Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: radius on August 03, 2009, 12:28:13 pm

Title: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: radius on August 03, 2009, 12:28:13 pm: To carry on the spirit of Sami Bow's thread...

I brought home abunch of yew recently, and it has checks and rotten sapwood and bug holes and everything... look at this picture...

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/NomadArchery/ylb2/Picture001.jpg)

and this is how far down i had to go to get to where the cracks were so tiny i could justifiably fill them with CA and call it good....

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/NomadArchery/ylb2/Picture002.jpg)

So i have decrowned the entire thing...

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/NomadArchery/ylb2/Picture009.jpg)

we'll see how it goes...

This wood is well-seasoned...i love the colour, dark and almost sinister...
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: radius on August 05, 2009, 12:38:09 am: I love twisty, curly staves: you can get near to centershot all the time, if you tiller the limbs properly.

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/NomadArchery/ylb2/Picture019.jpg)

Here's an idea of how badly the back is violated:

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/NomadArchery/ylb2/Picture011.jpg)

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/NomadArchery/ylb2/Picture023.jpg)

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/NomadArchery/ylb2/Picture024.jpg)

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/NomadArchery/ylb2/Picture025.jpg)

Specs:

62" OAL. pulls 52# @ 28". Took some set, so i heat tempered the belly, clamping it down to a straightedge. Smooth draw and release. This was from a tree i found dead, god knows how long.

Yew is interesting: comes out quite a bit thicker than say, hickory or osage...i like it. Strange smell, though...

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/NomadArchery/ylb2/Picture027.jpg)
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: JustAim on August 05, 2009, 12:50:41 am: Looks Great! Nice Job.
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: radius on August 05, 2009, 12:56:03 am: thanks! i really made that sucker bend, being so short...i like this yew wood alot...

after it acclimatizes, i'll finish it up and post some more pics..
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: JustAim on August 05, 2009, 01:17:40 am: Quote from: radius on August 05, 2009, 12:56:03 am
thanks! i really made that sucker bend, being so short...i like this yew wood alot...

after it acclimatizes, i'll finish it up and post some more pics..

Yeah, its bending pretty good. l'm working on 57'' osage with some extreme curves right now....so l know what you mean. :D
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: radius on August 05, 2009, 01:27:32 am: 57...

so subtract 8" (4 handle, 2 fades)...gives ya 49...that's a 25" draw at most...safely!
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: medicinewheel on August 05, 2009, 01:30:58 am: Quote from: radius on August 05, 2009, 12:38:09 am
.... Strange smell, though...

It's poisonous, you know that, right??

Man, that bend looks fantastic!! Will you put on a backing of some kind?
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: D. Tiller on August 05, 2009, 02:12:58 am: Try sinew backing the next one you decrown and make it like one of the Northwest shortys they are sweat little bows!

David T
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: DanaM on August 05, 2009, 06:54:35 am: Looks good Scott, well done
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: Josh on August 05, 2009, 10:33:54 am: hey Scott, that looks great! Nice tiller! You have been pretty busy lately, huh? You are really cranking them out. -Josh
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: sami bow on August 05, 2009, 01:10:42 pm: Nice Job! that yew sure is pretty!
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: radius on August 05, 2009, 10:55:27 pm: thanks for all the kind words, guys.

This one ain't finished. I heat tempered it two nights ago, and it is now dead straight. It had a ton of string follow which was disappointing, so i charred the belly while weighing it down on a 2x4...now it is dead straight and i can hardly believe how different it is! I wish i had taken pics of the string follow...but at first, i didn't wanna show anybody!

As for making lots lately, yeah...my woman left town so i got a ton of juice to deal with...

Sinew back? Definitely something i wanna try. If i don't get a deer this year, i need to talk to some local processor and get the hind legs if i can...
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: radius on August 05, 2009, 11:08:31 pm: medicine wheel:

yeah, i felt kinda ill the other day, walking around after rasping at the thing for some hours...but i had also just gorfed 2 huge bowls of ice cream and i was hoping maybe that was the reason for my bad tummy!
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: D. Tiller on August 06, 2009, 06:47:25 pm: The dust from Yew is a carcinogen = cancer! and can cause serious lung problems. Be carefull when working with this wood.
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: Dano on August 06, 2009, 07:54:05 pm: Scott if your going to get some sinew from a processor, get some backstrap sinew too, much better stuff.
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: Justin Snyder on August 06, 2009, 09:16:20 pm: Nice little bow.
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: OldBow on August 07, 2009, 12:35:58 pm: You've got to like yew. Makes for some of the prettiest bow wood around. Got your full draw on the T-stick bookmarked for August Self Bow of the Month.
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: radius on August 07, 2009, 08:42:53 pm: thanks Oldbow...but it broke. This is the 2nd bow i've made from this tree...the 1st was just a little sucker, drew 22 at 22 or something like that...tried to get it to 24 and it broke.

I'm gonna have to back this stuff, with silk or something...
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow--splinter pics
Post by: radius on August 08, 2009, 12:41:31 pm: (http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/NomadArchery/ylb2/Picture029.jpg)

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/NomadArchery/ylb2/Picture030.jpg)

When they break, i examine the pieces and look for the weak spot...this one i think was just too dry...
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: Gordon on August 08, 2009, 07:15:25 pm: With those ring violations on the back I'm surprised the bow held together as long as it did.
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: radius on August 08, 2009, 09:40:54 pm: yeah, Gordon, i guess i should just get some sinew and fast, because i've got enough of this yew for another 10 bows at least
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: Josh on August 08, 2009, 11:44:37 pm: man sorry your bow broke. It was looking good too.
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: AKAPK on August 09, 2009, 05:52:12 am: Sorry to see all that hard work go to %$^~.~, Kinda looks like the one I just put in the vise and gave a swift tug, Instant tent stakes. :)Hate when that happens.Peace
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: radius on August 09, 2009, 04:34:28 pm: i actually don't mind...i finally got the tai chi sword i was looking for...
Title: Re: decrowned heartwood yew bow
Post by: D. Tiller on August 27, 2009, 02:22:04 pm: Yep! The west coast bows of yew were heavily ring violated but they were sinew backed and shoot fantastic!

David T