Yew and the hot box

[dmenzies1950]

Yay! I finally got my hands on some yew! Help me please! Can I achieve a satisfactory result drying it in a hotbox? If yes, help me with the specs, how hot? How long? Will it easily warp? Does it check badly, or is this old impatient guy going to have to wait the usual year? It gets harder to wait when you get my age and know your days are numbered! Any help will be appreciated!

Thanks, Dale

[MWirwicki]

Del?  Keenan?

[Weylin]

I don't have personal experience with fast drying yew but I hear rumors that it doesn't take too kindly to it. I'm interested to hear from people that have experience with this.

[Pat B]

Gordon?

[vinemaplebows]

Yew can get a little wild if dried to thin, if you have a thick enough piece I would not hesitate to quick dry it. I personally would let it air dry for a week, seal the ends, and go for it....nothing too extreme on the heat.

VMB

[Bryce]

I'm young but old fashioned when it comes to drying wood. Sorry can't help yah :/

[Weylin]

Is the bark still on it? If it's not I'd be real cautious with a hot box.

[dmenzies1950]

Yeah Wehlin, the bark is still on it. Fact is it was still standing 36 hours or so ago.

[DarkSoul]

Why always the rush?

Dumping a piece of green wood into a hot box is asking for troubles. Not just yew, but any wood. The outer surface will dry quickly, while the interior is still soaking wet. The outer wood cannot shrink, so it starts to check.
I´ve never used a hot box, but I don't really understand the hype about it. If you reduce the stave to near finished dimensions, you can work it today. Then just put it somewhere in the house to dry and it will dry in about 6 weeks or so. If you really cannot wait six weeks (maybe you're terminally ill), you can gently lay it in the hot box AFTER it has been drying for a week or two. This initial drying will  drive out a lot of moisture, which makes it less likely that the wood will check. I can see a hot box being useful in lowering the MC from, say, 15% down to 8%, but not from green to 8%.

[Del the cat]

I've never tried fast seasoning Yew, it's too rare to take the risk.
I was steam bending the last bow I did, and some cracks appeared on the belly, and that was after 12months seasoning as a half log and a coupl of months roughed out. The checks dissapeared as the bow was worked down, but it had me worrying.
Personally I find I'm getting more patient as I get older... busier, but more patient.
Get some white wood to play with while your Yew seasons, or rough it down a little and often to hasten the natural seasoning.
Maybe try sprinkling it with salt and peper, or a hint of chilli (silly Brit joke)
Del

[dmenzies1950]

Thanks for the good advice guys! Del I do have dozens of dry staves,(vine maple, hazelnut, cascara, Douglas maple etc.), it's just that I've never worked yew, and have read such glowing reports. By the way VMB, I'm not terminally ill as far as I know, I'm just old! Thanks,  Dale 

[vinemaplebows]

Terminally ill? What?

[dwardo]

Never tried a hot box my self but also never used yew that's been more than a year old. Usually a lot less than a year old. Combo of early roughing out in stages of days or weeks then a warm room in the house for weeks /months.

[dmenzies1950]

VMB, I addressed the wrong guy. It was Dark Soul that interjected the terminally ill part, but the truth is that I'm pretty old.   Dale

[DarkSoul]

I'm sorry if I offended you, that certainly wasn't my intention! I tried to emphasize that 'normal' drying of wood, without a heat box, takes only 6 weeks or so if you prep the wood well. Six weeks ain't that much of a wait, especially if that greatly reduces the chance of checks as you could get from using the heat box.