Yew Heavy Warbow. Beginner bowyer attempts to make a 100lb war bow. Part I. English Longbow

[@Mr.krabz2182]

You are like the sir david attenborough of bowyers, such a calming but informative watch.

[@MickGrewcock]

Thank you 🙏

[@DaytonaStation]

I have to say you are good at the cinematography.

[@WarbowWanneby]

I have made four yew warbows and on each of them I noticed that it was easier to just leave the bark on. For one thing it protected the sapwood during shaping of the bow and it came of by it self during the tillering process eliminating the risk of damaging the sapwood while pealing it of manually. I hope this is helpful. :-)

[@MickGrewcock]

Hello! Yes, very helpful, thank you. I'm learning all the while and really appreciate comments and advice. Take care and be safe, Mick

[@rodneygear2141]

I’ve got my heart wood and sap wood back to front 😫 It was a scrap from my main stave though. Mick you are such an inspiration and great teacher thank you

[@MickGrewcock]

Oh no! But you have learned something. Good luck with the next - and thank you 🙏

[@MTBJJ2001]

Ordered some yew, will be my 6th bow as well! Thanks for posting!

[@johnlong3214]

Watching with interest, I have a recurve with about 80lb at 32 inches. Keep them videos coming, thumbs up.

[@MickGrewcock]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Appreciated. Next one in about a week's time. Atb, Mick

[@Philosophilia]

I find your videos charming Mick - You, your best friend, some dogs and the tea kettle on open fire, having a god time. I enjoy them, positively jealous and want to run into the woods here in Bergen (Norway) and start enjoying what you do. Thanks!

[@MickGrewcock]

Hello! Wow, thank you for that lovely little review of my videos. You have woods near you - go outdoors and enjoy the trees and wildlife. Thank you so much for watching and I'm glad you enjoy my videos. Atb, Mick

[@vinofarm]

Cool video, Mick. That's a nice piece of wood. I've never made a bow but I can't wait to see how this comes out.

[@MickGrewcock]

Thank you Jim. I'm enjoying this voyage of discovery using materials and skills I never encountered in my working life. Thanks as ever for watching and being there. Atb, Mick

[@larsfrandsen2501]

Good to be back!

[@poo8448]

Thanks for all your work making these videos of you bow building. Ive always wanted to build a bow watching you do it inspired me to actually get to it. My most recent is from Live oak.

[@MickGrewcock]

Hi Chase. Thanks for that and good luck with your bow build. I'm not making bows or videos due to spinal nerve damage but there are about 100 videos on my site so plenty to go at!!

[@poo8448]

@@MickGrewcock sorry to hear that. I will pray for you. Thanks again for all your cool videos.

[@MickGrewcock]

@@poo8448 Thank you Chase

[@delcat8168]

Good start Mick, you may need to thin the sapwood a bit, don't worry too muck about following a ring... it's an aim, an ideal, rather than a necessity. You'll find the natural reflex makes it a real pig to get braced and can easily result in you ending up under weight if you are not careful. It's much easier with a slightly deflexed stave for heavy bows... bu that should make a lovely bow. Keep some spare width at the tips, just in case you have problems with the string line.

[@MickGrewcock]

Hi Del, I suddenly feel reassured now that you have spoken! Thank you. Spent the afternoon whittling away at the sapwood to get a better ratio of sap to heart. I've ended up with a rather flat back - and yes, I gave up following a growth ring - but the balance looks a bit better now. I think the stave is still plenty oversize and yes there is reflex. It's about 38mm wide at the centre and 35mm deep/thick tapering down fairly steadily. I still have about 22mm each way at the tips so I think that is enough. I think I'm about ready to stick some temporary nocks on and have a bash to see if it will bend. It moves just a fraction when I lean on it so hopefully I've not gone too far. Thanks for watching and commenting - I have great respect for what you do so it's nice to have you around. Atb, Mick

[@delcat8168]

A spoke shave is good for the sapwood. If you clean it up gradually as you progress, you can get it to near a ring or at least any lines where you go through a ring running along the bow or at a shallow angle diagonally across it. Try to get it cleanest mid limb and don't worry if you have to step down through some sapwood near the tips. Better to have 50/50 heart/sap at the tip than a ring followed back and no heartwood!

[@MickGrewcock]

Great, thanks again!

[@rodparsons521]

I like to see 50/50 at the tips, I figure it helps the tips to flex a little without worrying about tiller.

[@DaveHasson]

Love your vids

[@MickGrewcock]

Thank you 🙏

[@ahmadallan2816]

Good job sir

[@MickGrewcock]

Thank you! Atb, Mick

[@GuyHindley-k6w]

Wow I'm hooked I want to do this all I have is determination no tools no wood were do I start I don't even know witch tree is witch sir you have inspired me

[@MickGrewcock]

If you have determination you will find or improvise tools and will learn to identify tree species. A bow can be made with a knife, the oldest of tools. Identifying trees can learned right here on the internet, the newest of tools. It can feel lonely, it will be lonely, that is sometimes the price of self teaching and learning. I began with only what you have - determination. And that is where you start: use your determination right now to research tree species suitable for bow making in your region/country/locality. Then go get some. Find a knife, make a bow. In so doing you will learn much. I wish you good luck.

[@GuyHindley-k6w]

​@@MickGrewcockyou are the first person to ever reply on here I have always had an interest in this I am an x service man I shall try don't know how just yet will let you know

[@MickGrewcock]

@@GuyHindley-k6w I try to reply to all constructive or help seeking messages. I didn’t want my response to your message appearing to push you away. My experience was same as yours: where the hell do I start? So I just started. I had crap wood and no tools and zero bow making knowledge. I didn’t know any archers let alone bowyers. So I just got on with it. If you search my channel you will find my very first bow making video: a simple bow made of ash. Give that a look. If you get stuck, message here and I will try to respond.

[@GuyHindley-k6w]

I've even slept on it now the first thing I did when I woke was watch the war bow videos again can't wait to get started

[@MickGrewcock]

Good luck Guy!

[@lpilk2007]

just watched your war bow series. very well done. All very interesting. I make bows, mainly flat bows. much easier and forgiving.

[@MickGrewcock]

lpilk2007 Glad you enjoyed and many thanks for watching. Atb, Mick

[@kcrkev]

Mick I think when you fire this one at your shed its going to come out the other side and maybe hit Ibstock! :-)

[@MickGrewcock]

I've got to draw the thing back yet! I'm not sure if an old chap like me will manage it! 😳

[@kcrkev]

I have a winch in the back of one of the vans, rig the bow up, winch the "string bit" no doubt there is a name for that? and let fly!! Yay lol ;-)

[@MickGrewcock]

A winch 😉 now there's a thought...

[@kcrkev]

+Mick Grewcock it has viral video written all over it! Or you've been framed?

[@MickGrewcock]

Crikey, that sounds serious....

[@alijerah7710]

i buy my wood from Indonesia (in saudi we don't have long trees) and its an excellent quality

[@MickGrewcock]

Great, that's interesting Ali. What type of bows do you make? Atb, Mick

[@alijerah7710]

english longbow and light crossbow

[@shiv9505]

try bamboo or pvc compound bow

[@marti2568]

Dear Mick I have been making longbow from tick yew branch wich was cutted by electric saw. Now I have problem because after tillering bow stays bent a bit. I thing that is because I was cutting the wood by saw and not splitting it by wedgees. I am asking you for a oppinoin.

[@MickGrewcock]

Has the wood been seasoned (dried)? Unseasoned wood will be damaged if bent before fully dry. It is not unusual though for seasoned wood bows to take 'set', that is to remain very slightly bent after drawing. Sometimes yew will recover and return to its original state after 24 hours, sometimes not. If the bow has been overstressed during tillering then the wood will have been damaged and will never fully recover. Splitting a stave with wedges will (usually) allow the wood to split according to its structure (i.e. around knots and so on) but to take advantage of this the bow has to be worked with respect to the way the wood split. So cutting with a saw might mean that you have weakened the bow and this caused the problem. Very difficult to say just from what you describe. But you have learned something so your next bow should be better! Good luck.

[@marti2568]

@@MickGrewcock Yes, dear Mick, it was properly seasoned, and it was bent before I started work on stave. I was cutting unseasoned wood, I sopose that provided cuick drying and bending...because I opened large surface and water was escaping cuickly.

[@graphiccontent98]

good luck :)

[@MickGrewcock]

Thank you! Thanks for watching, Mick

[@Своимирукамисамоделки-ш4е]

Hello. Please tell me what kind of tool do you use 4:27 ?

[@longbowandwarbowcraftingbo2859]

hi mick I've made several longbow out of different woods now and they keep creasing in the belly then the bow starts hinge? any idea what is causing this? it's driving me nuts as im spending so much time effort and hard work to find the wood and also get it to the tillering process. if you could offer any tips i would be most greatful :) thanks Michael heddington

[@MickGrewcock]

Hi Michael. The creasing you see first is compression damage, these are called crysals. These are telling you that too much compressive force is crushing the wood. The hinge you see later is the wood collapsing - the ultimate indication of excessive strain that comes before a break. You are bending the wood too much or are making the bow’s belly the wrong shape - or both. A common assumption is that a longbow in cross section is D shaped. Yew handles that cross section very well, hardwoods rarely do. You have to work with the wood. The creases are signs of the wood’s pain - you have to take notice of what it is telling you. If you are using yew then you are overbending the wood - but if you are using hardwood then you might have the wrong shaped belly. Hardwoods bear compression much better when the belly is flattish - imagine your bow’s cross section as being a squashed rectangle - natural back, bulging sides, flattish belly. A rounded belly concentrates compression, a flattish belly spreads the load across a wider area. Think wide and flat for ash, hazel and so on. Mick

[@longbowandwarbowcraftingbo2859]

@@MickGrewcock thankyou very much mick that's excellent info :) interesting too as my first flat bow is still going well after much shooting and it's kinda oblong in it's profile. ive made a hazel bow which creased at the knot on the belly and now my iroko bow has now creased at two points on both limbs . they both had a D section profile too.

[@longbowandwarbowcraftingbo2859]

@@MickGrewcock hello again and thankyou for the great advice mick. i love watching your videos it seems like we share common interests in both nature and ancient arms. i must say my favourite wood to use for longbow is definitely hazel, its lovely to work with and also looks wonderful. and as a bow itself it was very very accurate and powerful whilst it lasted. once again great videos and excellent information and sound advice. thankyou very much mick

[@MickGrewcock]

Michael heddington I too enjoy hazel as a bow wood. Due to other commitments I’m not making bows just now but hazel remains a great favourite. Good luck with your journey into the art and craft of the bowyer 👍

[@eikemahrdt3746]

Great work Mick! Where did you buy these stave in Germany? I'd like to make a longbow by myself Cheers, Eike

[@MickGrewcock]

Hi Eike and thanks for watching. Stave was bought from: Die Bogenbautradition Horst Perk Hommersbergftraße 36 56745 Weibern www.bogenbautradition.de Hope that helps and good luck with your own longbow. Atb, Mick

[@eikemahrdt3746]

Thank you Mick!!! Atb, Eike

[@MickGrewcock]

+Eike Mahrdt No problem!

[@WV591]

that sure is one nice straight stave. Lucky. what is this yew grows all over England or Europe or something.

[@MickGrewcock]

This stave came from Germany! It does grow in UK as well. Atb, Mick

[@WV591]

how did it turn out?

[@MickGrewcock]

It turned into a great bow! Have at look at my other videos! Atb, Mick

[@MickGrewcock]

+- davidson - I believe yew in German national forests is subject to protective measures, so I presume it is commercially grown and harvested yew from that country or yew imported into Germany that I bought from an archery supplier who regularly advertises yew (eibe) staves for sale.

[@outsideedgebushcraft3017]

Oooooooo!!! ATB Pete

[@MickGrewcock]

😀😀!!

[@neilmowles7964]

Just watched this series, made a good job to my eyes 👍 I dont think i will bother with a 100 pound draw weight after seeing how much of a strain it is 😅 Have you ever thought of trying to make a mongolian, hungarian or turkish style composite recurve bow?

[@MickGrewcock]

Hi Neil, yes - certainly for me - 100lb is a weight to draw. I think those days are past now. Much comfier with about 85lb or so. I haven't made any of those bows, I do rather love the English longbow, but I guess I should give at least one of them a try one day! Thank you for watching. Mick

[@neilmowles7964]

Haha I thought you may feel that way, I just love the style and flamboyant look of them and with the technology packed into something so much smaller but still harnessing great power. I will look forward to you possibly giving it a try 😃 All the best

[@ethanlee2344]

so，Mick can I ask a question？ how did you made the top of the bow？ is something else？

[@MickGrewcock]

Hello Ethan, sorry I don't understand your question. Could you re-phrase it please? Mick

[@yourdailybowyer5673]

@@MickGrewcock he means how did you make the knocks

[@niclaspung]

Hi! I like your videos a lot and i like that you are humble even tho you do a real good job, both with bows and videos. I have a question for you tho. How do i find yewstaves/wood. I have no idea what to search for. And your videos have reopened my eyes for english longbows. I want too try an attempt on making a bow in yew. Atb Johan.

[@MickGrewcock]

+Johan Hank3n Hi Johan, thank you for your comment. Where do you live?

[@niclaspung]

Mick Grewcock I live in Sweden.

[@MickGrewcock]

+Johan Hank3n Check out Norwegian Warbows website, they sell a variety of staves. Nearest to you I can think of! Mick

[@niclaspung]

Mick Grewcock Okej thank you! All the best Johan.

[@gensischronicles1148]

Isn't yew deadly? How would i go making a bow with it

[@MickGrewcock]

The berries are poisonous, the bark also. Wash your hands, don’t breathe the dust, you’ll have the finest bow you can imagine.

[@waaagh3203]

I've made handful of bows. Never a yew. Truth time: I'm scared of working with yew due to its toxicity :( I'm probably overthinking it, but it kind of frightens me a bit. What if I get a splinter? How toxic is it, exactly?

[@MickGrewcock]

I am no expert on this subject but, in my view, you are scared for no reason. Eating berries, leaves and bark can be fatal, but handling de-barked seasoned yew is cause for just sensible precautions. Wear gloves if debarking green or seasoned yew (though I know of no bowyer that dies) and avoid breathing any dust caused by sanding etc (which is prudent for all woods). Read this: www.kew.org/read-and-watch/analysis-of-yew-wood

[@telfordguy34uk]

Question.... can you use yew that's just been cut ?

[@MickGrewcock]

You can but you would be wasting its potential. Let it dry thoroughly and then yew is arguably the best bow wood there is.

[@telfordguy34uk]

@@MickGrewcock Whats the bare minimum time you recommend for drying? I have a fresh cut piece about 3 " diameter. It's my first so I'm a bit eager to get going. Thanks

[@telfordguy34uk]

@@MickGrewcock Its also only going to be 56" long so more of a hunting bow than a war bow.

[@MickGrewcock]

I quite understand. I was exactly the same when I got my first yew branch. You can see the bow I made from it in an old video of mine. "English Longbow. The Stick that Changed History". This is what I did: I shaped the bow whilst green and freshly cut but didn't bend it at all. By removing the bark and most of the wood I gave the wood chance to dry more quickly. To do this, I put the bow indoors in a warm room that had good air circulation (important). It was dry within a few months (by dry I mean about 10% moisture content when tested in the surface with a moisture meter). I then carefully finished the bow but bent it as few times as possible. Bending yew or any other wood whilst green damages the wood cells and the wood loses power. After another week or so, the bow was fully dry. It's not a perfect technique (rapid drying can cause warping) but it got me started. Hope that helps. Mick

[@telfordguy34uk]

@@MickGrewcock Thanks Mick most helpful. Cheers

[@DobsonjamesDobsonjames]

how much did ut cost to buy the half log all in cost ?

[@MickGrewcock]

Hi there, I recall about €170 stave and shipping. I live in the UK and the stave was shipped from Germany. Mick

[@jackkellett2057]

where did you buy the stave?

[@MickGrewcock]

Hi there Jack. Contact Horst Perk in Germany www.bogenbautradition.de/oxid/ [e-mail] Horst usually has yew and other bow woods in stock at good prices. Thanks for watching. Atb, Mick

[@fungus2116]

I’m interested how your ancestor got the name grewcock

[@MickGrewcock]

I don't know. Traced history back to 1600s and the name then fractures into different spellings. Lots of English names arose from a person or family's trade or work (Fletcher, Arrowsmith, Smith, Tanner etc) so it can be speculated that keeping fowl and poultry may have been the trade but that is probably a long way from what it really was! Mick

[@deucebigalomalegiggolo1823]

Mick Grewcock mick bigalo ye olde gigalo

[@MickGrewcock]

😉

[@adrianwalker1242]

Isnt it poisonous?

[@MickGrewcock]

If you eat it…

[@buckfuhtt2083]

I see that you're trying to make us think that you're in England but I didn't see any villagers with lanterns and pitchforks, no mud farmers, no knights being followed by someone clapping coconuts together (no coconut ladened swallows for that matter), And I clearly saw a sunny sky. I think this was all filmed by Stanley Kubrick on a backlog in Culver City, somewhere close to where the Andy Griffith and Gomer Pyle show were filmed. In the end it was the small details that tipped me off.

[@MickGrewcock]

Damn it Nathan. I thought I’d got you fooled. No flies on you (which is what they say in Merry Old England, apparently).