Yew Wood

[IlkerD]

Can i use for top wood?

 

[charlie monroe]

Looks great.

Some makers, such as Dano, use melamine and hardboard. I think you're all good here.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Absolutely. Beautiful piece!

 

[mapleglo]

I always thought of Yew as some kind of mystical, ancient, magical wood. Use it!

 

[IWieldTheSpade]

Yes yew can! (Sorry, I'll show myself out now )

Seriously though, that would look gorgeous on an instrument. Density, hardness etc. specs are all suitable for a body timber too

 

[Robert Canfield]

I always thought of Yew as some kind of mystical, ancient, magical wood. Use it!

Yew do?

 

[FBB Custom]

I always thought of Yew as some kind of mystical, ancient, magical wood. Use it!

Yew was the name of a town in the Ultima series of RPGs. It's also used to make longbows as it is highly elastic.
If this is true yew (taxus) then it's also poisonous. So don't eat it.

Looks good, though, and it will be quite unique. Don't see many guitars featuring yew.

 

[daveman50]

Beautiful.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Just for your information:

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The overview is that it's a good hard wood with a fine grain, and glues and finishes well. The piece you have is gorgeous, and would be an amazing top. If you do decide to use it please post pictures as i am sure most of us here would love to see the process, or at the very least the results.

 

[IlkerD]

Thanks for answers. I'll share progress

 

[CosmoReverb]

I posted a thread a few years ago asking about yew, which didn't get too many responses but of what there was the consensus was mostly positive, in fact it was pointed out that it was a fairly prized wood among lute makers.

As pointed out though it is pretty toxic so gloves and respirator are recommended when working it.

 

[IlkerD]

some progress

 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

As an Englishman, I must implore you to make something else out of it. Something that can, for instance, kill the French at 300 yards.

Lovely piece there!

 

[Will_White]

As an Englishman, I must implore you to make something else out of it. Something that can, for instance, kill the French at 300 yards.

Lovely piece there!

It took me a bit to understand this.

 

[Freekmagnet]

I always thought of Yew as some kind of mystical, ancient, magical wood. Use it!

Could that be an Earthsea Trilogy thing?

 

[mapleglo]

Could that be an Earthsea Trilogy thing?

I'm a fan, and a fan of Ursula K. Le Guin in general.

 

[Freekmagnet]

I'm a fan, and a fan of Ursula K. Le Guin in general.

Thought so. She's one of the greats for sure.

I have a little trivia for you about ULG - She went to Berkeley High School at the same time as Phillip K Dick and they didn't know each other. I only kinda know this because I graduated from BHS as well - although years later, of course.

 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

It took me a bit to understand this.

Crécy, Agincourt. England's ownership of half of France...

We got kicked out in the end but the French are still bitter about it.

(I'm not xenophobic, I'm just English).

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

some progress

Gorgeous job!

 

[fretless19]

Le guin! And yes, as others have said, be VERY cautious of yew; another name for it is hemlock. (Although there is also a completely different plant called hemlock as well)