Yew break-help figuring out why.

[Pappy]

Unless it is a truly pipe straight clean log I hesitate to saw any wood into staves.You waste a few staves from time to time but you also learn a lot about the tree/wood  you are working when you split it.
 Pappy

[DC]

The first few staves I dragged home were so twisted that it made me a little gun shy and from then on I've always wanted to see what the grain is doing. On some woods, like yew, you can't tell whats going on inside. Most of the time you would be OK to saw but be prepared to be bitten. I've found that steaming the twist out is not a big deal. Although I'm not sure if it will last, I've only been at this for a couple of years.

[Blacktail]

STEVE.i understand about what you are saying..BUT,this might fall in the category of which pappy is talking about..where the yew i look for is stove pipe straight and consider a sapling or sucker tree...and yes people have hand split for years BUT I all so see that there is more than one way to skin a cat..SO,about the twist..wouldnt a person see the twist in the bark BEFORE they cut the tree..you see. i am not trying to raise the badger hairs up I am just saying the we see and do things differently...years ago pappy wrote an artical about him and a friend and they both made bows together but use different tools and different approach about making bows...and for me this is what i see...the other thing is that keenan has alot of different ideas about the way yew should be handled and he wont share them because of this reason... i have to run and get some juniper..this has been a great talk with you steve..i hoping to learn more..john

[crooketarrow]

  BUMBER BUT

  WOOD IS WOOD.

[Badger]

STEVE.i understand about what you are saying..BUT,this might fall in the category of which pappy is talking about..where the yew i look for is stove pipe straight and consider a sapling or sucker tree...and yes people have hand split for years BUT I all so see that there is more than one way to skin a cat..SO,about the twist..wouldnt a person see the twist in the bark BEFORE they cut the tree..you see. i am not trying to raise the badger hairs up I am just saying the we see and do things differently...years ago pappy wrote an artical about him and a friend and they both made bows together but use different tools and different approach about making bows...and for me this is what i see...the other thing is that keenan has alot of different ideas about the way yew should be handled and he wont share them because of this reason... i have to run and get some juniper..this has been a great talk with you steve..i hoping to learn more..john

  Blacktail, In most cases I saw yew myself, I just realize when I do that I might be compromising my bow. Quite a few woods that I will saw, hickory and elm are two more. Most of the time there is no issue but I do realize that it is possibly could become an issue. With a big twist as in the bow above the sawing was very risky and I believe it caused the failure.

[wizardgoat]

I wouldn't saw or split a candy cane yew pole, I wouldn't cut it in the first place.
I don't believe twist in yew trees is hard to see, I see them all the time

[Carson (CMB)]

Look at grain structure within the break. It has rot. See picture 7th down. 

[George Tsoukalas]

What? Made many bows from sawn staves. That is not the issue.

If the stave is split the lateral grain is automatically followed.

You better follow it or the bow will break.

If you use a sawn stave, you have to look at the lateral grain. It can be seen even if you have to put on your glasses. Draw your pencil line down the middle and go from there.
Here. Like this.

http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/layout.html

Of course if the grain runs off the edge that is another problem perhaps deserving a rawhide backing.

Jawge

[Badger]

  I think when we were talking about sawn we got off, bandsaw sawn following the grain is fine. Tablesaw sawn or bandsaw using the fence for straight cuts is where we sometimes have problems.

[PatM]

 Nothing wrong with sawing straight wood, the problem is sawing wood straight that isn't.

[George Tsoukalas]

I've never cut yew or osage but I can understand wanting to conserve yew wood by sawing.
Following the lateral grain is imperative and whether the stave is sawn or split does not matter.
It must be done.
If the grain runs out the sides on a sawn stave,  then back it and hope for the best.
LOL, not sure how much longer we can rehash this simple truth. Follow the lateral grain.
Jawge

[PatM]

 Except in Elm. It often alternates slight twist every year and you can have a trunk with perfectly straight bark with the top growth ring running diagonally across the back.  It can take it.
 HHB also takes a good deal of straightlining.

[Badger]

     I cut elm straight most of the time even when it runs off, I never have a problem with it, same with hickory if it runs off gently.

[hunterbob]

I am with Jawge on this one.

[PatM]

That's board bow thinking.