Woody Pear....what is it?

[Les Symonds]

Hi guys...amongst the goodies that I bought from a closed-down workshop was piece of woody pear. It's just a 25x25 square, 300mm long and clearly, commercially produced. It has the most amazing figure in it, rather like the medullary rays in quartered oak, but much more prevalent. Anyone know anything about this stuff.
In the photo, I've skimmed one face through my thicknesser, given it a light rub-down and a coat of sanding sealer




Any info appreciated....Les

[thebowlerhattedturner]

Hello Les,
             I have never heard of this one so I Googled it. Apparently it is Australian and very slow growing and used to be used by settlers for gun stocks.
Regards
John BHT

[woody]

Your right John it is Australian quite a brittle wood turns and polishes to an excellent finish http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Xylomelum_pyriforme.jpg