can yew give opinions please

[fujimo]

all opinions, ideas  and input will be greatly appreciated.

i have always wanted to build a bow using materials from the islands here where i live.
this is what i had in mind.
*pyramid shaped yew self bow
*backed with halibut or ling cod skins i have been saving
*local blacktail hoof or antler tip overlays
*sharkskin handle wrap
*raccoon tail silencers
*some sitka spruce arrows fletched with local goose, raven or eagle feathers
*maybe a woven cedar bark quiver.

this stave is from a salvaged yew log, that i split 3 good staves out of. it was a nice straight log with no twist.
 
as best as i could tell, it has about 54 growth rings per inch.
the sapwood is a reasonably consistant 1/4" thick.
as you can see by the bend test i did above , this is really tough stuff!!

 
right now it is roughed out at 68"ntn.
and will be 1 1/4" wide at the widest, tapering to 3/8" tips.
bend thru the handle.
i had planned on a flat belly- just to maximise performance, but i would be open to a slightly rounded belly.
i really wanted to add some reflex to the stave( or at least get rid of the natural deflex)
i would love to flip the tips a bit,
so, flipping the tips and adding the halibut skin backing really seem unneccesary, on this long good stave,
the skins were mostly decorative, but would also add security. i planned to stop them about 10" from the tips.
and the flipped tips were to add a bit of snap and i also really like the added aesthetic appeal,(and also because i have never done it before).

 
some of the natural deflex.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO- if this was your stave???

[Art B]

Sounds like a wonderful plan to me. I would leave it deflexed and certainly flip the tips. What's your draw length?

[fujimo]

i am aiming for 50# at 28".
should i reduce the sapwood.
it is currently at 1/4"
thanks
wayne

[coaster500]

*pyramid shaped yew self bow
*backed with halibut or ling cod skins i have been saving
*local blacktail hoof or antler tip overlays
*sharkskin handle wrap
*raccoon tail silencers
*some sitka spruce arrows fletched with local goose, raven or eagle feathers
*maybe a woven cedar bark quiver.

1/4" sounds perfect as it is  
bake at 350 for ???  

Sounds great!!!

[Roy from Pa]

Dear Wayne:

   That stave will never make a bow! Your best option would be to send it to me and I'll see what I can do with it:)  LMAO and best of luck, don't forget to post pictures..

[wood carver 2]

That sounds like it will be a beautiful bow. I can't wait to see it .
Dave.

[Pat B]

You can even up the sapwood a little. It looks thicker on one side. Nice stave. Should be a cool set up with all locally collected materials. I don't think I'd mess with eagle feathers. One 3 fletched arrow is bound to get you a $30,000 fine from the federal government and maybe even prison time.

[fujimo]

i hear you on that score pat.
i have collected lots of canadian goose feathers.
i think i am gonna use some of the tertiary wings feathers and tie up some two feather fletchings.
i will take a real close look at the sapwood again.

[Bert Frelink]

Wayne,
Flip the tips like you did in that first picture, I'll send you some AB Goose feathers if you need some.
As for the rest it sounds like you have things figured out, good luck, take lots of pictures!!!
Bert.  

[fujimo]

thanks for the tip Bert.
wow, so you mean a real hard sharp bend?!!?
geuss i would have to boil the tips for that.
that bend was done with the sap wood on the ouside- when you try to just bend the heart wood it does not perform nearly as well!!-obviously!!
so to make a radical bend like that, will the heartwood handle it??
thanks

[Art B]

A nice gentle flip from mid-limb to tips would look rather nice. Shouldn't be a problem doing something like that using a heat gun.

[burnt]

wow cant wait to see it.

[Bert Frelink]

Yup Wayne, just like this
 
Cut that stave down to about 60" and you will be amazed, just don't forget to take and post pictures.
Bert  

[gringol]

Careful with the raven feathers also.  Ravens are protected in the US, and I believe they are considered sacred by the natives of BC so that might be an expensive arrow as well.  Sounds like a cool project though.  You should be able to find some good rocks to knap into arrowheads as well.

[fujimo]

well it certianally looks more and more like goose feathers- i know the natives here revere the raven, but i dont think there are any criminal issues with using pick up feathers.

there is lots of agate here on the islands, but, sadly, i am a little away from flintknapping- it is one of the things i really want to learn to do, geuss i could always do it between 2 and 3 in the morning when i am not doing anything else though!!

what would be the reason for shortening it Bert- the added performance? my concerns are shortening the lifespan of the bow- does yew not become a little temperamental when really stressed??
would the shorter bow be more inclined to have a little  more hand shock, or not- especially as it is a bend thru the handle design?
thanks all so far!!

[Bert Frelink]

Wayne,
strictly performance, you would not gain anything from flipping the tips on a bow longer than 60".
I've seen some pretty short Yew bows but unfortunatly have never had the pleasure of being able to play with any to any extend.
Good luck on your project.
Bert.  

[fujimo]

i have some short staves, and i will definately do that with one of them- as i see what you are saying Bert.
i am just reluctant to cut this one down.
so maybe i will try a gentle flip, but i cant wait to get onto the short one now- as i have always wanted to build a bow with pronounced flipped tips.
how short do you think a yew bow could safely be for a 29.5" draw @ 50#.

[Keenan]

Fujimo, your stave sounds like a premium stave. I think your plan sounds great and 1/4 sap is perfect. Yew ia a very versatiule wood and will work for just about any design, round belly or flat. I like more of a flat bow style and use a very "squashed oval" profile on the limb.  As far as a safe legth for 29.5 inch draw, 60 would be the very bare minimun for a bend through the handle design. Longer of coarse would be safer.

[fujimo]

yup, i think i am going to leave this stave's length as is, and plan on building a shorter one afterwards with nicely flipped tip's.
thanks all for the opinions and advice
feel free to add more