Yew Self Bow w/ Pics

[330bull]

Well...I had quite a weekend of highs, lows, but please allow me to elaborate...

I had a 75 year old logger sell me a yew log for $35 two years ago.  I promised to make him a bow from the log and after several broken staves I actually built a sweet shooter.  Here are the Specs:

- 66" ntn
- 55# @ 27"
- 1 3/16" @ handles, then faded to 7/16" @ the tips

When I delivered the bow last Sunday, Ken was beside himself; he was grinning from ear to ear like a kid in a candy store.  He's still a great bow hunter as proven by his P&Y Roosevelt Bull he shot last year @ 10 yards; the old fart has ice in his veins!  He was having a blast and after the ~40th shot or so, disaster struck... ...the lower limb blew up.  I practically cried when it happened but thankfully he just grinned and said "oh well, it sure was pretty Joe..."  I refuse to post the pictures of the broken bow, the carnage is too much to bear.

I suspect the flat spot on the lower limb may have put too much pressure on specific parts of the lower limb.  Quite honestly I did not want to remove any more weight and especially since the bow still shot very well and with minimal hand shock.  In retrospect, I probably should have tillered it and removed the flat spot; sadly that was probably a poor decision in hindsight.  Any thoughts here?  Any feedback is welcome and appreciated!

Anyway.. I probably had 25 hours on this bow and I have ONE stave left.  I was hoping to keep this one for myself, but I refuse to own a yew self bow before Ken; he deserves it!  I cannot wait to start working on it and deliver another one.  This time I'll also try to build an osage bow for him too..so he has a backup!

Enjoy.  Joe

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[330bull]

More Pics...

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[Pappy]

Very nice bow.
   Pappy

[DanaM]

Sorry for the loss Joe, it sure was pretty. Good attitude on yer part get back in the shop and try again.

[Jbell]

That is an awful shame that bow had to let go, she is a real beauty. I know what it is like to see imperfections in tiller, yet just can't seem to scrape anymore because you don't want to lose any more weight, been there done that. Good luck on your next attempt and keep your head up.

[Marc St Louis]

You may consider reducing the length of the non working handle next time. This will give you more working limb and reduce overal stress on the limbs.

[Justin Snyder]

Like Marc said, there is a lot of wood not working in the handle and fades. It was a beautiful bow though. At least Ken got to shoot it a couple of times.  Justin

[1/2primitive]

Live and learn!    I know how you feel though, having broken several bows myself. Don't stop and don't give up! You'll get a good shooter from that last one, I know it.
      Sean

[Gordon]

Joe,

Before I put a finish on a bow I excercise it on my tillering tree for about 5 days - 100 pulls a day. If something isn't quite right, it will usually reveal itself during that period.

That was a beauty though.

Gordon

[medicinewheel]

that is a really nice bow indeed!

frank

[NOMADIC PIRATE]

like Gordon said, finishing it's a lot of work better make sure the bow is O.K. before.

would some kind of backing helped ?

[duffontap]

Did it break 8" below the bottom of the handle?

           J. D.

[Kegan]

What a sweet bow - oh well. It doesn't seem to have any flat spot to me- inconsistent tapering (thin spot). But I might just be seeing things!

Can you make them any longer?

[duffontap]

That is a beauty.  Yew is very strong and sometimes is doesn't reveal problems with tiller until it's been exercised quite a bit.  The bow was short and narrow considering how long the non-working section is.  When you work with Strunk, you notice how he constantly feels the thickness of the bow.  I could be wrong, but I'd guess the thin spot in the photo is where the bow broke?

I'm very sorry for you.  It is a very nice looking bow. 

               J. D. Duff

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[330bull]

Well I checked this morning and the limb break started ~12" below the handle section and continued towards the tip.  I'll make sure the next bow has more working limbs as well as a probable cherry bark backing just for insurance purposes.