The European pear tree(Pyrus communis) belongs to the rose family and is related to the cherry and apple. These trees always originate from cultures, i.e. they have been grafted in one way or another to achieve an optimum fruit yield. The original form of the pear tree is the wood pear(Pyrus piraster), which occurs ungrafted in natural forests and is comparatively rare. Visually almost identical to the steamed pear tree is the wild service tree = Swiss pear tree(Sorbus torminalis).
Sapwood is uniformly pale yellowish-white, while the heartwood appears pink to brown-reddish. Darkening color under the influence of light; muted with dark red tones. Black-brown color core often cracked. Fine poring without conspicuous streaks or striations. Decorative domestic precious wood.
Density at u=12% is 0.75 t/m³. The shrinkage from the fresh state to u=12% is specified as 8.5% tangential and 4.8% radial. Strong shrinkage with a greater tendency to tear and warp; after drying, however, with good stability. Good and clean to machine, easy to profile and turn. Produces uniformly smooth surfaces, easy to polish and stain.
The Brinell hardness is specified as 25, the modulus of elasticity as 11,700 N/mm2. Birnbaum is not durable.
Wood for woodturning and carving, small furniture, one-off furniture, knife handles, woodwind instruments (recorders), parquet flooring.
| Sources: |
GOTTWALD 1970: Wood identification of the most important commercial timbers ARGE Holz 1998: Native timber and its use |
