Great estate auction on our little island today. No woodworking tools to speak of, but underneath the antique Brunswick pool table in the workshop was this stack of yew. Probably air-dried for 10 years or so. Most are 6-7″ wide, with a couple in the 8″-10″-12″ width, a few 4″ or 5″. They range from 5/4 to 8/4. Almost 8′ long.
Not sure what-all yew is yewsed for, but it’s gorgeous wood, hard and heavy. I’ve seen some on Craig’s list for $5/BF I think I’ll sell half and keep half!
forestgirl — you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can’t take the forest out of the girl 😉
Replies
Ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
I just finished this chest (IMG_3813r) which I submitted for Peter Turner's Blanket Chest book. This wood was much darker and appears to be spalted. The void in the lid at the front right serves as a handle. It's finished with orange shellac.
And I'm in the finishing stages of this demilune table (IMG_3711r), also in Pacific yew. I have two residual 4/4 boards, each about 12" wide and 5' long.
EDIT: I found yew a little more challenging to work with than most of the woods I normally work with, so be careful. I got a fair bit of splintering and tearout. It looks nice, but I'm not actively looking for more.
Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com
and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Edited 8/16/2009 1:28 am by flairwoodworks
I LOVE (repeat, LOVE) the chest!!!! When does the book come out? What are the rough dimensions and how much does it weigh?!
I was surprised at how heavy the yew is. Similar to Madrona, it seems. Have to look it up somehwere.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I am very happy with how the chest turned out. The natural characteristics, such as the void in the lid, really make the piece. It is 36" long, 21" wide, and 17" high. I can lift it, but it is an awkward lift, being so wide. Maybe 40 pounds? My weight estimates are really hit and miss.Yew is not your typical softwood, that much is certain. It scrapes beautifully and is heavy and hard.You can learn more about the book here: https://www.finewoodworking.com/item/16749/have-your-blanket-chest-featured-in-an-upcoming-bookChris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
PS: The gentleman of the house was into clocks. Collected them and repaired them -- some really gorgeous clocks there. Evidently, yew is used in clock cases. A quick Google yielded lots of hits. Many grandfather and grandmother clocks with yew cases, mantle clocks too!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Chris that chest is beautiful, looks kind of rustic with the void in the lid awesome job, please post some pics' of the demilune table when you get it finished it looks very nice too.
Mike
Thanks, Mike. Is there such a thing as highly refined rustic? I do quite often look to the wood for inspiration as Nakashima did.And I will post pics of the demilune table later too. It's not really my style, but nice. There isn't too much character, if I may say so.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
I like the way yew left the natural look on the lid. Beautiful wood. I build little boxes and try to leave the natural look as much as possible some times that's where the most interesting and beautiful wood is. Yew is not a native here in Louisiana but it would be nice to experiment with a different type of wood. Nice stack of wood you have there forestgirl.
ZABO
Zabo,Isn't wood beautiful? The live edges and inclusions provide a lot of character and an extra bit of uniqueness. I often say that I don't like building cabinets, but I do like to build small boxes and chests. I think that this is because cabinets often involve sheet goods, but moreso because I have more artistic freedom in building boxes and chests. Hmmm. Perhaps there's a niche market for custom, character-filled cabinets.Do you have any pictures of your boxes?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Yes I have pictures but not sure how to post them. My computer literacy is very low. Much more fun doing woodworking. However I will have to learn how to post pictures.
ZABO
Well, Chris, by the end of the year we should be seeing pictures of at least one item built out of this lot of Yew I scored. I sold a little over half of it to two woodworking friends over in Seattle. Tom's got some serving trays in mind, with the Yew as the base, bent-wood rims around the outside.
Not sure when Peter might get to using it in a project. He's got deadlines coming up fast on a few projects. But whatever he does, he'll send me pics!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Tap, tap, tap. I'm waiting... yes, I'm eager to see what you come up with.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Nice work, Chris. Very nice! That chest is gorgeous. Good thing my wife doesn't surf this forum or she'd be wanting one just like it LOL
♫ If you’re OCD and you know it wash your hands ♫
FG , Nice sucking sort of a score , how much did you give for it ?
I have seen Yew used for 100 year fence posts and the lumber has made many many cribbage boards .The bark was used to make Taxol (sp) a drug used to treat cancer , now they can formulate Taxol without Yew trees.
We are all related to Frenchy some how,
I am waiting for a call to go look at a large stack of old Black walnut .
regards dusty, waiting for Walnut
Hi FGNice score. Yew is also sought after for making reproduction English long bows (think archery). I'll bet you could unload some to the SCA crowd for a tidy profit.PS. You ever take that turning class?David B
I know a bow-maker in Seattle, and posted my find in the forum he frequents. Don't know if he uses yew or not, can't remember. I'll check out the SCA.
There's a beginning turning class next month, thanks for reminding me. I'd better get over there and see if it's still open. It's a good month for something like that, as it's inbetween riding clinics (August and November), which always take up lots of time and money.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
FG, I was reading somewhere.... and can't remember the source (age related issue). Longbows are still made today, but the wood is split apart to follow the natural grain. It is never sawn as the cuts across the grain will cause failure.
No self respecting Ute would want his bow to break either..... Morgan <!----><!----><!---->
-----------_o
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-------(*)/ (*) http://www.EarthArtLandscape.com
I bow to the makers of bows from boughs, yearning for a yew bough bow. ;-)
Yew want yewr own?
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
boughing to the master barker of pun smithing....
I am just a landscaper... and will stay in my comfortable place... and leave it all to you. Well said.
Morgan <!----><!----><!---->
-----------_o
---------_'-,>
-------(*)/ (*) http://www.EarthArtLandscape.com
Cribbage board -- I could handle that! Did a Google on yew clock and got lots of hits. The gentleman of the house was a clock afficianado -- collected and repaired. A very popular wood for clock cases, evidently -- especially the old grandfather clocks, but other styles also. Still used today.
The lot cost me $70+14% buyer's premium. I was prepared to go higher, but was happy to get it at that price. Now I've gotta find room for it in my shop!!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
We are all related to Frenchy some how,
I am waiting for a call to go look at a large stack of old Black walnut .
Not unless you're getting that walnut for $.07 a board foot. ;)
♫ If you’re OCD and you know it wash your hands ♫
Very True ,
got to go wash up
As others have said, nice "score", FG.
However, shouldn't this wood be limited to projects for the young (the yewth)? ;-)
Nice score!! But I thought the post was about female sheep?I can't find out how to enter the blanket chest competition. The bar has been raised with that Yew chest.
Thanks
"But I thought the post was about female sheep?" I am not going there!! 8-|
I think the deadline for the blanket-chest entries is gone by, but not positive.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 8/17/2009 5:57 pm by forestgirl
Hey, don't look at me! The last day for blanket chest submissions was Saturday. I just squeaked in. Here's a link anyways: https://www.finewoodworking.com/item/16749/have-your-blanket-chest-featured-in-an-upcoming-bookChris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
"...shouldn't this wood be limited to projects for the young (the yewth)?" Ahhhhh, Ralph, you win the Pun Prize, hands-down! I know, I know, not all the entries are in, but it's beyond me that someone could best that one.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 8/17/2009 5:55 pm by forestgirl
Other puns came to mind, but were too easily misinterpreted. ;-)
I think I'll sell half and keep half!
You've really got to work on deveopling a wood addiction... Its better to have too much than not enough.
I've got some 12/4 Ash in my shop, I've had it for 4 years now. People keep offering me money for it... I'll find a use for it some day.
Hi, Buster. Trust me, I'd love to keep it all, but can't afford to. I've already paid for all my auction purchases, having sold about 60% of the Yew, so I'm in good shape now!
It feels OK, because both these guys are very accomplished woodworkers, one mostly for his home, the other as a business -- very artistic, accepted into juried shows, etc., one of my favorite woodworkers. So all is well, we'll get pictures when they create something out of the Yew.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I lived in Vancouver, BC for about 15 years. During my time there I was exposed to yew on several occasions. I have to say that the yew in your pictures is much redder than the yew I worked with back in the day. That stuff was 1) heavy, 2) splintery and 3) a yellowish/brown colour. Maybe the colour balance was off in the photo but it doesn't look to be the exactly the same stuff that Chris used to build his great chest.Regards,Ron
Ron,
The beauty of five coats of orange shellac. Nice job Chris,
Tom
Hi, Ron. The color in the picture (at least on my monitor) is pretty close. According to Tom, Yew darkens with age, and this is air dried, so it may have a different look than kiln-dried (I don't know, just guessing). There's no doubt that it's Yew, Tom was quite pleased with it.
As far as age goes, I suspect it's at least 10 years old, possibly 20. The gentleman's been gone for a good while now, and who knows when he had the tree cut and milled!
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 8/19/2009 11:07 pm by forestgirl
My memory is probably playing the same tricks on me that it does when my mind tells me I can play ball without stretching first, just like I did 20 years ago! My body tells me different on the second or third stride! I can give numerous other instances but all have the same theme. . .I'm getting older and my memory ain't what it used to be! In any case, it's beautiful wood. Yews it well!Regards,Ron
For what it's worth, my yew was also air dried. When it's rough, it seems to look a little darker. Maybe dirty too?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
This batch was remarkably clean -- I know if it was sitting around in my shop, it would have been dirtier! But since he worked mostly on clocks, he probably kept things pretty darned tidy.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Forest..
I have some Japanese Yew's but just very large shrubs.. Not the tree type. That wood is HARD as it comes! I cannot afford Ebony or Ironwood so cannot compare.
They are about 40 years old AFTER planting... They get all crushed with ice and snow in the winter and pop up almost as good as new when the ice melts...
The largest 'stick' of mine would be about 2 inches in diameter!
They say my Japanese Yew's are poisonous.. Maybe but my outdoor critters hide in them all the time. Never found a dead animal except for a bird or two that crashed into the picture window.
Yew could make some "Iron Flowers" using the technique we say in this video a couple weeks ago!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
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