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I met a bow maker on Prince of Wales island Alaska. We were there with a friend and when we found his shop he talked and showed us around for an hour. Sad that he passed away just after I placed an order for a longbow. He was a friendly gentleman to accept us in on a Sunday and spend his day showing us his trade. His name was Jerry Welsh from Whales Pass Ak.
Guys, I still have not ever been able to look at a pice of yew before. I really appreciate this video. You might consider doing something like this with other woods as well. These remind me of Rocky mountain juniper. As the growth rings and grain are very tight.
Thnk you, very informative, i will look at the pile here tomorrow with fresh eyes. very interesting that you can joiin two shorter pieces together to make a full size, must be a very strong joint!
Very informative, thanks. I have a collection of old Yew and Osage, but none of it long enough for a self bow without fishtail joints. I suspect I will have to use laminates to make it possible for me to tiller properly with my skill level. What would be your favorite laminate for a "look alike" medieval war bow?
When removing sap wood down to 1/4 inch, do you follow one growth ring on the back or does it matter since you are backing with raw hide? I have never worked yew, but I have a couple of staves, one for a longbow, one for a flat bow and a couple of billets. Thanks! Enjoying your videos!
Great resource, thank you! Since good yew is hard to find, what is the best alternative wood species? I assume most of your tips would apply to different wood species as well.
Well, Victorian laminated Longbows are essentially trying to emulate the natural properties of Yew, have a look at the bows we make on our website to see the woods we use, many would argue of course, so it's up to you to decide the 'best'
The short lengths of Yew that had the reflex curve, would you ever consider steaming it to straighten out the curves to use it, since it was one of the nicest grains of the lot?
Richard I just am finishing working on my own longbow of self sapling yew, now I have noticed very fine lines hear and there of what looks like a pith on areas of the yew. Have you any advice Richard??
@@longbows That's great Richard, thanks so much, I'll do that. I also noticed that you handle the yew and work with it with no gloves, but is yew supposed to be very poisonous??
We only use Yew very occasionally, we limit the number of yew bows we make, we always use a mask and extraction system. I only know of people with severe allergy to Yew that are unable to handle it, indeed after prolonged use they were unable to be in the same room as unsealed Yew. In general treat it as harmful and do your best to minimise contact.
Sadly I have no experience of the materials available in Ukraine, here is a video of our wood store showing the woods we use...ruclips.net/video/XXedDoQbai0/видео.html
What most people do not realise is that the best timber should have been managed since it was a sapling.The cost of labour nowadays is greatly against close management today, therefore top quality timber is far harder to obtain, more a matter of luck than intent.
Me, cuts a branch, strips bark whilst wet, tie a piece of string end to end, dries it out for a day. Uses it with the grandson. I now want a proper bow.
Having done this for 40 years it would be very difficult to work out a percentage without going through all the wood and taking a few hours to work that out, sorry. Yes, we always selecrt wood where possible, but, as we mention in the video, we sometimes buy it from abroad unseen.
High altitude materials are slow growing so have tight growth rings, this is good, it does not mean the piece of wood will be "best", there are many factors as our video explains.
Meanwhile us Australian's watch this video in a rage that the only wood we have available here is pine, or other plants that are just different names for pine ('Tasmanian oak', 'South Australian maple', etc, etc. all just PINE)! :(
If it won't do for a bow, why not just square and plane it flat and smooth to show off the beautiful wood... it doesn't need to be a useful object, it can just be a nice piece of wood to admire.
Why don't you just make a nice crossbow out of the junky Yew Wood? Crossbows could be sold on E-Bay or Amazon. Crossbows are what Richard the Lionheart used at his famous battles of Arsuf and Jaffa and were essential to his victories.
We are longbow makers, we are not profecient in the art of crossbow making. We have only ever made one crossbow, there is a video of it on our channel. I wouldn't be happy selling things that I didn't have years of experience in. People can buy the yew off us for this purpose of they wish.
It is strange, that whole commercial aspect. It makes perfect sense and must be a real pain having to throw away so much of the wood that I pressume you have had to spend good money on. Do you ever keep the more 'characterful' peices to work on as personal passion projects?
I hope the video is evidence enough that we do not throw anything away, if you see the previous video (Wood store Tour) you will see our `collection`. I do not have "personal passion projects" I dont have time.
Want to help us keep our free instructional bow making website going and these videos? Please consider helping us pay the costs by using the donate button here...
paypal.me/richardheadlongbows?locale.x=en_GB
I met a bow maker on Prince of Wales island Alaska. We were there with a friend and when we found his shop he talked and showed us around for an hour. Sad that he passed away just after I placed an order for a longbow. He was a friendly gentleman to accept us in on a Sunday and spend his day showing us his trade. His name was Jerry Welsh from Whales Pass Ak.
awesome story, who did you get a bow from in the end?
Excellent discussion. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I love this video, it answered alot of my questions and concerns about the wood yes. Thankyou..
You are very welcome
Guys, I still have not ever been able to look at a pice of yew before. I really appreciate this video. You might consider doing something like this with other woods as well.
These remind me of Rocky mountain juniper. As the growth rings and grain are very tight.
thanks, will do
I live on Yew St. Rd. In Bellingham wash. Named after the yew tree.I will look closer on my 6 acres tomorrow. And the 1000 acres around me.
Wow, great name, let me know how yo get on
The simple stave of yew wood fashioned into the most beautiful deadly and perfect weapon
excellent words
@@longbowsThank you very much.
Thnk you, very informative, i will look at the pile here tomorrow with fresh eyes. very interesting that you can joiin two shorter pieces together to make a full size, must be a very strong joint!
You are so welcome. Yes, the joint is very strong.
Nice unintentional ASMR and also very interesting.
Thank you! Glad I could tickle your ears!
Very informative, thanks.
I have a collection of old Yew and Osage, but none of it long enough for a self bow without fishtail joints. I suspect I will have to use laminates to make it possible for me to tiller properly with my skill level. What would be your favorite laminate for a "look alike" medieval war bow?
Thanks, I don't have a favourite, though Lemonwood as a belly takes a Yew coloured stain well.
When removing sap wood down to 1/4 inch, do you follow one growth ring on the back or does it matter since you are backing with raw hide? I have never worked yew, but I have a couple of staves, one for a longbow, one for a flat bow and a couple of billets. Thanks! Enjoying your videos!
If you are backing it then it doesn't matter. Glad you are enjoying the videos, please check out the website www.howtomakealongbow.co.uk
Great resource, thank you! Since good yew is hard to find, what is the best alternative wood species? I assume most of your tips would apply to different wood species as well.
Well, Victorian laminated Longbows are essentially trying to emulate the natural properties of Yew, have a look at the bows we make on our website to see the woods we use, many would argue of course, so it's up to you to decide the 'best'
@@longbows Thanks! That's interesting, I'll check them out
Bravo Lisette tu vie au paradis ces mon rêve a moi aussi...un jour peut être
The short lengths of Yew that had the reflex curve, would you ever consider steaming it to straighten out the curves to use it, since it was one of the nicest grains of the lot?
No, it curves the `correct` way to make a good bow.
Richard I just am finishing working on my own longbow of self sapling yew, now I have noticed very fine lines hear and there of what looks like a pith on areas of the yew. Have you any advice Richard??
Hi, hard to say without seeing it, perhaps you could email us with pictures, details on the website www.richardheadlongbows.com
@@longbows That's great Richard, thanks so much, I'll do that. I also noticed that you handle the yew and work with it with no gloves, but is yew supposed to be very poisonous??
We only use Yew very occasionally, we limit the number of yew bows we make, we always use a mask and extraction system. I only know of people with severe allergy to Yew that are unable to handle it, indeed after prolonged use they were unable to be in the same room as unsealed Yew. In general treat it as harmful and do your best to minimise contact.
What tree do you think is the closest to a yew tree? If possible, several options. I can't get yew from Ukraine.
Sadly I have no experience of the materials available in Ukraine, here is a video of our wood store showing the woods we use...ruclips.net/video/XXedDoQbai0/видео.html
osage orange is of the same value. you can make good bows from ash, locust, and many other wood just learn the proper ways of working the wood
What most people do not realise is that the best timber should have been managed since it was a sapling.The cost of labour nowadays is greatly against close management today, therefore top quality timber is far harder to obtain, more a matter of luck than intent.
Me, cuts a branch, strips bark whilst wet, tie a piece of string end to end, dries it out for a day. Uses it with the grandson. I now want a proper bow.
All bows are proper.
@@longbows ooo thanks. Yes. Mine is particularly super duper
So, what is the percentage you can't use? Can you choose what you buy or do you buy a given.lot?
Having done this for 40 years it would be very difficult to work out a percentage without going through all the wood and taking a few hours to work that out, sorry. Yes, we always selecrt wood where possible, but, as we mention in the video, we sometimes buy it from abroad unseen.
@@longbows Someone told me once that yew grown from high-up in mountains was the best. Is that true?
High altitude materials are slow growing so have tight growth rings, this is good, it does not mean the piece of wood will be "best", there are many factors as our video explains.
Is there a maximum time for seasoning?
Well, as we mention in our videos about our Yew supplies, we are using materials from as far back as the 40s, beyond that it's hard to say.
Hello. Tell me please What tree are you use?
it's in the video
@@longbows Excuse me but English is not my mothertongue language. If you can please write it. Thank you
it's in the title of the video, Yew
@@longbows Ups. Thank you
Meanwhile us Australian's watch this video in a rage that the only wood we have available here is pine, or other plants that are just different names for pine ('Tasmanian oak', 'South Australian maple', etc, etc. all just PINE)! :(
If it won't do for a bow, why not just square and plane it flat and smooth to show off the beautiful wood... it doesn't need to be a useful object, it can just be a nice piece of wood to admire.
What woudl I heat my house with then?
isn't yew poisonous?
Yes, thats why we dont use it much.
Why don't you just make a nice crossbow out of the junky Yew Wood? Crossbows could be sold on E-Bay or Amazon. Crossbows are what Richard the Lionheart used at his famous battles of Arsuf and Jaffa and were essential to his victories.
We are longbow makers, we are not profecient in the art of crossbow making. We have only ever made one crossbow, there is a video of it on our channel. I wouldn't be happy selling things that I didn't have years of experience in. People can buy the yew off us for this purpose of they wish.
It is strange, that whole commercial aspect. It makes perfect sense and must be a real pain having to throw away so much of the wood that I pressume you have had to spend good money on. Do you ever keep the more 'characterful' peices to work on as personal passion projects?
I hope the video is evidence enough that we do not throw anything away, if you see the previous video (Wood store Tour) you will see our `collection`. I do not have "personal passion projects" I dont have time.