Yew stave question

[coaster500]

I started to work this Yew stave and ran into a problem. I stripped the bark and thought I'd work the sapwood down a bit and this happened. It seem that there was a hump of heartwood under the sapwood. There is still lots of sapwoo on the edges but I now have a bald spot. Should I make the bow 64/65"s long and leave the bald spot in the non working last 4"s or so or make a shorter bow. I want to pull around 27"s and I think another flatbow of sorts.

 
 
 

[broketooth]

coaster, i can think of several situations. 1 is , cut that section off, find a new center, get the longest bow you can out of that. also im thinking from what ive read and seen, that yew likes to be have a rounded shape instead of being flat on the belly. almost like an ellipse. round at the handle eliptical mid limb to round at the tips. 2 you can leave it the length you have put a sinew patch on it and then back it with rawhide. 3 leave it the length you have put a sinew patch on it and put a decorative wrap on it and put one on the other limb to match.  all three situations i would still make the belly side a rounde - elipse- round profile.  im sure there will be other opinions along shortly. rv

[Art B]

That close to the tip I personally won't worry about it. You could apply a wrap there and on the other end to match if you're concerned......Art

[gringol]

could you put a backing on it?  Seems like a shame to do it with yew, but a working bow is better than a broken one...

[Stiks-n-Strings]

60" would be plenty for a 27" Draw. That little yew paddle bow I built was 46" NTN and deaws to 23" she took some though.

 The style of bow Rudy is talking sounds like a ELB style of sorts. You could go 60" with a slight bendy handle. 60" with a stiff handle and flip the tips a bit. You could do alot of different things with that baby.

 I personaly prefer a more rounded belly to a flat bow but that's just my flavor. I would say an eliptical (cross section of limb). I don't follow to many rules in bow style I just gather all the info I can on different styles and go with what works for a particular stave.

 Ought to be a nice one when she's done.

 Ought to be some better opinions than mine come along for sure. Just giving my perspective.
 
 I like to get several different views when I run into a problem and glean from them all.

 Good luck with her.

[fujimo]

maybe back with silk or linen- and stop 6 to 8' shy of the tips- to keep tip weight down.

[coaster500]

Thanks for the posts...  lots of useful info. It’s great to have this kind of feed back from you and go take another look at the stave. I really don't want to back this if I can get away without it. I am going an elliptical belly Stiks and Art the bad spot won’t be bending. The stave was badly deflexed so we put some dry heat with oil and clamped it to my form. It is already floor tillered and I'll get it to a tree in a few days...

I was doing some different layouts in my shop this sad face appeared in the shop door. She didn't say a word but she doesn't need to (no what I mean). Since I started this bow building in August I have been guilty of neglect so this bow is for Lena (my wife) as well as the night out to dinner. At her draw length and weight I don't think I'll have any issues.

I have two more nice staves and I'll build myself a bow from one of them. I’ve learned that it’s better to layout a Yew bow before I touch the sapwood. At least work it down to near finished width so I know exactly what I have to work with…

Lesson #949499300265537940 I think        

 

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I hear you Coaster, It takes a pretty dang good wife to understand why we spend so many hours in the bow shop, or the woods, or shootin' LOL

 I'm as blessed as you are brother My wife don't ever say anything about it but once in a while I get that little sad look and I just know.

 I just got in from the shop and the little lady just smiled.      

 Got to love'em!

[coaster500]

Well it took a belly full of Sushi Stiks but we got there    

 

[snag]

Harmony in the household....a good thing!
That bow is going to be worth the time out in the shop once she gets to shooting it.
I've got some yew staves waiting for me. I'll be interested to see how your bow reacts to the heat.
David

[coaster500]

David your question was answered when I took it off the form this morning. It only took about an inch of reflex but this one had a ton of deflex to begin with. Every other bow I've done this with came off almost the same shape as the form. I have a few knots on the belly and a few other suspect spot in this stave so I may for the first time sinew the back and use some sweet Copperhead skins I've been saving. This Yew is too rare to blow it!!

PS...  Last night after dinner my wife named her bow to be..... #6  "Yew Naughty Bow” Can’t blow it now... This one's got to make a bow!!!!

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I like the name Coaster. Them copperheads ought to slick her up nice.

 The sinew will be a nice touch as well, it'll make her snappy.