Post by: buddyb on January 27, 2020, 09:10:01 PM
Buddy
Post by: KenH on January 27, 2020, 09:51:43 PM
Post by: Bowjunkie on January 28, 2020, 05:08:41 AM
Yew is warm and beautiful looking. Why cover it? Clear glass, or better yet, no glass for me. It makes a nice bamboo backed trilam deflex/reflex longbow or recurve too.
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 28, 2020, 08:16:54 AM
Post by: Flem on January 28, 2020, 09:00:11 AM
Post by: buddyb on January 28, 2020, 11:14:45 AM
I'm still up in the air. I'm not sure how many laminations I'm receiving but it would be nice to make all three styles. :bigsmyl: If it's a recurve it would be similar to this one here:
Post by: fujimo on January 28, 2020, 05:03:54 PM
i build all my bows from Yew!
self bows, board bows, and glass bows, i use yew cores ( the bland stuff) and prettier stuff under clear glass.
i have built ELB's ( glass) HH bows, R/D and recurve, even my 48" static tipped bow- all with yew exclusively.
it has never failed me yet!
It has its own challenges, its "moves" a lot, it is a tree that grows under incredible compression and tension forces, and can move after freshly sawn, so i always cut over size and trim.
but once in its final state- its stable and snappy!
Post by: kennym on January 28, 2020, 07:57:32 PM
Post by: garyschuler on January 28, 2020, 08:04:25 PM
move. When laying up you can alternate lams from side to side to deal with a little bow that most likely develop. Taping fresh run lams to a straight board will help with storage and never untape until you are ready to lay up a bow for final grinding. My favorite is edge grain and seems to make the most snappy bow.
The best yew is the high altitude mountain yew that gets 4” to 8” or so that grows along the coastal range in Wash and Ore. The stuff above 3000 feet. Nothing beats primo yew in my book. There is a reason it sells for $50.00 a pair for lams.
You will go thru a bunch to get the best for bow lams. 🤓.
Post by: buddyb on January 28, 2020, 08:22:17 PM
Post by: Flem on January 29, 2020, 01:33:28 PM
Post by: jess stuart on January 29, 2020, 03:07:30 PM
Post by: buddyb on January 29, 2020, 03:23:00 PM
Post by: jess stuart on January 29, 2020, 04:37:29 PM
Post by: buddyb on January 29, 2020, 05:57:10 PM
I have to build a takedown longbow form and a straight end longbow form yet.
Post by: garyschuler on January 29, 2020, 07:14:35 PM
I have found tree that have more than 150 rings per inch. These can be 400-500 yrs old and can he only 4” in diameter. Some people can be seriously affected by yew dust and wearing s mask is highly recommended.
It is no fun packing this stuff out of canyons as it is very heavy. Lowland yew is worthless for bow making as it has wide growth rings.
Post by: Sam McMichael on January 29, 2020, 07:26:40 PM
Post by: buddyb on January 29, 2020, 08:15:00 PM
Post by: hunting badger on February 01, 2020, 02:00:18 AM
Post by: fujimo on February 03, 2020, 02:59:04 AM
as to high country yew being tighter, i am not saying it isnt, but i have found its more the growing conditions that regulate the ring count, and for sure higher altitude makes for shorter and cooler seasons, and that is a significant factor, but proximity to water also has a huge effect, and quality of soil.
Being an understory plant, the available light intensity has a significant effect as well.
all i am saying is i have found super tight stuff down at sea level( or damn close to it) and looser stuff up at altitude.
Post by: garyschuler on February 03, 2020, 08:59:42 AM
From around the Roseburg Or area in the 80’s that we’re really nice but were from low elevation and had growth rings almost 1/4” apart. I think better growing seasons in the lower elevations leads to faster growth and the shorter high ground stuff is tighter grained due to the shorter seasons and age. Some of the places I have found yew i won’t go back due to effort involved in packing it out and I am a lot older now. Most of what I get now is from timber cutters.
Post by: Flem on February 03, 2020, 11:24:33 AM
Post by: garyschuler on February 03, 2020, 12:18:24 PM
Post by: fujimo on February 05, 2020, 06:22:42 PM
the key with the yew, is that its an understory plant, and its just another whole variable thrown in to the already complex mix.
i hear you on packing it out, it is damn heavy. its a lot of work, and its usually remote, which makes it even tougher!!, and you are trying your best not to damage the sapwood!
its a great bow wood, and i love working with it, both as a self bow and as a laminated under glass bow. :thumbsup:
Post by: Flem on February 05, 2020, 09:07:05 PM
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]