Green yew ideas / help

[Fishandchips]

Hi guys,

Got some yew just been felled a couple of weeks ago, turned a couple of small dishes green and will store them to dry before finishing.

Stuck with what to do with the rest though, can't make another 30 dishes!

It's about 4' long and goes from 5" to 3" diameter inc bark.

I would like to make a few cylinder boxes but if I turn them green will I get problems with checking in the pith when they dry?

Or should I just chop them up and wax the ends for use in a couple of years time?

Cheers

Garry

 

[bellringer]

Chop and seal

 

[user 17340]

I got some decent lengths of 4" to 6" diameter branches a few months ago. It's hard to be patient but the frustration of watching yew splitting if used too soon is painful. Hang in there.

 

[Fishandchips]

More too store.

 

[bellringer]

that the only problem cutting your own timber i have about 100 bowl blanks and about 500 pen blanks drying and more timber to cut

 

[Robbo3]

Posted this answer to Sammo a couple of days ago:
- help-t73612.html

Unless you are going to rough turn & then store your articles to dry & finish at a later date .... the golden rule for wood is to leave it as long as possible for as long as possible. Larger width pieces can, some say should, be split down the middle but seal the end grain as soon as you can to prevent rapid moisture loss. Even wrapping them temporarily in plastic or carrier bags can save splits later on.

I use old emulsion paint and / or tie a plastic bag around each end - carrier bags & elastic bands are good. Only problem with this method is that the bags should be removed, turned inside out & replaced on a daily basis for the first week, then weekly for the next month, then monthly until ready - approx a year per 1" thickness + 1 year.

Apple & other fruit woods are notorious for splitting. Two logs from the same tree can act completely differently even though you thought you did every thing right, with one splitting & the other not.

 

[VikingAl]

Hi there, I'm in the same boat, I've got 1/2 a yew trunk, about a foot & half in width, beautiful looking, chopped into 2 foot lengths, he'll of a lot of yew I know but I really enjoy turning it!. It was felled 2 weeks ago & I'm one of the most impatient people in the world however, they've been sealed up with PVA & tucked away in the corner of the garage for, well, maybe a couple of years!. Can't wait for the day though!. It would be a shame to turn it green then watch it all split, be patient mate, the time will come!.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

You know I only started turning last year and I would say the number one frustration is the illusion that turning blanks are "free" from the woods. I mean they are.....after several years

 

[Fishandchips]

I am going to rough turn it all. Can't be waiting years, might be dead before it's ready.

At least I can use it in a few months.

Bell ringer - my situation is similar, but I only have bowls drying at the mo.

Vikingal - if you take robbo3 s calculation you will be waiting 18 years


Since the diameter is too small for bowls can anyone suggest what to turn green that will hold a good shape when it's dry?

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

You should try candlesticks. For one Yew makes stunning looking candlesticks because they typically retain portions of both sap and heartwood which means you get that beautiful contrast between the creamy outside and orangey inside that yew is famous for.

Secondly, I've found that green turnings when done as spindles, I guess since they're running (grain-wise) longitudinally don't move around nearly as much as green turned bowls do. So you might just get away with it. I think more likely is shakes and checks turning up in the sap wood. But once you finish it, use a wax and that should help slow down its drying anyway.

As I said I've only been turning a year now so have used a heck of a lot of green wood because my collection of blanks is still drying. And I've had quite some success with stable spindle pieces. And quite some wobbly bowls!!

 

[John. B]

Like the other replies, seal and store. or turn rough and store.

However, remember Yew in particular, more than most other woods hates any sort of heat.

Sanding or even turning in a vigorous manner can cause it to crack.
John. B

 

[VikingAl]

18 years, hmmmmm, too long!, lol. I'll give it a bit less I reckon!. I'm always on the hunt for nice logs as I'm sure everyone else is but being a tree surgeon helps!. Hopefully I'll stumble upon some yew that has dried out nicely somewhere!. Mine came out of a forestry block & I nearly broke my back carrying it out but it's worth it. With regards the heat issue, spot on, ive managed to destroy 3 pens so far through being a little too aggressive whilst sanding!. Good luck with it, it is, as everyone has said, fantastic wood to turn with amazing results!.

 

[Fishandchips]

Good advise R O Bob, just what I was looking for

I also had some yew crack on me a while ago but I thought it was because it was already damaged or too dry. Now I know it was the heat because I remember it been hot.

I learnt 2 things today!