Looking for Pear

[Peter Sefton]

Hi all
Thomas Flynn are making some Dovetail and Tenon saws for us using Swiss Steamed Pear for the handles, my normal supplier Whitmore's have run out of stock and I am having problems finding more 1" sawn for the next batch. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance Peter

 

[marcros]

John Boddy might be worth a look. They are North Yorks, but not a million miles from Sheffield.

http://www.john-boddy-timber.ltd.uk/Pic ... ree_a.html

 

[Jack (W)]

Hello Peter,

I've regularly seen slabs of Pear at Yandles but I do not know if it was Swiss Steamed Pear. Perhaps it would be worth giving them a ring:

http://www.yandles.co.uk/contact-us

Jack

 

[Harbo]

Yes I've bought Steamed Pear from Yandles.

But why choose it for saws - a bit bland and pink?

I know fruit wood, as well as Beech, was traditionally used for handles so why not English Apple?

Rod

 

[thomasflinn]

Tried all those!

 

[thomasflinn]

Also struggling on the Apple too.

 

[Harbo]

I bought a plank of apple (for handle making) a couple of years ago in the "green" state from Goulden Hardwoods

http://www.woodbypost.fsnet.co.uk/contact.htm

They may have some left which should be a lot drier now?
They are not big suppliers though - the wood is locally sourced.

Rod

 

[MIGNAL]

You've tried Pear, you've tried Apple. Next try English Cherry - similar density, closed grain and you can get some with good colour/grain if you look about. There's even figured Cherry, if you want.
You could try Timberline or David ****. Probably not the cheapest suppliers but there's a chance that they have Apple, Pear and they will certainly have Cherry.

 

[custard]

I just got five and a half cubic feet of steamed pear from Timberline

http://www.exotichardwoods.co.uk/Woods_ ... arwood.asp

The 28mm is a bit picked over, so I mainly went for the 52mm which I'll resaw. Length is mainly around 1.5-1.8m, width up to just over 200mm.

 

[custard]

And Surrey Timbers has an entire orchard load of English apple!

http://www.surreytimbers.co.uk/#/apple/4566236122

 

[Peter Sefton]

Thanks to every one for the help, from my experience and work with Thomas Flinn Apple and Pear are both traditionally used for the best quality handles.
We tried Apple but came across major issues with supply of quality clean timber to work with
Thanks for the Surry Timbers link Custard I will look into it but I fear we will have a huge Wasteage facture to produce clean 5” wide handles, which may make it uneconomical. It seems Apple is only commercially grown for Apples and the wood is a secondary (waste product) I will check with Katie to see how she faired with Timberline I know we spoke with them a couple of weeks ago before I went on holiday.
The Pear Saws that we have made look and feel very special and still my favoured option these are a handmade saw so not made in large quantities but continuity of supply is important.
Harbo your right Beech is widely available and great for saw handles but usually used on the budget end on the market rather than the hand filed saws the guys are making for us.
Mignal thanks for the input on the Cherry =D> that may be our next option if we can’t find any Pear, if anybody else knows of any please do say so.
Cheers Peter

 

[Richard T]

MacTimbers had plenty of Pear last time I looked. (July)

 

[Peter Sefton]

Thanks Richard I will get Katie to check Mac timbers out.
Cheers Peter