How to season yew wood for Longbows - storing, seasoning and selecting bow making materials

[@longbows]

If you want these educational long form videos to continue (KZbin ewant us to make `shorts`!) please consider supporting us...www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=SPKPNPZL55NLE

[@coconutterrence8549]

a friend of mine (passed on now)an old bushy was telling me you can tell the grain of wood by seeing how the bark runs if it,s a strait grain in the bark the wood runs in line does that sound right to you most of the time he was right on . all the best .terry

[@longbows]

interesting!

[@mattheweskender7781]

The stave of yew wood fashioned into the most beautiful deadly and perfect weapon. ❤❤

[@longbows]

It does.

[@rogermajsterski4728]

Grateful fore knowledge

[@longbows]

My pleasure

[@Theshadow38ish]

Awesome video thank yew !

[@longbows]

No problem, thanks for the sub.

[@mestregun1143]

You are the best

[@longbows]

No, you are.

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

I've given up on yew, but I found some nice Osage. No traditional war bow, but maybe a nice Navajo.

[@TheMercian01]

I am having a go at making bows this year. I found it useful to write the date harvested on the wood or i would forget.. Only have one reasonable branch piece of Yew andi am nottouching it till i have mademy mistakes on Ash or Hazel staves

[@longbows]

Great! Hope that goes well, let me know. Yes, we use chalks to mark the date, we show that in our videos showing our collection of yew.

[@jonboy655]

Hi, Ive just got access to a number of straight pieces of yew of varying diameter. In your opinion what is the ideal length/diameter log to season? Thanks for the vid, would love to see the whole process, splitting, shaping , tillering, etc.

[@longbows]

Thanks for watching, glad you like it. Length is up to you and hwo good the stave is, if its no good as a full length stave then cut it down to billets for joining in the handle once seasoned. We mainly use 6" diameter logs. We have many videos showing the other proceses, this may help www.howtomakealongbow.co.uk

[@williamjhunter5714]

I have not field collected Yew, but I have Holly. Holly is incredibly touchy wood. It splits and cracks almost immediately so glue needs to be on hand to seal the ends as soon as its cut. Splitting is not advised as Holly has spiral grain. If you pre-shape Holly by reducing it, it will take a huge backset, way too much, up to 5 inches. If you let it dry like this, the back will break from too much tension in tiller. It will need to be tillered green to save it. After these experiences I learned to leave the cut log where air can move around it outside to prevent fungal spalting. After sanding the smooth bark to thin it a little, I coat it in pesticide oil to prevent wood worms. I think pre shaping it to a 4"x 4" stave might be safe, but I'm not going to risk it, I cannot get another stave from the area. When the outside grains dry they shrink and the backset becomes extreme. Yes it's a long wait, 4 yrs, but worth it. The Holly bow I waited to sculpt for 4 years has incredible spring. Thanks for the advice.

[@longbows]

Interesting, let us know how you get on.

[@thefeatheredfrontiersman8135]

I've always wanted to work yew. its a never ending hunger. I learned from various great basin woods, juniper, chokecherry, scout berry, honey locust ECT. But finding this tree out here has been quite a mystery. Couldn't find any in Oregon. Haven't gone far enough north in Idaho. I know it's gonna take a chunk of my life to properly do this. Do you gents Know of any good suppliers for a seasoned staves?

[@longbows]

As we season our own I would not know where to send you.

[@davisstellman]

I've never tried any of this but have been trying to learn from Bowyer's Bible and such. If a sap wood is compromised from uneven drying can you fire harden it instead of backing or must you back it to make a suitable bow? Love your content y'all!

[@longbows]

Glad you like the videos. I would not fire harden an English Longbow.

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

Nick into a churchyard... lol. 😂

[@robertillston2350]

Store vertically or horizontally?

[@longbows]

Wahtever is easiest for you, we do both and it makes no real difference, mainly because the size of billet is still very large, it can affect a finished bow if you leave it vertically. Horizontal is best for both if you have room.

[@martindorrance8133]

Hi. Would your piece of yew make two bows?

[@longbows]

any piece can make 2 if you make the bows small enough

[@R.E.HILL_]

Nice video.. How about the toxicity aspect of yew..?

[@longbows]

thanks. we mention about Yew dust quite frequently in our videos about making bows from Yew. we have limited the amount of bows we make per year of yew because of the dangers. Richard took part in a study about it's affects on the lungs. we always recommend extreme caution when using it.

[@Misael.8966]

i have a question i have a 70 inch length wood and my draw length is 30 inches i would like to know is this a good size for a longbow?

[@longbows]

Not for an English Longbow.

[@Misael.8966]

@@longbows thank you very much for the answer, but what length do you recommend?

[@longbows]

Hi, about 76" as a rough guide.

[@mustamuri]

30 days and is enough try to make best bow 👶👏🏹