Swiss pear: a fine-textured fruitwood.

Swiss pear could easily be confused with the name for a dessert rather than a highly-prized exotic wood. But users say searching out this wood native to Europe and western Asia is worth the hunt.

The pear trees used in commercial timber today are often found in old orchards in Europe, including Italy, Germany and Switzerland. Since orchard trees are typically pruned in order to keep the fruit accessible for picking, pear trees are short, rarely reaching heights over 40 feet. Common pear trees can reach heights of 60 feet.

A Hot Species

Pear is a "hot wood" in the architectural and high-end furniture markets, usually in custom and small run pieces, architectural paneling, cabinetry and contract furniture. "Swiss pear is very popular with our clients," said a spokesman for one U.S. firm which deals in both domestic and imported species.

"It has been selling well in the United States for the past five or six years. It is almost ironic that fine furniture makers in Europe value North American cherry over Swiss pear. Here in the U.S., Swiss pear is considered a very fine cabinet wood, and cherry, while a very popular and well-thought-of wood, has less of a reputation."

Pear's price varies according to the figure and the grade. It is considered an expensive wood, higher priced than cherry and maple, and typically sold at approximately $3 to $4 a square foot. Swiss pear users in the domestic market favor plain pear over the more figured variety.

Short, Hard and Tough

Pear is a strong, hard and tough wood, but in the short sizes available, its strength is not usually a factor. Before nylon was created, pear's hardness made it perfect for the production of harpsichord jacks.

Pear that is cut and does not meet the color specifications, is still considered too valuable to just throw away. Since pear mimics the properties of ebony, the wood rejected for color problems - too yellow or a faded pink - it is often dyed black with aniline dyes and used as a substitute for ebony.

Pear is also an excellent choice for carving, turnery and veneers. Pear is said to rival boxwood for making intricate carvings. The wood also works well in the production of certain musical instruments, such as recorders. When dyed black, it can be used to make piano keys and violin and guitar fingerboards.

Pear is also used for specialty items, such as brush backs, umbrella handles and measuring tools such as T-squares.

According to users, pear is said to have the finest texture of all the fruit woods. However, the wood has a tendency to distort and warp. To avoid warping when in the veneer form, users often crossband pear ahead of time.

Charles Radtke, a Cedarburg, WI, custom furniture maker, said he considers pear a "dream wood to work." Radtke said he prefers to hand plane most of the woods he uses. Pear, he said, can be planed in either direction and still look good. "It has that fine of a grain and a very even texture," he said.

Radtke said the only "drawback" is that the wood is not often available in long dimensions.

Pink Heartwood 

Pear's heartwood is an attractive pink brown or reddish fawn color, featuring very fine rays and even grain. Some Swiss pear is steamed to achieve a bright pink color.

While dyed pear is a substitute for ebony, other woods are used as pear substitutes. Costello is a Venezuelan boxwood that can be dyed pink to resemble Swiss pear.

Pyrus communis is the name of the genus and species that yields a quality wood prized for the way it can be worked, for its even grain and its lustrous finish. The wood from common pear is also called fruitwood or European fruitwood.

Common pear trees have slender stalks and serrated leaves which vary from round shapes to ovals. Its bark is very distinctive, cracking into small, square plates. Pear trees have other value. The trees are often planted for their decorative impact as well as the very thriving fruit industry. Pear trees are not native to the United States, but have been successfully transplanted. In the United States, the trees are almost exclusively used for fruit growing and ornamental purposes and not for timber. Pears are grown commercially in nine states although pear trees are found in every state of the union. California leads all the states in annual production and the Pacific Coast seems to be the prime growing area. The pears originally brought to the U.S. are believed to have been imported from France.

FAMILY NAMES

Pyrus communis of the Family Rosaceae

OTHER NAMES

Pear, common pear, fruit wood, Swiss pear, French pear, pear tree, wild pear, choke pear 

HEIGHT/WEIGHT

Height is usually 30 to 40 feet but can be up to 59 feet, with diameters of 1 to 2 feet. Average weight is 43 to 44 pounds per cubic foot when dry; with a specific gravity of 0.70.

PROPERTIES

A tough and strong wood, pear is stable in usage. Kiln drying is recommended as the wood may distort during drying. Sizes are limited with logs often sliced for veneers. The wood can be difficult to saw and may have blunting effect on cutting edges. Pear machines well, glues well and finishes excellently. It is considered a perishable wood, but can be treated with preservatives.