear

Pear
Picture courtesy Sam Seaton

This is an excellent wood for ornamental turning, and gets used often. The wood is easily worked, and it holds shapes well. But it is the color, and the relative plain-ness of the wood which is why it is chosen for ornamental turning.

Prototyping

This wood is not highly available in large pieces without checks. Prototyping the design on more easily available woods is recommended.

Work Holding

(no notes at this time)

Ornamental Turning Notes

It has reasonable availability, and is not costly. It does have problems with cracking like with other fruit woods (though not as bad as some). Care needs to be taken in the drying if this is acquired whilst still wet.

Working the wood is easy, but requires some pre-planning. As with other fruit woods, the work will easily "burn", so you will need to decrease the contact time with the cutter. This can be achieved by slowing the cutter speed (i.e., slowing down the overhead drive), or by increasing the spindle drive speed (I typically run this 40-50% faster), or both. I have also found that a very sharp cutter will make a difference.

Finishing

Properly cut, no finishing should be needed. Most fruit woods leave a wonderful finish. If you do choose to add a finish, I recommend Tried & True’s Original Wood Finish.

Other Notes

More information is in The Wood Database.