got some yew...will it work?

[calgarychef]

Hi guys, i volunteered at school to help remove some yew trees!  I've got some logs that are about5 inches in diameter, kinda small?  Will I be able to get a useable stave out of them?  When is the best time to split them, green or dry?

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Don't split them You have to cut them on a bandsaw

[Pat B]

How long are the logs?  What type of Yew are they?

[fujimo]

howdy pom impersonator.
you should take your ewe's any way you can

[blacktailchaser]

heck yeah it will work..i have band sawed a 4 inch tree and have gotten 3 staves and have 2 bows from the tree...if you dont have a band saw then use a skill saw..drop the blade as far as it will go...run it up the wood then hand split the rest...john

[calgarychef]

It's English yew and damned hard to come by as they used most of it to slaughter the Frenchies    

So I've wrapped plastic around the ends and duct taped it, as I don't have any other sealer.  I'm also a visitor in this land so don't have access to power tools.  Would it be that much better to band saw it or could I split it?  If sawing would be way better I can get a saw somewhere I suppose.

Fuji you've been in the bush too long!  How's the family?

[George Tsoukalas]

For the ends any poly will as will paint and wood glue. I dont think the plastic will do. Jawge

[fujimo]

having shipped staves to cunuckopia before, the bark had to be removed, if they open it at the border, they might confiscate it- they are concerned about the bugs that the bark might harbour.
i tried to split some yew here for someone else, and it runs off the side real quick.
you could probably rent a skill saw for a day- from a tool rental place. and do as blacktail says.
sounds like a right royal find, limey!!!
saw a big bear yesterday- had "tracy" tattoo'd on its gums.

[calgarychef]

Funny I haven't seen any bears lately.  We finished cutting the yew yesterday and I have about 15 pieces with good potential.  About 7 long enough for a one piece bow and the rest should give some very nice take downs.  

So the next question is dry then cut with the saw or cut green?

[fujimo]

just like split firewood- it dries quicker split.
the tree in the round has evolved to resist moisture loss.  roughly 1 year to dry per inch of radius in the round( obviusly dependant on species, conditions etc.
split it, seal the backs and ends, rough shape it a little, it will dry way quicker.
i have seen that you cant rush the moisture out of yew- it then seems to check on the belly like crazy.what they do here is let it drop naturally down to about 15% or so then you can chase the last bit out with a hot box etc.

how thick is the sapwood on the back.
ideally you only really need about 1/4" although i have seen bows with a whole lot more.
the one thing about yew is that seems to vary so hugely.
if it was way to thick, i would take it down with an angle grinder and sanding disc, still trying to follow the general undulations, then back it with rawhide or silk, to counter the ring violations.

which ever way get the bark off now- its will be easier now, and seal the backs well with something- you will have to get it off for the transfer anyway.

alternatively, sell it there as it has real value there- no hassle for you- and you are doing them a real favour too!!
trade it for bow or something.
then when you come to take this pesky bear of yours home, you can take some yew with it.

[calgarychef]

An update.  I split my first log tonight and it went well.  I used my trusty hatchet and a wooden mallet to cut a "v" groove both sides and the length of the log.  Then a few whacks down the middle of the grooves and it popped apart "as well as you please."  It was a short log and not the best as it was my experimental log but it worked nicely.