Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: JoJoDapyro on February 12, 2015, 06:59:28 pm
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I have only ever found 2 Yew "trees" in Utah. One is quite a bit larger than this one, but is on private property and I haven't had a chance to talk to the owners yet. This "tree" is on public property and will be cut down anyway in the next year or so. How large of a piece would I need to make a bow? The largest branches are about as big around as a shovel handle.
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I was about to chime in and inform you that that was juniper but lo and behold, its an actual yew growing in Utah! It looks pretty slim, but you might be able to get two matching pieces and splice them together. I'd be interested to see what the growth rate is compared to the northwest.
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For yew I keep anything over an inch. Even an inch wide piece will have some heartwood in it
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Eh, put that poor tree out of it's misery. I can almost hear it screaming in agony from all that direct sunlight and dry heat. It's sobbing, "This isn't my home, why did dome cruel, cruel bastard plant me here in this desert!?" ;D ;)
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The location of this is where a front yard used to be. It used to be in the shade all the time. It is 2 plants, what I assume used to be shrubs. There is a 3rd stump that someone already beat me to. The other has about 10 5 inch 12 foot long "trunks". I'm betting that it was a shrub once upon a time too. I asked the city arborist if he knew of any Yew trees in Utah, he didn't know of any. I had to break it to him that there are 2 growing in the city.
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If you have the patience to dig up the root ball there is some amazing wood in there
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I'd say go for it jojo
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It depends on the heart/sap wood ratio. Of course, you don't know that until you cut it! >:D
If it's slow growing you may find 1 1/2" is enough 2" would be better tho'
Del
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Those two pictures show what appears to me as a juniper...
2" diameter is good for yew, but I'm sure even 1½" will work for a light bow.
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http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=33859.0
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It looks like the garden variety yew, maybe a shrub that got out of control.
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I would say that's ornamental yew. Japanese yew.
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Is Japanese yew considered bow making wood?
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I think so. Depends on ring size but I've succeeded in making a 63" 72#@28 bow from it
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Those two pictures show what appears to me as a juniper...
2" diameter is good for yew, but I'm sure even 1½" will work for a light bow.
I know for a fact its Yew. Juniper is like a weed here in Utah. Miles and miles of it. There is even berries if you look close. If there is one tree I can identify without fail it is juniper.
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I think so. Depends on ring size but I've succeeded in making a 63" 72#@28 bow from it
Could you post some pics of this bow?
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I think so. Depends on ring size but I've succeeded in making a 63" 72#@28 bow from it
Could you post some pics of this bow?
LOL id say it will 72# @ 28"???? I think that could be considered a success
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For reference, bow is canted
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Nice bow! It appears to be longer than 63" however?
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Um I'll have to check. It might be 66". I may have confused it with another bow.
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Gives me hope!
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Holy smokes that stuff is tough. Didn't have a bunch of time so I snagged one piece. I trim a bunch of trees with my job, this stuff is tough. :o 39 inches to the first knot. What should I do now?
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Doesn't look like yew needles. They're usually in opposing pairs, and flat.
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Or it doesn't look like Pacific Yew? It has the berries and all. As was discussed earlier, maybe Japanese, it does seem to fit that description.
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Yup, those look like yew berries, for sure.
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Yup. Ornamental yew. Jojo seal the ends and forget about it for 9 months at least
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Yup, that's yew.
As a round stick, you need to dry it slowly and carefully. Seal the ends and let it dry slowly for the first few months. In a dark cellar, a cold shed...something like that.