Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB

[Del the cat]

This Yew was a nightmare. The log had been supposedly seasoned for 3 years, I sawed the cleanest most reflex half of the log, but it was like limp celery, the reflex rapidly pulled out to become deflex and one end felt damp under the drawknife. I steamed it, heat treated it, stuck it on a radiator and did all sorts. Despite being a reasonable size log the central pith was rather close to the clean face. On the top limb there are two big knots coming out the side.
Here's a link to me talking about it on Youtube:-
https://youtu.be/DXsgUfNAqP0
There are other videos of it work in progress on there.
Here's a post on my blog showing some of the tricky features.
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/knotty-yew-longbow-detail.html
The leather for the grip is from a ship that went down in 1786! See this post:-
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/knotty-yew-full-draw.html
It's for a left hander, so there is masking tape round it above the grip where I've been shooting it in right handed.

74 1/4 ntn   76 1/4 ttt
50# at 28" but the guy who I'm making it for wants to be able to take it to 32" for roving shoots (I haven't taken it to 32" yet, I'm reluctant as it may only get taken to 30-31)
I've left it long and allowed some deflex at the grip to allow for the 32" draw requirement.
Del
PS I've added a pic that shows how there's a knot either side on that upper limb. It's two separate knots which come out from the centre.

[DC]

Very nice Del, I always enjoy your bows. The leather is very cool. That top knot would give me the willies but I'll be a little braver now that I've seen it done.

[Del the cat]

Cheers.
Jamie (Ravenbeak) saw the stave as I was working on it while he was over here.
Be interesting to hear his take on it.
Del

[Pat B]

She looks good in the pic Del. What is the draw weight?

[Del the cat]

A whisker over 50# at 28"
It's made for a guy who wants it to be capable of pulling to 32" (I suspect he'll only pull about 30-31")
It's at about 29.5" in that pic.
I'll add some stats to the post.
Del

[simson]

Del, looks nice to me. But, hard to tell without unbraced, braced pics -  so don't be that lazy show us whole beauty.

I'm interested how you position your bows on the tree, I assume it is the pivot point on the bridge and finger position at string. Do you watch the height of the tips when pulling or do you not worry about that and let the bow balance out?

This bow is assymmetrical (as it should), how much positive tiller did you?

I'm visiting your site from time to time, thanks for doing such great info!

[Del the cat]

If you look at the youtube vid you'll see the unbraced, and the braced etc is on the blog...
It's all there linked in the original post.
You want me to come over there and click on 'em for you?
..OK here you are... just copied off the blog
Del

[sieddy]

That looks like a grand bit of wood to me.Seems like you're making a load of fuss over nothing! 

[Bryce]

Very nice mr. Cat

[Carson (CMB)]

Beauty! Gotta love a little character in yew.

[wizardgoat]

Slick stick Del!

[Cloudfeather]

Very nice, love the contrast of yew sapwood and heartwood. Speaking of, I was looking at a big auction site at some yew staves and saw some staves that looked to me like mid-grade at about 45 plus shipping. Any suggestions on what to look for as far as sapwood thickness, ring ratio, etc? Thanks.

[Aaron H]

Very cool Del, I would like to see some close ups of that leather, or is that in the link also? 

[dylanholderman]

Nice work del, I have been following this on and off on your blog glade to see you got it behave 
And that leather is pretty wild, I never would have thought that a piece of hide that old would still be usable at all

[riverrat]

nice bow, nice tiller. Tony