Myrtle or Yew?

[Lamey]

Looking for some input on wether to use Myrtle or Yew for limbs on the next longbow I order.  The bowyer has a good selection of both,  the Myrtle is "curly" and looks somewhat like Curly Maple, but with more natural color.  The Yew is typical,  some nice swirl/grain/color.

THe bow is a 4 lam bow, with the center 2 being bamboo,  and wether I pick Myrtle or Yew, they will be actual working limbs not just thin laminations.

So my question,  other than the obvious cosmetic differences what if any perceivable differences in feel, performance etc. Could be expected (if any).

[snag]

If they are working lams then yew wood is my choice. Yew is a great bow wood. Is this going to be the outside lam and visible? Most bowyers have the outside surface lam just as cosmetic and it is very thin...not a working lam...? If it is just cosmetics I would go with the myrtle. Of course this is all personal preference when it comes to cosmetics.

[highpoint forge]

MYRTLE.

[Deadsmple]

Yew simple and functional.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

why not both. have them spliced so you see both.

[Ric O'Shay]

For a working lamination, yew is the way to go.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Lamey,

I posted the pics you asked for, in a post here called The Twins - Royals that is.


When you see the curly myrtlewood veneers I think that will settle your question.

Myrtlewood for sure.  Tell Wes, Clay said hi when you chat with him.

[owlbait]

Myrtle on the back, yew on the belly. Best of both worlds!

[Bowmania]

It's not even close.  Veneer - Myrtle.  Core - Yew.

Bowmania

[Lamey]

howdy,   im not going with decorative veneers,  dont see the need to spend the extra $.   The bow will have 2 inner lams of Bamboo,  and to outer lams (working, not veneers),  most likely of Yew at this point.

Pretty sure at this point im opting for the Yew,  THANKS!

[owlbait]

So what goes over the outside lams?

[Lamey]

glass,  2 inner cores of bamboo,  and 2 working limb laminations of Yew on back/belly.

[owlbait]

Clear glass? If so the lams are still like veneers in that you get to see them. So your working lams will also be decorative in a sense. The yew should make great working lams, and be great to look at too. Good luck.

[LongStick64]

I'm waiting on a Hill Half Breed cores of Bamboo and Yew. So I would say Yew. Historically Yew was the wood choice desired. I've heard so many good things about it.

[SveinD]

I've heard that yew is not to good at withstanding compression and will therefore set easier, but it is good at retracting from flexed to set position quickly, which is what made it so popular! I must state that I have no sources other than word of mouth on this though.. Anyway, as a laminate in a layered bow, this will cause no trouble  :p

[highpoint forge]

Take a look up top at my new Myrtle PLX.

[ArrowCrester]

I say Yew !!!!

[Sixby]

Yew is by far the best wood for a limb lamination. ZMyrtle is the most beautiful. I would forget the working outer laminations and have him build the bow with bamboo core and myrtle veneers about .025 thick. If for some reason there is insistance on one of the woods being a working lam for some reason the yew is by far the better choice. I've yused them both and a lot and no way would I use myrtle as a working lamination.  Been there done that and replaced the limbs. Anywhere strength is required or working is requred myrtle is poor.the difference you can expect is a cracking noise and delamination if you use myrtle unless it is a thin veneer. God bless and good luck . steve

[Lamey]

I settled on both,  one with boo core and myrtle veneers,  one with all yew core/limbs.