Yew RPI Question? (Update w/pics)

[Will H]

I was wondering you count rings per inch with yew. Is the sapwood included in the count or just the heartwood? I have a stave that I'm working at the moment that has 67 rings in an inch of heartwood but if I counted the sapwood would be more like 80-90. Thanks in advance for any insight

[Weylin]

I don't know, that sounds pretty iffy. Better send it to me and I'll count them for you. 

[rossfactor]

I may be a simpleton, but I'd count the rings that are going to part of the bow.

Gabe

[rossfactor]

And 67 RPI is some pretty sweet stuff. 

[Will H]

I hear ya Weylin!  I'll get right on that fella!

Thanks Ross, that was kinda my thinkin as well but the rings are so hard to distinguish in the sapwood I'm not sure if I can count em. I'll get a magnifying glass and try again.

[Will H]

Well the recount including the sapwood is 82RPI. I was told the wood was cut around 3500 feet in Washington. It's got a bit of character to it as well. Just like I like em

[seabass]

ask Keenan,he will know.

[Keenan]

It's just about impossible to count rings on high elevation yew sapwood.  That ring count is great and is the premium stuff. most above 3000 gets anywhere from 40-80 depending on the moisture and size of the tree helps as well. Trees growing right next to a river or stream will have generally have a little less per inch and thicker sapwood, then trees in the same area a little farther from the water. I usually just count the heartwood, but anything above 60 is hard to count even with my new glasses

[Will H]

Thank you Keenan! They are pretty hard to see for sure. The sapwood is just shy of 1/4" thick and pretty even along the length of the stave. Chuck said this one was split from the bottom of the tree. Pappy got two staves from the same tree that are much cleaner than mine. John got one as well that's clean but a bit narrower. Sounds like we ended up with some pretty good stuff! Thanks again for the info guys

[Keenan]

If all the other staves are cleaner then you got the best one in the bunch    1/4 sapwood is perfect

[fishfinder401]

happen to have any clean 80in staves of that ring count laying around

[adb]

I've never had much luck counting yew sapwood growth rings. Too hard to see, so i just count the heartwood rings.

[Will H]

I was thinkin the same thing Keenan! 
Sorry fishfinder I traded an Osage stave for this piece and it's all I got. I've only ever worked yew once before and it ended with a BANG due to some unforeseen bug hole... I'm hoping this will turn out a little better

[fishfinder401]

well i hope this one has no bug holes, i am also working on my first yew and it better not have any bug holes
 

[Will H]

No bugs in this stuff I got the bark off last weekend and roughed out a bow. This wood was cut 3 years ago and treated right! The last stave I had was over 30years old and was eat up with bugs...