Bradford Pear Riser?

[CowTown CJ]

So, the city of Fort Worth knocked down a major part (about 1/4) of one of the Bradford Pears in front of my house when they came by to collect the trash this morning. Since it was one my new fence I rushed out to get it off. Now its off I got to thinking about what to do with the wood. I read the Long Bow Build Along thread and thought that was pretty cool. So I've decided to keep some wood and use it to make a riser in the future, but I have some questions.

About how big a piece do I need to save?

and

Can you use the wood from a Bradford Pear to make a riser for a bow?

Thanks in advance

[**DONOTDELETE**]

PEAR has a SG of .73 which is good it is also one of the true bow woods ( Info was from Paleoplanet )

[SOS]

As many branches as my tree loses, I would think it was brittle.  Maybe for a riser - doesn't seem to have much of a pretty grain...but then again, I could be wrong.  Will be intersting to see who says what about it.  A 2x3x18 should be plenty for most bows.

[CowTown CJ]

Originally posted by SOS:
A 2x3x18 should be plenty for most bows.

Thats inches right?
Also is your measurement WidthxDepthxLength?

[knife river]

The lower trunk of Bradfords are almost always curly.  As with many fruit trees, drying can be tricky as they tend to check heavily, but it's sure worth a try.  Wax or paint the ends heavily and be patient for a couple years.  I've made atlatl foreshafts from curly Bradfords -- the wood is attractive in a quiet, understated way.

[James Wrenn]

The way they break so easy in the wind I personally would not use it.I think they are more brittle than any other types of pear wood. jmo

[onemississipp]

This took awhile to find...

 http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05122003-124617/unrestricted/Farrellthesis0610.pdf

Page 39 shows...

callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) specifically the Bradford Pear.

with a 90MC has a specific gravity of .65

[big jer]

i say build the bow and have fun with it .tHATS WHAT TRAD BOWS ARE ALL ABOUT.

[onemississipp]

callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) specifically the Bradford Pear

Has a life of about 15 years, as it gets closer to the 15 is when it starts dropping branches.

You can always lam the riser also..