chasing growth rings on Yew?

[wally]

I've got a nice bit of English yew with a thick layer of sap wood. So I can make a decent thickness bow with good heartwood I've had to remove a fair bit of sapwood. I now have the back of the bow cut, with many, many ring violations. Please don't tell me what I should've done
I'm where I am now. How important is the one growth ring rule on yew? Is it now just a matter of patience and time to find one ring? Do you start from one end and chase? Any tips advice on how to do it would be great

[Badger]

  The way I chase yew after I have ground it down is to look for a high island. I gently use a rasp and a scraper to remove the island and continue from that point spreading out. If you feather out the violations on yew it has an excellent chance of staying together, I have done them both ways but prefer to chase a ring.

[wizardgoat]

What draw weight are you going for? Yew can handle some ring violation, but I wouldn't try it on a bow over 60#. Run a search on this topic, it's been covered many times

[wizardgoat]

You can either get 1 ring in the sapwood, or go for even thickness sapwood. You can't have both

[WillS]

As Wizard said, it's all down to the draw weight you're after.  If you want something lower than about 80# you're pretty much good to go.  60# for sure, but with good tillering and the violations feathered (i.e. not all in small areas) you could make 80# without having to chase a ring.  A single ring just looks nicer

[Bryce]

I've never chased a sapwood ring. Never will. No need.
Violated backs on yew can be made in any weight.

[dwardo]

Just make it smooth and crack on, poor choice of words but you get the idea.

[Badger]

  A couple of year ago at twin oaks I spliced some yew billets, one side had a nasty twist, i just ground it flat on the belt sander and he backed with raw hide, lasted him a couple of years.

[wally]

Thanks all. I'm only after about 50lb so I should be o/k, but I will try for one growth ring 'cos it looks better. I have sinew backed bows before but with the wet weather here it really needs protecting with polyurethane varnish which I don't like to put on my bows-just oil and wax-just my preference so I don't want to back this bow

[sieddy]

 I'm in exactly the same boat. I got bored of trying to figure out what to do with the thick Sapwood on nice little yew stave and just hacked most of it off yesterday! :0 Keep us posted cos I'll be interested to hear how you get on. Cheers!

[sieddy]

I just read that we've broken one of the bowyers 10 commandments- it did feel like a bit of a sin cutting through that back! :0

[Del the cat]

I've posted this umpteen times... chasing a ring on Yew is an aim, not a commandment. Sometimes you have to compromise.
I had a choice... no heartwood left on the belly or drop down 7 or 8 rings on the back.
This bow is over 40 years old and still shooting, but I'm a bit worried that I violated some rings
Del

[wally]

Thanks Del,
I checked on previous posts but must've missed yours. I should've known the answer but your reassurance is great. A good bloke and good bowmaker is Del

[Del the cat]

I've found the other recent thread where I expound my views at greater length.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,46748.0.html
Del

[mikekeswick]

Personally I'd chase a ring - why not if there are no 'problems' with the stave.
Unbroken fibers on the back are what we are after when making a bow. Think how gutted you'd be if it popped a splinter just when you got to full draw!