Yew school

[superdav95]

Lookin good.   

[Muskyman]

I haven’t used it yet but, I thought Del’s use of the sticks was a great way to get a really good visual of what your limbs are doing..
Looks like you’re coming along nicely..

[Doug509]

Thanks for the support.   I have moved to the tiller tree with a low brace.  I have string alignment through the handle but the limbs are far from vertical.   Tried heat bending but the limbs just won't budge anymore. Should I be happy with what I have and keep tillering or do I need to stop and correct the string alignment?

[superdav95]

Doug.  Looks good so far.  I’d get those outers working little more.  I wouldn’t worry about the non perfect parallel limbs. It’s better not to fight it too much.  I’m dealing with the same situation right now on a wonky yew bow that I sinew backed. string alignment and tip alignment is good but it is not straight or parallel in the limbs.  So long as the tips are aligned and string is close to intersecting middle of handle like you have there you are in good shape.  Just be cautions on your wood removal and scrapes.  Yew is easy to work and removal of belly wood can go quickly!  Be sure to scrape evenly along the belly to maintain good depth on both edges of belly and follow the contours best you can checking often with fingers for dips and high spots.  It’s hard to tell from pics sometimes with slight twist in limbs but your right limb may be bending little more on the inner compared to the left one.  All in all looks pretty good at low brace.  Keep us updated

[Doug509]

I have been doing some more tillering and have a working bow. I estimate it's at 60lb draw at 28". About 10 lbs more than I would like.   The upper limb on right is 1" longer and has taken about two inches of set.  Not sure if I keep removing wood if the amount of set will get worse. Tillering gizmo tells me to remove more wood from the end of each limb.

[superdav95]

Looks good Doug.   Yes I would agree the outers could bend a little more to my eye anyway. 

[Kidder]

Awesome work! If it was me I’d get the right limb bending more mid limb and into the fade a little more. I see a slight hinge but nothing to be worried about if you’ve got weight to reduce. But looking great!
Where abouts are you located?

[Doug509]

Thanks for your feedback.   I'll keep after it and work on the final tillering.   Home for me is Cliffdell, WA.

[Doug509]

Was almost done with my project and she blew up on the tillering tree pulling 45 lbs .  The good limb that didnt break was Z spliced to another short stave.  That also broke while only pulling 40lbs.  Ive since tested wood moisture and everything i have is 3-5% moisture.  Maybe thats why these wonky bumpy yew bows keep breaking?

[superdav95]

Ahh dang!  Thats too bad.  where did it break exactly?  inners? 

[Doug509]

The original bow and the Z spliced bow both broke about 4" out from the fade.  The limb that survived two explosions should be unstoppable if I splice another good short stave.  From this point forward I plan to sinew back for protection.  Im now using my A grade staves that are straight and free of lumps and knots.  This one is ready for sinew and is 75" long with steam bent tips.  Im thinking will shorten to 69" with NTN of 67". Definitely getting schooled by yew

[superdav95]

Did the splice hold up ok?   I’m working on a sinew backed yew right now for my trade bow.  I’ve got a back up too that I’m also going to sinew at same time.  This way I can just pick one of the two if both survive.  The last couple I built held up very well and really turned out nice fast shooters.  When they don’t blow up they work really well.  The sinew seems to be a great combo.  I plan to cover my sinew with goat skin.  I just processed a bunch of sinew so will be doing this tomorrow in fact.  Highly recommend sinew on yew.  Looking back at the pics of your bow… it’s possible that you may have had too much concentrated bend out from the fades.  Did you use any heat on that bow?   

[bambule]

I think moisture 3-5% is too low for yew. Hickory can handle that but my yew bow, which blows, was also on a moisture of 5%. Yew is better with 8 - 12% - that`s my opinion...

Greetz
Cord

[Doug509]

Been quite a while thought i would catch up.  Im close to finishing another Yew bow.  This one is backed with Sinew.  Im braced at 6.5" and tillering to 38 lbs 22" draw.  If folks could give me a tiller check i would appreciate it.  Video link here. 
https://youtu.be/DuRglANXIEw?si=BDdOeFUtB3qDWVFa
Hoping this one doesnt blow up.

[Hamish]

 I think the main problem you were having was the low moisture content, like Cord mentioned. Yew really doesn't like low moisture content, becomes very susceptible to tension breaks.  I won't try stressing the limbs for at least a week after exposing the limbs to heat bending or corrections. Unless you live in a very arid climate I doubt you will have any troubles with unbacked yew, if its a good stave, and you follow the grain, compensate for any knots.

In future, non sinewed bows if they are going to be used for hunting, I would recommend that you back them with rawhide. It gives you a little more protection in tension, but more importantly it will help stop the sapwood from getting dinged, in the wild.