So I found a yew tree.....

[bdog]

So here's my story....I am a pretty inexpirienced bowyer, I have made one sucesful hickory board bow and (three sticks of firewood;}) I really want to try some split staves. I have access to about 70 acres of nw cascade forest with some maple, cedar, hemlock douglas fir and as I was cruising looking it over I spied a Pacific Yew tree. I actually drove past it about six times without paying attention (I was looking for stave quality vine maple) and BAM! There she was. It's about sixteen feet tall and about 10 inches in diameter. The tree was in pretty heavy cover for some of it's so it's really straight. The fist branches are at about seven feet and crowns out after that. It's mine if I want to cut it. Can some of you give me some advice on what to look for in the tree? There are two things I am uncertain about: 1) How can I tell if it has spiral grain? 2) Once I fell it, buck it and split it should I remove the bark or leave it on? I read John Strunks section in ttbb but I didn't see this discussed. Also with yew do you split into staves and season that way or just in half logs? Sorry no pics yet. I'll try tio get some.

[Weylin]

Pics would certainly help but from your description it sounds pretty promising. The big things you are looking for are sections that are clear of limbs and knots and a twisting trunk. It sounds like it is pretty clear for a good distance which is good. to look for twist you have to look at the bark and try to see if it's swirling up the trunk in a spiral. It's hard to tell sometimes. It might look like it has no twist but when you split it it will twist on you. But there's not much you can do about that but try to correct it when you make a bow or ignore it.

Once you cut it you should split it at some point to help it dry faster. Just pick out the best side and guestimate how many staves you might get out of it without being too greedy,  . Then split it with an axe and wedges. 10" diameter is a good size so it is likely there are more than one bow in there depending on knots or branches. you could split it into all the staves you think are there or you could just split it in half for now and decide where the bows are later. you definitely want to seal the ends with something like wood glue, shellac, paint etc. to prevent checking. Definitely leave the bark on or you will likely get checking on the back. You don't need to take the bark off until you are ready to make a bow. Then you just have to sit back and have a nice cold drink for like a year. 

[soy]

All i can say is yew lucky dog!!! welcome and i am shure someone will stear yew in the right direction 

[bdog]

Thanks...I looked really close at the bark and I even put the tip of my knife into the wood slightly and dragged it down the surface.....no twist. It looks like some branches were on it and broke off at some point there is a small catface on the sunny side of it. Still It has at least five staves in it by my estimation. I only ask because its a really cool old tree and I'd hate to cut it and find it was twisted. Ahhhhh who am I kidding.....I cutting this sucker down !

[Weylin]

Wow, 5 bows would be a major score. don't be disappointed if you don't get that many bows from it. Even getting 3 would be pretty good.  It's a tricky balance between wasting good wood and being too greedy and ruining the good staves trying to squeeze more bows out of it than there are. I tend to air on the side of caution and make sure I get one or two really good bows rather than 3-4 crappy ones.

Sounds like you should cut it, split it and see what you've got. be sure to post pictures. people love drooling over primo yew around here.
Here's my post about a big yew haul that me and some friends scored a month or so ago. 

[Del the cat]

...there is a small catface on the sunny side of it.

That means it's my log and you must ship it me ASAP.
 
Del

[JW_Halverson]

Del's litterbox is a pile of yew shavings.  Having seen his bows, maybe he has the right idea.  Ship him the whole log in exchange for him sending back the worst of the bows that turn out.  With the hefty shipping costs (both ways), the waiting for the wood to cure, and the stress of not knowing what is going to arrive in the mail, you'd still make out grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat. 

Side note, Del, if this works, I get the second worst bow from this yew log.

[Bryce]

i never cut a yew tree unless it will easily provide 5 good staves(if it has 4 MAYBE).go for it man! sounds like you got a sweet score~!
but if you do cut it down. let me send you a Yew sapling to replace it with.

-B

[bdog]

Actually I would replant it, except that the property is not owned by me. I am guessing that there is some more somewhere on this section since the landowner manages it on a 10 15 and 20 year production cycle. I am hoping that the stump will sprout if I seal it....maybe wishful thinking on my part. My Plan was to cut a bunch of vine maple to play with while I wait. Anyone know how long you need to let vm season before working it?

[rossfactor]

Yew is precious stuff. If the tree is 10 inches in diameter, and has say 40 growth rings per inch, it could be pushing 200 years old.

I am definitely not trying to be a wet blanket, or telling you not to cut the tree. But if it were me, (and I did this) I'd hold off making a yew wood bow till you feel ready.  And you might be ready now... just syaing, give it some though.

Gabe

[rossfactor]

We posted at the same time bdog!   I applaud your approach. 

Thanks,

Gabe

[Bryce]

Actually I would replant it, except that the property is not owned by me. I am guessing that there is some more somewhere on this section since the landowner manages it on a 10 15 and 20 year production cycle. I am hoping that the stump will sprout if I seal it....maybe wishful thinking on my part. My Plan was to cut a bunch of vine maple to play with while I wait. Anyone know how long you need to let vm season before working it?

if you rough out a VM bow and let it sit for a month, shes ready to go. i put mine in the truck cab for a few weeks

[rossfactor]

Yep, VM dries out quick if you rough out the bow green.

Gabe

[Weylin]

I second Rossfactor's suggestion. I don't think it's being a wet blanket to advise someone to get some bows under your belt before you tackle a nice yew stave. It is really special stuff. I think making some vine maple bows while you're waiting for the yew to dry is a good idea. Hazelnut is another good wood for knocking out some bows with. I made my first yew bow with John Strunk looking over my shoulder. That helped my confidence level just a bit. 

[bdog]

Orly?  :oHazelnut? Same as filbert? There is a bunch of it growing near this spot, I also have permission to harvest. My parents burn it. Is this a good bow wood?