Del's When Will it Explode Quiz

[Del the cat]

I was trimming up some Yew half logs and looking at the offcuts to see if there was anything usefull there for billets or miniatures or crossbow prods.
Well... there was this long lanky triangular secion with deer damage through the sapwood slouching in the corner like some slack jawed adolescent (other types of adolescent are also available... ).
It seemed to say...

"Call yourself a bowyer?..
Bet you couldn't get me to sling an arrow for the club shoot on Sunday...
In fact, I bet I'll break before you get me to do anyfink "

I'll swear it spat at my feet at that point .
What could I do? I whittled it down on the bandsaw and went over it with draw knife and spokeshave for about half an hour.
Then I thought I'll take some pics and see what you guys think.
Lets see how far we can push some Yew
I flexed it at floor tiller but the crackin' noises were so bad I had to take the bark off to keep it quiet. The string line is waay off, but I'm just ignoring that and I'll let it draw how it wants.
Now the quiz... I'm aiming for 40#, so what drawlength will it break at (taut string, and then if it survives to brace, short string)...
The prize is a surprize pack of broken bow bits
The pics don't look as bad as the reality, the spokeshave has made it look almost sensible .
There are some real thin triangular sections, which don't really show on the pics. It's that sapwood damage that is the killer IMO.... hmmm s'pose I could patch it, but that would be cheating.
Del

[k-hat]

Now THIS will be interesting.  But i'm betn on YOU Del, you can't let a little yew push ya round

[Del the cat]

I'm begining to think I could steam out the lateral bend and put on a sapwood back patch before I went to bed tonight. (and it's 6pm already).
It started as a bit of a joke, but we do get a bit obsessive don't we?
I love the way the bark and cambium pops off, just shows how much strain there is on the back of a bow.
Del

[half eye]

My monies on Mr. Cat also. I say with your tillering skill, it will draw to what ever you want it to. 40#, hardly a pitance for a yew bow I'll bet ya slap the devil out that "teddy-boy".
rich

[Del the cat]

Oooooh.
Just had a cunning plan .
I rasped off all that deer damage... oh boy it was evil, big black hole of rot, only a sliver of sapwood left intact.
I rasped it down to join the two patches of damage together.
Now the cunning idea, what if I clamp the limb straight while I patch it???
Would that hold some lateral correction and repair the back all in one hit?
Or is that just crazy talk?
This is why I like the odd daft experiment it gets you thinking outside the usual methods.
Del

[Buckeye Guy]

Not realy a cat lover
Never messed with stinking Yew
So I guess the Cat will scratch that Yew till she gives in !!
Have fun!
Guy

[MWirwicki]

I too am betting on Cat.  Don't let that Yew talk to you like that!  Show it who's the real boss!

[PEARL DRUMS]

If it was a little more yellow/orange is color I would bet it never breaks................but its not. So I say you still got a fightin' chance Del .

[Bryce]

she'll survive, you could probably aim higher with the weight as well

[Onebowonder]

My money says you're going to make that shiftless teen grow up to be a grey bearded grandad before it breaks.

OneBow

[toomanyknots]

Yes, I say you aim for at least 50#,  . It will be a very cool looking bow when it is done I am sure.

[bubby]

cat man do, you can do it!!!

[Del the cat]

I rasped off the deer damage, there wasn't much sapwood left, it would have broken there for sure. I've glued on a big strip of sapwood from an offcut.
This seems to be turning into a build along
Here's a pic. I cleaned out that last remaining spot and filled it with epoxy/sawdust mix before glueing on the back patch.
Del
(maybe I should clean up the bench )

[JW_Halverson]

Bench?  What bench?

[soy]

If you clean it you'll never find anything