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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: coaster500 on September 27, 2011, 09:36:00 PM

Title: What kind of tree is this
Post by: coaster500 on September 27, 2011, 09:36:00 PM
It's most likely firewood but thought I'd ask.

The wind blew this over the fence at work. We have to clean it up and I just wondered what it was and if it might make a bow...

http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/what%20kind%20of%20tree/?albumview=slideshow
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: Wingless Arrow on September 27, 2011, 09:50:00 PM
im not posotive but i think its a beech tree.
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: red hill on September 27, 2011, 10:17:00 PM
Looks like an ornamental "bradford pear" to me. The bark is too dark and rough to be a beech, at least the species we have in south Arkansas. The bradford pear is too soft for bow making, imho.
But I've been wrong before according to my wife.
 :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: TroutGuide on September 27, 2011, 10:30:00 PM
Bradford pear
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: Pat B on September 27, 2011, 10:45:00 PM
The wood of Bradford pear is strong, the structure of the tree is weak.
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: DVSHUNTER on September 27, 2011, 11:07:00 PM
bradford pear tree.
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: coaster500 on September 27, 2011, 11:53:00 PM
Well that's what we'll do .....  It's laying there so we'll give some of it a shot. Can't beat the price....  

Thank you
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: canopyboy on September 28, 2011, 07:34:00 AM
Bradford pear for sure.  If you can get a couple of straight billets and back it, it'd probably make a fine bow.
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: 2treks on September 28, 2011, 04:06:00 PM
I talked with a Native American gent years ago, he told me that the history of his people was that they liked applewood first and pearwood second,for makeing bows. I have never tried any "fruitwoods" but I do know they are hard and heavy. I have never seen a Bradford pear to my knowledge tho.
Has anybody ever tried some fruitwood?

Looks like you could have a couple staves outta that find Kip.
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: iohkus on September 28, 2011, 11:40:00 PM
Bradford Pear isn't a fruit tree.
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: 2treks on September 29, 2011, 06:26:00 AM
OH!
I'd still try it.
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: Pat B on September 29, 2011, 09:05:00 AM
Bradford Pears were developed as an infertal flowering ornamental tree but it has been discovered that they do in fact produce fruit, about the size of a pea or slightly larger. It is the same genus(Pyrus) as any other true pear so the wood is similar.
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: 2treks on September 29, 2011, 10:18:00 AM
AHHH Haaaa! Can you eat them?
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: Pat B on September 29, 2011, 11:03:00 AM
I wouldn't! My book doesn't say if they can be eaten or not.
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: coaster500 on September 29, 2011, 01:47:00 PM
Well I cut a couple of good size limbs brought them home and went to splitting...  Well they had so much twist that they look like a pig's tail (ALMOST TWO REVOLUTIONS!!). These are way beyond my realm of possibilities....   It was worth a shot though. Now they are firewood  :)

There is one more limb that may not be as twisted? Might give it one more shot?

There are some little buds between the leaf branches>>>>  if that's the fruit a chipmunk would starve  :)
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: Cuban Missile on September 29, 2011, 09:08:00 PM
No you can't eat them but birds love them.  They are an invasive species that are pretty but serve no purpose that I know of.  Maybe a bow wood lets see!
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: Don Stokes on September 30, 2011, 08:30:00 AM
Bradford pear was developed for its showy flowers in spring, but it doesn't grow pears in the normal sense. A waste, in my opinion.
Title: Re: What kind of tree is this
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on October 01, 2011, 03:00:00 PM
Bradford pear is a fuit tree....it produces fruit, just very tiny pears.  I say give it a try.