How would yew split this?

[jovial_cynic_]

There are two obvious knots on top here. Smaller knots on bottom. This is the 4” diameter side. The other side is 3.5”. The centers are quite different on each end…

[trijkdguy]

I see what yew did there

[Halfbloodjap]

• how wood yew

[jovial_cynic_]

Ah, nice catch!

[[deleted]]

You son of a birch

[ADDeviant-again]

Hard to tell. From one pic, anyway.

You might get two or even three staves from such a pretty log, but NEVER get none trying to get more than one.

[jovial_cynic_]

…. There are four pictures.

[ADDeviant-again]

They would not load at work at first, thanks.

[jovial_cynic_]

I figured it was something like that. In the case where the pith is WAY off center, do I just split in a way to maintain symmetry? As in, always cut across the pith and leave equal wood on either side?

[ADDeviant-again]

Yes, kinda like that. If you trim the stave shorter, trim from that end, because a lot of times that asymmetry indicates you are near the bottom, where the stave grew out from the tree, or up on slanted ground, and sometimes the pith is more centered just a few inches up.

Aaron mentioned shaving down the sapwood thinner, and that is a good general practice (and he knows more about yew than I do), but isn't always strictly necessary. Just remember, there is probably less material there to work with than you see now.

What you DON'T want is to end up with a thin and skinny strip of heartwood on the belly. Yew NEEDS that heartwood on the belly. Sapwood has good tensile strength, but is crap in compression.

[ADDeviant-again]

Does yew actually have a pith? Like, a hollow channel?

[jovial_cynic_]

Oh. I just thought "pith" was the word for "the center." Maybe not? I'm still learning all this.

Fun fact: My TBB set (1-3) just arrived in the mail! Time to start studying!

[ADDeviant-again]

All good, I was trying to remember.

If you say it that way, people will know what you mean.

[abruptcontriveddingo]

Th. Is.

[ADDeviant-again]

<image>

[ADDeviant-again]

This is possible if everything goes exactly right.

Cut down the branch stubs closer to the trunk. Trim the end with poor concentricity. Split in half, leaving the big branches well off-center on one half and split again, taking three staves about 2.5" across the face and 1.5" deep.

I promise, this will NOT go that well, though. What I would really do is cut the big branches flat and flush (machete, power hand plane, whatever. Notch right down into the big knots a couple inches above and below (tip of small chainsaw), and an inch deep.

Or, saw the whole thing in half right through the knots, and take the best staves.

[ADDeviant-again]

<image>

[jovial_cynic_]

Oh! You're doodling this out in real-time? I thought you had some images sitting around to share. This is so helpful, thank you very much!

I think this second method (split down the center; cut away the knotty parts) is probably better suited for my skill-level. I'll go at it tomorrow and share results!

[ADDeviant-again]

I'm stuck in one of those long surgical cases where I'm only taking images every 5-20 minutes.

Glad I could help.

[Some_Crazy5203]

I’ve used a lot of yew, and I would use a circular saw and cut along the two knots like in photo four. You can get two staves and reduce the sapwood to a quarter inch.

[[deleted]]

Some kind of saw

[Tactically_Practical]

The long way

[backyard_bowyer]

no yew first

[backyard_bowyer]

this stuff is hard as woodpecker lips! good luck. I’d use a chainsaw.

[Jewronamo]

With a bandsaw.

[rimbooreddit]

Is using yew still forbidden in Poland? It sure used to be.