Yew bark backing

[steve b.]

I was looking at the inner bark that came off some yew that I was peeling and noticed it had good color and fiber and I thought it might make an interesting backing on some bow in the future.  The outer bark flakes off and leaves a waxy, reddish,  inner bark and cambium layer.  I dried it and sanded down a piece.  It doesn't crack or break when bent but bends and flexes back to straight.  I'll give it more dry time and experiment with coating it with tru oil and/or TBIII.

I took this stave and attempted to peel the bark off in larger sheets than the previous.  It came off nicely.  I flaked off the outer bark and now will let it dry.  It was a beautiful evening outside so I thought I'd pop a few pics and share and maybe get some feedback that might help me prep this stuff for a future bow.

[steve b.]

What the heck....here's my lodge pole pine war bow.  80+ inches and starting to bend.....

[BOWMAN53]

I just removed the bark on my yew stave and the edge parts were dry and very brittle.

[Del the cat]

That pinkish cambioum layer is horrible stuff, when it's a seasoned log it comes off like dust, grabs you round the troat and wrestles you to the floor.
I don't have any reaction to anyother aspects of working Yew, but that dust is a choker.
I made a big longbow a while back and left the cambium on as a protection for the back during tillering, it popped off in spectacular fashion with a crack like a rifle shot. Ended up with the most perfect back I've ever seen on a Yew bow 
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/starting-to-bend-big-bow.html
In the next post you can actually see a bit pop off in the video!
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/big-bow-braced.html
Del

[BowEd]

Cool.I removed the bark in a long sheet fron some irish yew here a while back too layed it flat then layed a few 2"X4"s' on it to flatten it.I don't know might fool with it later thinning it to maybe put on a bows' back.Trouble is that backing has to get at least 1/32" thin or less to be useful.Either by hand or over to a drum sander.Like Del said the dust is'nt very nice stuff to inhale.Heard bad stories about that.

[Dan K]

I like how your'e always trying new things Steve.  It ill be interesting to see how this turns out.  I read an article recently on pine bows, they make a fine shooter.

Cheers!

[Carson (CMB)]

I was thinking a yew bark quiver might be cool.  I am interested to see how that backing turns out.   Wylden Freeborn was telling me that treating fresh removed tree bark in wood ash solution strengthens it.  Might be worth trying. 

[Zion]

That pine bow is looking awesome. never tried pine before.

[steve b.]

Thanks for the feedback guys.  Just trying to keep it fun.

I found some more bow wood today but there was a bear standing on it so I left.  I posted the details in the hunting/shooting forum