Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Dafydd ap Llewelyn ap Hyw on January 29, 2023, 12:44:57 pm

Title: YEW
Post by: Dafydd ap Llewelyn ap Hyw on January 29, 2023, 12:44:57 pm

Hello Fellow Bowmen. Could someone kindly give me some advice in splitting a 7 foot chunk of Welsh Yew it is also around 5'' in diameter, but it is not entirely straight. I was thinking maybe its not worth it atall
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Idv5yC1xHX1RyN712MdZxJR7422PTxfd/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GgPY0nIOJuBAfWfTJj2SjUVBbF4kzBiD/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/181p36G81RxNYrDXKlwf5AoHDo52gjKzS/view?usp=sharing

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394437279558?hash=item5bd64b3f46:g:EkwAAOSw4cZj1bG1&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoCOWYQ4kgBaNQAmU5muyIYMQj8XPZC%2F%2FBLDetKl3xl%2Bqv20WqCkuMRtFNBqTG2aJN5ToTv%2FYu%2F6DYHw9%2Fn0LLPU7VR2Cdybjmo9UzIwSa59wqs4WKObJC46bVPgbXipzehmYFk1wilzrHapy4INrR6sRin8yWlg73a%2BBfKUuc7fIcvOFVNjdTlG%2F9F3Rv1t2SKSyhUuLJMvO83IITD7fYgY%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9ap3ei_YQ

Title: Re: YEW
Post by: Aksel on January 29, 2023, 02:08:45 pm

If you´re not very experienced with this stuff I would let it dry as is and only make 1 bow from the log. When dry: de-bark it and decide which side will be the bows back, then chop away everything which doesn´t look like a bow with the tools of your preference.

Title: Re: YEW
Post by: simk on January 29, 2023, 04:14:51 pm

It's not worth that price, imho. For that price there's straighter ones on the market. Yours probably has a bow or even 2 in it but requieres an experienced bowyer. A few challenges in that piece....
Good luck, whatever you decide to do 🤗

Title: Re: YEW
Post by: superdav95 on January 29, 2023, 11:42:42 pm

I agree it seems high and could be a lot of frustration and steep learning curve with those pieces. 

Title: Re: YEW
Post by: Hamish on January 30, 2023, 01:07:33 am

+ 1. Yep, too pricey for subpar quality.

Title: Re: YEW
Post by: Weylin on January 31, 2023, 12:01:09 am

I agree. That is not a stave I would pay money for. You'll thank yourself if you keep looking

Title: Re: YEW
Post by: Del the cat on January 31, 2023, 12:11:35 pm

Don't try to split it. You've already had some good advice already... if you want to take off bulk, use a bansaw (or axe).
Aim to get one decent stave, anything else is a bonus. Take your time to choose the cleanest face for the back.
Del

Title: Re: YEW
Post by: joachimM on January 31, 2023, 06:02:06 pm

I really hope you didn't pay that price, but if you did, do as Del says.
And don't get too focused on yew, there's tons of other good bow woods that are easy to find. You can probably get your hands  rather easily on plum, which is an amazing bow wood as well. Straight branches 3-4 cm that offshoot from the lower stem will make great longbows or recurves. 
If you need advice on European bow woods, ask away.