In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Jann Thomsen) wrote:
>Hi,
>
>
>I was wondering if anyone knows where I can obtain a piece of Pear 50 by
>50 by 15 cm? Preferably in Germany. I'm somehow obsessed by the Idea of my
>very own Go board and Pear would be really nice, but I've been unable to
>get hold of a piece.
>
You must have some damn big pear trees in Germany if you can get a piece 50 by
50 by 15 cm out of one of them. (For those not familiar with the metric
system, that's roughly 20" square by 6" thick.)
That would make for a pretty heavy Go board, too, somewhere around 20 kg, I
think. Perhaps you meant 50cm x 50cm x 15mm ?
I don't have any suggestions for sources... but you might think about gluing
it up from smaller pieces. I'm sure it's a *lot* easier to find four pieces
12 to 13 cm wide, than one piece 50 cm wide. :-)
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
On Tue, 07 Oct 2003 02:53:58 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
scribbled
>In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Jann Thomsen) wrote:
>
>>It seems that Sycamore is likely to be planted at roadsides over here, if
>>I could just find my chainsaw now ...
>
>It's not the same tree. What's called "sycamore" in Europe is actually a
>maple, and as far as I know it does not grow nearly as large.
Careful with the names, Doug. You're right in saying that what the
Brits call "sycamore" is a maple: Acer pseudoplatanus. But the London
Plane tree, which is planted on roadsides and in cities is a hybrid
between North American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and a Balkan
species (Platanus orientalis). The figure on the Plane tree is
apparently very similar to our sycamore.
I just checked translations in German at:
http://europa.eu.int/eurodicautom/Controller
Sycamore (the plane tree) is "Platane" or "amerikanische Platane",
while sycamore maple is given as "Bergahorn" or "Sykomore"
Luigi
Replace "no" with "yk" twice
in reply address for real email address
Jann Thomsen wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I was wondering if anyone knows where I can obtain a piece of Pear 50 by
> 50 by 15 cm? Preferably in Germany. I'm somehow obsessed by the Idea of my
> very own Go board and Pear would be really nice, but I've been unable to
> get hold of a piece.
>
> Regard, Jann
Have you considered using a veneer such as:
http://www.certainlywood.com/Typesamples/pear.htm
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
On Mon, 06 Oct 2003 18:39:34 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
wrote:
>It will be *much* less likely to warp. And depending on how the wood is sawn,
>it could be much *more* beautiful than a single piece. Flatsawn American
>Sycamore is a fairly boring-looking wood, without much figure at all. But
>quartersawn American Sycamore has a beautifully dramatic, highly figured
>grain. Possibly quartersawn pear is more attractive than flatsawn also. You
>certainly won't get a 50cm-wide quartersawn board out of a pear tree.
I bought a plank of pear that was well over 50 cm at the thick end,
near the base of the trunk. That was in the mid 1970s.
Remember, in Europe, pear trees have been grown for wood for
centuries, and plantations were founded in colonial Africa when the
Swiss and Alsatian sources looked like running low.
Obviously, you will never get big boards out of fruit orchards.
Big endgrain pieces of pear have been used for wood engravings for a
long time.
Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a
"We have achieved the inversion of the single note."
__ Peter Ustinov as Karlheinz Stckhausen
> You must have some damn big pear trees in Germany if you can get a piece 50
> by 50 by 15 cm out of one of them. (For those not familiar with the metric
> system, that's roughly 20" square by 6" thick.)
Well, one Website says Pear grows to a maximum of 60cm, so I thought its
possible.
> That would make for a pretty heavy Go board, too, somewhere around 20 kg, I
> think. Perhaps you meant 50cm x 50cm x 15mm ?
No, i'm pretty sure I want it roundabout 45x45x10cm, adding a little for
working on it i settled for 50.
And, if I can find a 50x50cm piece, thickness shouldn't be any problem, i
think.
> I don't have any suggestions for sources... but you might think about gluing
> it up from smaller pieces. I'm sure it's a *lot* easier to find four pieces
> 12 to 13 cm wide, than one piece 50 cm wide. :-)
Well, yes, but it wouldn't be as beautiful as one piece. :-)
Jann
> >No, i'm pretty sure I want it roundabout 45x45x10cm, adding a little for
> >working on it i settled for 50.
> Think about the weight. At 50x50x15, that's 37.5 liters. At roughly 500g/l,
> it's close to 20kg. This will *not* be portable.
> Nor will the wood be easy to find. Why do you want it so thick?
I would like to inlay the lines into the wood, instead of just painting
them, so in case I make a mistake I need it thicker to be able to start
again.
Finally it shall be about 4", for aesthetics and stability.
>
> >And, if I can find a 50x50cm piece, thickness shouldn't be any problem, i
> >think.
> Actually, it will. Think about how the board would have to be oriented
> within the trunk of the tree. For any given width, the thicker the board,
> the larger the tree must be. Small trees, and hence small boards, are much
> easier to find than large trees, and hence large boards.
Oh, yes, your're right.
> sawn, it could be much *more* beautiful than a single piece. Flatsawn
> American Sycamore is a fairly boring-looking wood, without much figure at
> all. But quartersawn American Sycamore has a beautifully dramatic, highly
I'm sorry, my english leaves me here, what is flat- and quartersawn?
> and book-matching the grain, than you can get from a single board --
> assuming you can find a single board that size, which I very much doubt. Not
> in that species anyway.
I'm beginning to accept that, thanks a lot, can you point me to a species
which has about the same look but is more readily available in one piece?
Jann
> > I'm sorry, my english leaves me here, what is flat- and quartersawn?
> A picture's worth a thousand words...
> http://www.inthewoodshop.org/methods/lumber.jpg
I see ... Gluing four quartersawn pieces together gets more attractive all
the time. :-)
I don't know a lot about wood, but if I put lines where the pieces come
together it shouldn't be noticeable.
Hmm, what about 361 pieces of glued pear, if I would only know where to
get some. (We do have Markets which sell Wood for construction or
furniture making, but pear just isn't common ...)
Jann
> Think about the weight. At 50x50x15, that's 37.5 liters. At roughly 500g/l,
> it's close to 20kg. This will *not* be portable.
>
> Nor will the wood be easy to find. Why do you want it so thick?
Coming back to this question ... Because I would like a board like these:
<http://www.kiseido.com/test/kayaboards.htm>
But I cannot afford Kaya ...
Jann
> >I'm beginning to accept that, thanks a lot, can you point me to a species
> >which has about the same look but is more readily available in one piece?
> I'm sorry but I'm not too familiar with Old World trees. :-)
I don't really care if the tree was cut in Germany or Zimbabwe or some
place else. :-)
> Is American Sycamore available in Europe? Those trees get *huge*: 150 or 175
> cm diameter is not at all unusual.
It seems that Sycamore is likely to be planted at roadsides over here, if
I could just find my chainsaw now ...
Actually, I don't like the colour that much, might be an alternative if
nothing else happens to be available.
> Beech is a possibility -- and it also has a beautiful figure when
> quartersawn, at least the species of beech that grows in the U.S.
Beech is definitely an alternative, I was also thinking about a purplewood
board with a brighter border. Does purplewood grow large enough?
Jann
> >It seems that Sycamore is likely to be planted at roadsides over here, if
> >I could just find my chainsaw now ...
> It's not the same tree. What's called "sycamore" in Europe is actually a
> maple, and as far as I know it does not grow nearly as large.
Yeah, thats the one I thought of, haven't seen one over a meter yet.
> See a picture of quartersawn American Sycamore here:
> http://www.frankmiller.com/fm_framset.htm
> It's the one on the far right, under "Contact Us".
Thanks, but thats way too, um, checkered.
Jann
> Purpleheart can grow to heights of 170' (approx. 52 meters) and diameters up
> to 4'
Sounds just about right, so next time I get around the Lumber Market I
let'em show me their Pear, Purpleheart and Beech. Although Beech is quite
too common in houses here, its just missing the exotic touch. :-)
Oh, and some Ebony for the lines. Getting those straight will be some
challenge ...
Any more alternatives?
Jann
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Jann Thomsen) wrote:
>> You must have some damn big pear trees in Germany if you can get a piece 50
>> by 50 by 15 cm out of one of them. (For those not familiar with the metric
>> system, that's roughly 20" square by 6" thick.)
>
>Well, one Website says Pear grows to a maximum of 60cm, so I thought its
>possible.
Possible, but just barely -- and it will be fairly likely to warp.
>> That would make for a pretty heavy Go board, too, somewhere around 20 kg, I
>> think. Perhaps you meant 50cm x 50cm x 15mm ?
>
>No, i'm pretty sure I want it roundabout 45x45x10cm, adding a little for
>working on it i settled for 50.
Think about the weight. At 50x50x15, that's 37.5 liters. At roughly 500g/l,
it's close to 20kg. This will *not* be portable.
Nor will the wood be easy to find. Why do you want it so thick?
>And, if I can find a 50x50cm piece, thickness shouldn't be any problem, i
>think.
Actually, it will. Think about how the board would have to be oriented within
the trunk of the tree. For any given width, the thicker the board, the larger
the tree must be. Small trees, and hence small boards, are much easier to find
than large trees, and hence large boards.
>
>> I don't have any suggestions for sources... but you might think about gluing
>> it up from smaller pieces. I'm sure it's a *lot* easier to find four pieces
>> 12 to 13 cm wide, than one piece 50 cm wide. :-)
>
>Well, yes, but it wouldn't be as beautiful as one piece. :-)
It will be *much* less likely to warp. And depending on how the wood is sawn,
it could be much *more* beautiful than a single piece. Flatsawn American
Sycamore is a fairly boring-looking wood, without much figure at all. But
quartersawn American Sycamore has a beautifully dramatic, highly figured
grain. Possibly quartersawn pear is more attractive than flatsawn also. You
certainly won't get a 50cm-wide quartersawn board out of a pear tree.
Even if you're using flatsawn wood, you still may achieve a more attractive
appearance by edge-gluing boards that have been resawn from a thicker piece,
and book-matching the grain, than you can get from a single board -- assuming
you can find a single board that size, which I very much doubt. Not in that
species anyway.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Jann Thomsen) wrote:
>
>> and book-matching the grain, than you can get from a single board --
>> assuming you can find a single board that size, which I very much doubt. Not
>> in that species anyway.
>
>I'm beginning to accept that, thanks a lot, can you point me to a species
>which has about the same look but is more readily available in one piece?
I'm sorry but I'm not too familiar with Old World trees. :-)
Is American Sycamore available in Europe? Those trees get *huge*: 150 or 175
cm diameter is not at all unusual.
Beech is a possibility -- and it also has a beautiful figure when quartersawn,
at least the species of beech that grows in the U.S.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Jann Thomsen) wrote:
>> >I'm beginning to accept that, thanks a lot, can you point me to a species
>> >which has about the same look but is more readily available in one piece?
>> I'm sorry but I'm not too familiar with Old World trees. :-)
>
>I don't really care if the tree was cut in Germany or Zimbabwe or some
>place else. :-)
>
>> Is American Sycamore available in Europe? Those trees get *huge*: 150 or 175
>> cm diameter is not at all unusual.
>
>It seems that Sycamore is likely to be planted at roadsides over here, if
>I could just find my chainsaw now ...
It's not the same tree. What's called "sycamore" in Europe is actually a
maple, and as far as I know it does not grow nearly as large.
>Actually, I don't like the colour that much, might be an alternative if
>nothing else happens to be available.
See a picture of quartersawn American Sycamore here:
http://www.frankmiller.com/fm_framset.htm
It's the one on the far right, under "Contact Us".
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
I have bought Pear at this company.
www.gilmerwood.com
Joe
"Jann Thomsen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
>
> I was wondering if anyone knows where I can obtain a piece of Pear 50 by
> 50 by 15 cm? Preferably in Germany. I'm somehow obsessed by the Idea of my
> very own Go board and Pear would be really nice, but I've been unable to
> get hold of a piece.
>
>
> Regard, Jann
On 6-Oct-2003, [email protected] (Jann Thomsen) wrote:
> I'm sorry, my english leaves me here, what is flat- and quartersawn?
A picture's worth a thousand words...
http://www.inthewoodshop.org/methods/lumber.jpg
Mike
Try asking at Dick fine tools in the forum.
http://www.dick-gmbh.com/frmain.asp?Banner=Forum&Teiler=Eins
http://www.dick-gmbh.com/
On 06 Oct 2003 02:18:00 +0200, [email protected] (Jann Thomsen) wrote:
>Hi,
>
>
>I was wondering if anyone knows where I can obtain a piece of Pear 50 by
>50 by 15 cm? Preferably in Germany. I'm somehow obsessed by the Idea of my
>very own Go board and Pear would be really nice, but I've been unable to
>get hold of a piece.
>
>
>Regard, Jann
[email protected] (Jann Thomsen) writes:
>> >I'm beginning to accept that, thanks a lot, can you point me to a species
>> >which has about the same look but is more readily available in one piece?
>> I'm sorry but I'm not too familiar with Old World trees. :-)
>
>I don't really care if the tree was cut in Germany or Zimbabwe or some
>place else. :-)
http://www.bakerhardwoods.com/
He often has the big stuff.
scott
Pear wood Is used a lot for musical instruments and like most fruit woods
they do not grow large trees
It is difficult to find in the states. Be damned if I would know where to
begin to look for it in Germany.
It is not a wood that is generally commercially Harvested.
I knew a guy a few yesr back that made Harpsichords he used the pearwood for
the linkage to strike the strings.
If there is a site for Musical Instrument they may be able to set you in the
right direction.
I may be able to locate this guy and ask him
Let me know if you strike out.
Good Luck,
George
"Doug Miller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Jann Thomsen)
wrote:
> >Hi,
> >
> >
> >I was wondering if anyone knows where I can obtain a piece of Pear 50 by
> >50 by 15 cm? Preferably in Germany. I'm somehow obsessed by the Idea of
my
> >very own Go board and Pear would be really nice, but I've been unable to
> >get hold of a piece.
> >
>
> You must have some damn big pear trees in Germany if you can get a piece
50 by
> 50 by 15 cm out of one of them. (For those not familiar with the metric
> system, that's roughly 20" square by 6" thick.)
>
> That would make for a pretty heavy Go board, too, somewhere around 20 kg,
I
> think. Perhaps you meant 50cm x 50cm x 15mm ?
>
> I don't have any suggestions for sources... but you might think about
gluing
> it up from smaller pieces. I'm sure it's a *lot* easier to find four
pieces
> 12 to 13 cm wide, than one piece 50 cm wide. :-)
>
> --
> Regards,
> Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)