Steam bending walnut and pear

[marcus]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has experience of steam-bending native walnut or pear? I'm going to be making some chairs and these two timbers, although quite different in appearance, are top of the list. I haven't used either before.

The back legs need to be curved, and laminating is not suitable in this case, although I would consider sawing the curves if I could find a suitable crook (which would probably involve more time driving than around the country than I can afford).

My Woodbending Handbook gives a min radius of 11" unsupported for bending walnut which is more than adequate, but no figure for pear. Does anyone know the min radius for it?

I'm up to speed on steam bending but have only ever used oak. I'm nervous, particularly if I go for walnut, about things not going smoothly. It could get really expensive, really quickly if legs start snapping or discolouring!

So if anyone has experience of bending either of these timbers I would love to hear about any issues or problems that came up. I am assuming that the wood will be well seasoned, air dried, as I think finding these timbers green might be difficult.

Cheers

Marcus.

 

[MikeG.]

I've not worked with pear, but had heard that it was relatively unstable and only available in small sections, which don't seem ideal traits for furniture making. I would be curious to know if this is right. I've only really seen pear used for turning (I guess it would have been green when turned........)

Mike

 

[marcus]

I've seen a couple of pieces made from it - chairs, a cabinet and some boxes. It's a very hard timber and takes amazing detail. You're right, it's hard to find decent sized sections, but not impossible in the sizes I need. Apparently it's unstable when drying and warps pretty wildy... So a challenge, but one that would be worth it if I could pull it off, because it's really lovely wood.

Marcus

 

[Nick Gibbs]

I'd tend to favour laminating for both walnut and pear. Pear used to be made for delicate bedroom chairs, and is beautifully creamy in texture, but I suspect the curved legs were cut from solid rather than bent, following curved grain direction wherever possible.

It's great to hear of both these species being used. They are scarce and expensive, but exquisite. Have you found suppliers?

Nick

 

[marcus]

It's great to hear of both these species being used. They are scarce and expensive, but exquisite. Have you found suppliers?

Not as yet, but I have several leads!

Marcus

 

[Nick Gibbs]

You could try the Dean Oak Co-Operative for the walnut. I know they had some not so long ago, and they were saying that there isn't a huge demand for it because so many woodworkers want American black walnut. What a sad state of affairs that is. Bit like magazines really!!!!!!

Do email me for a free copy of British Woodworking if you haven't seen it already.

Cheers

Nick

 

[hpl]

I don't know how to link to another post but in the woodturning forum cornucopia has turned a bowl in wet walnut, could be worth asking if there is any more.
On pear I was given a 2 foot plus diameter tree when I first started turning. Sorry, that was 20 years ago so I can't help. I didn't know what to do with it at the time and left it in the log and it just split very badly. It must have ended up being burnt as I never used it.
My point was that the tree had grown with a twist and I was told that this is how they grow. If this is the case then would that make it very liable to split out when bending, although if you are successful with oak then maybe pear would be easier? I could imagine oak be hard to steam and walnut much easier. If you are near Suffolk at all I have some pieces of Euro walnut you could try bending.

Johnny B

 

[stef]

i worked with pear in the past.
...to make a model boat.
the wood is ideal for model making, as it's very hard and keeps the details very well.
howver, i confirm it seems to be very unstable. i had some plates left over, which have been drying for a good 10years. i looked again at them this year, hoping to save some to make boxes... looking at the bow in them, the only decent straight size i could go for would be enough for a match box !

 

[marcus]

Thanks for the tips. I've decided against pear - even the person who made the chair I saw said he wouldn't try again! I guess I'll have to find some walnut and try some small scale bending experiments....

Marcus

 

[marcus]

Hi Johnny,

I could imagine oak be hard to steam and walnut much easier

Funnily enough oak is really easy to bend! It is apparently the easiest timber to bed after ash....

Marcus