Yew

[Chris152]

Looking for some more interesting timber to integrate to a table top, I just picked up this yew from a friend for £10. It looks fantastic.

But when I got home I started reading about potential hazards from dust (I read another thread on here about using yew for a chopping block and people discussed the harmful effects of the berries and leaves, and concluded yew's possibly not best for food prep).

If I work on it outside with a mask (cutting the section I want to use, planing and sanding), can a) I expect to be unaffected by the dust; and b) will it be ok to include a section in a small table top with a finish to protect it/ the user? Would you use it on a table top? If not, apart from building a bow, what could I use it for?!

Thanks for any thoughts,

Chris

 

[Woody2Shoes]

Hi - I think that all wood dust is best avoided and when it boils down to it, yew isn't really much worse than most others. I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine if you take normal precautionsre. dust. I also think it'll be fine as part of a table. I suspect what's more important is that the finish is safe for its intended use - some contain heavy metals etc.

Cheers, W2S

 

[Chris152]

Thanks W2S. It's sometimes tricky getting a balanced/ informed view on these things, and the net's full of horror stories on just about everything. And yew does seem to have a dark and mysterious reputation...

 

[Garno]

And yew does seem to have a dark and mysterious reputation...

A very under used letter if you ask me :shock:

 

[profchris]

The first time I used yew it made my face itch a little. The second time I got a slight rash. The fourth time I suffered quite a bit.

But I know others who have no problem at all.

I have one nice piece of yew left, and when I use it I'll scrape only (no sanding), wear a mask and try not to scratch my face!

 

[Glynne]

As W2S says....
Unless you are planning to chew the edge of your table or take fewer precautions than you would do with other wood dust, then you will be fine.
Whilst people are technically correct in pointing out what might be toxins / irritants etc, what they seem to forget is the toxins you are already exposed to (i.e. air pollution) are probably doing you more harm than a yew table top will ever do.
In this day and age very few things are deemed to be safe and if yew was really that dangerous, there would be a lot of very bare churchyards and a lot less of amazing turned forms and unique furniture.

 

[Ttrees]

Yew'r mad for sanding Chris
I don't know why you like sanding so much? :?

 

[AndyT]

When I made my little chest of drawers, I used some similar pieces of yew to make the top and the handles.
I planed and scraped it by hand. For sanding I used Abranet and a vacuum cleaner.
I finished it with Tru-oil. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out and experienced no problems when working the wood.

Exhaustive details here post960246.html#p960246

 

[MusicMan]

I made a large desk from yew. It's nice to work and looks great. I was reasonably carefully with dust masks, vacuum etc but not enough so, and I had to have a course of steroids afterwards to clear my chest congestion. But I am slightly asthmatic, and people's reactions do vary as pointed out. Also it was a big project with six or seven large slabs 7' x 14" to reduce. Yew is on the toxic side of woods (see The Wood Database - they do differ).

But working on it outside with a mask should avoid all the problems, and there is no problem with the finished wood in service, either.

Keith

 

[Chris152]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I guess maybe the mixed responses suggest the ways different people react to yew, rather than any absolute 'yew will do this to you'. Hmmm...

I was reasonably carefully with dust masks, vacuum etc but not enough so, and I had to have a course of steroids afterwards to clear my chest congestion.

I don't tend to get allergic reactions in general but when I was younger I had to use a ventolin inhaler sometimes and now this kind of thing bothers me!
It's currently sat in a shed awaiting attention of one sort or another.

Andy - that toothing plane looks a great tool. I saw one for sale recently for £20, might just go ahead and try one. I wonder why they're not more common these days?

 

[AndyT]

I'd guess that toothing planes are uncommon because they were a specialist tool, used in the cabinet making trade only. There are more ordinary bench planes about because every working joiner needed some, as did the casual diy user.
Also, remember that toothing planes were mostly used for veneering. It's a long time since veneering was detailed hand work on any scale - the stuff that was made in the 50s was thin knife cut veneer on a plywood ground, with updated glues and no need for a toothing plane.

 

[Chris152]

Thanks Andy. I just ordered this one: https://www.tooltique.co.uk/shop/antiqu ... sons-iron/ for 24 including postage. Does it adjust in the same way as any other old wooden plane (tapping to adjust)? I ask because of the high angle of the iron and wonder if it'll work the same way.

 

[AndyT]

That looks a good one. Yes, adjustment by tapping. To release the wedge you're better off knocking downwards on the toe, rather than hitting on the heel.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Just a thought - just as with other known irritants, if you know it affects you have a COLD shower after using it so your pores don't open.

 

[Chris152]

Having a cold shower used to work after exposure to grasses and stuff that gave me hay fever, so I guess that could well help - thanks for the suggestion, Phil. Have to say though, I'm starting to lose interest in working with this plank! All I really wanted was a small-ish strip of interesting grain to go along the centre of an otherwise straight-grain table. Anyone local fancy trying their hand at a nice looking piece of yew?! It's yours for nowt if you want it...

And thanks for the advice Andy, looking forward to giving it a go.