Basically Bradford Pear is an ornamental. I have never understood the name but in light of a recent article on the epidemic of Bradford Pear seeds sprouting the base plant which has thrones and is a wild pear maybe that is the name answer.

Well I'll be a monkey's Uncle. All this time I thought it was a real Bartlett type pear tree. That's what I get for thinking.  A google search reveals that the Bradford pear is a nuisance plant plant in the south. No edible fruit and, apparently it's blossoms stink. Pictures show a pretty tree, though. 

For the life of me I can't understand the popularity of the Bradford pear. Our last house had the drive lined with them (it was a long drive, probably 7-8 trees) and the yard had probably another 5-6 of them scattered around. Yep, it was pretty in the spring when they bloomed...but that's where everything nice ended. We had 2 that were severely damaged by high winds, one was half gone...the second completely toppled, that I had to clean up. The second one also wrecked a section of white rail fence along the drive I had to repair. The stench in the spring was, well, not nice.  They aren't the best choice for anything.

I have a fruit bearing Pear Tree that is dying and probably won't get leaves this Spring.  It's not too big around and the ants ate most of what's there.  Between the deer and squirrels I never got many to eat so I won't miss it.  One less thing to jockey around while cutting the grass.    

6 hours ago, lew said:

Bradford Pear is a very misleading name. Although it does produce a "fruit", the berries aren't edible. The tree is extremely susceptible to wind damage. 

Yes, while originally supposed to be sterile, it's cross-bred and is now an invasive species.  You can drive down the expressway in the spring and see them all over the shoulders and beyond. The blossoms smell bad (some say like semen), the honey bees don't even like them, the berries make a mess, too many leaves, and the wood becomes brittle and prone to branches breaking off.  I have one left on my property and waiting for it to self-destruct.   The state has prohibited their sale in a year or two, allowing nurseries to empty their stock.  The neighbor has a bunch of them around his driveway.  Ugh.

6 hours ago, lew said:

Bradford Pear is a very misleading name. Although it does produce a "fruit", the berries aren't edible. The tree is extremely susceptible to wind damage. 

All true. The flowers in the spring are amazing with a very sweet scent. The two we "had" used to draw hundreds of honey bees. Not sure what kind of nectar those flowers produced, but you could stand under the canopy with bees buzzing around and they would never bother you. It was a real treat.

 

However, once the flowers began dying off, the smell was putrid. Two big storms got ours. Broke both off about 30" above the ground. The larger of the two was probably 16-18" in diameter IIRC. Replacement trees didn't last either with the winds we get so I quit planting them.

Edited December 6, 20214 yr by Grandpadave52

I use mostly the following woods

- Poplar - secondary wood, drawer sides, paint grade projects

- SYP - shop projects and work benches

- Walnut - I like the looks of this and use it for small boxes and things

- Cherry - ditto

- Hard Maple -  I like its durability, looks, and often combine with either of the two above

- Red Oak - inexpensive hardwood

- White Oak, generally quarter-sawn - good for furniture projects

- Ash - good alternative for oaks, but getting scarce

 

Occasionally use butternut, lyptus, Ky Coffee, mahogany, hickory, or whatever else I've been given or get cheap

When we moved here, there was one lonely mesquite an about a dozen creosotes. Since, weve planted several more mesquites, a couple acacias, two desert willows and, a couple others whose names escape me. We tried a couple evergreens, but the rabbits gott'em. I can't begin to name the flowers and bushes Phyl has going in pots and in beds. 

@Gene Howe...GREAT thread...I've been mostly lurking along with it but enjoy everyone's input, choices along with the why's. Thanks for starting it.

 

For me I love the look, feel and smell of maple & cherry although white & even red oak has great appeal and it's place in certain projects. Polar is often a choice for me based on cost, availability, work-ability and can be painted with great results but can't be stained. I've done some small projects with clear pine too.

 

We used to have several small saw mills in the area, but most have gone by the wayside. Some of the void has been picked up by guys with Woodmizers, but prices are all over the map.

 

I've never worked with any exotics so can't chime in there. 

 

At the end of the day however, I usually can take any species of wood and convert it into useless sawdust and firewood with skills only few have mastered.

Preferred wood to work with..Ash....followed by Poplar...followed by Pine....

 

getting about time to go over and buy another stash of Ash....1 x 6 x 10's @ $3 a board...have to save up a bit...( That's $3 per 10' long board...NOT Bft)

1 minute ago, steven newman said:

Preferred wood to work with..Ash

Most of the ash trees around here have been destroyed by the Ash Borer 

2 hours ago, steven newman said:

Preferred wood to work with..Ash....followed by Poplar...followed by Pine....

 

getting about time to go over and buy another stash of Ash....1 x 6 x 10's @ $3 a board...have to save up a bit...( That's $3 per 10' long board...NOT Bft)

I occasionally see some advertised on CL or other local outlets fairly reasonable ($1-$3/bd/ft, but nowhere like your prices. Like @lewthe ash borer has pretty much depleted availability locally. I do admire your projects using it. You seem to always find some with amazing grain patterns.

In 50 years of making sawdust in AZ, I've never used ash. Can't say for sure, but I don't think may yards carry it, around here. 

I read someone describing ash once as "oak having a good day", and I kind of agree with that. It's not as common since the bug but I like it.

12 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

At the end of the day however, I usually can take any species of wood and convert it into useless sawdust and firewood with skills only few have mastered.

 

Fire Good!

Late to the dumping on Bradford Pear party... but there are second and third times that it looks nice.  Spring blossoms for sure look nice, smell bad (there might be a joke in there somewhere ).  Also has a great deep maroon fall color that is very nice, just before the leaves drop.  And the third time it looks good is when it is cut up and being carted off!

 

As to preferred woods, I haven't made much in the way of "fine furniture".  So it's generally whatever I can scrounge or get for a reasonable cost.  And that equates to red oak, and various plywoods.  I did do a project with cypress (front porch railing) - I did like working with that for both turning and flat work.  Except for small turning projects when our son was younger I've never used maple, cherry, walnut or most of the other native woods.

For turning I much prefer woods like mahogany and elm. They cut like butter. I have turned Bradford and it always chips either with a freshly sharpened skew that was honed. I have to initially sand to get a smooth surface required 100 grit. It is pretty hard but brittle.

For other projects will be the strength requirement and looks desired. I prefer birch or birch veneered plywood but have used oak and pine. Pine is plentiful and easily painted. Poplar only if I am making repairs and matching to the original piece being repaired.

Bradford Pear has some great curl due to the pressure of the limbs spread. This is one example of what it can do. Ok two examples. 

Like them both Gerald but that top one is spectacular. Your choice of stain contrasting with natural gives unbelievable grain definition. 

Gorgeous pieces, #greald! I, too, like the first one best!