I had some way overgrown yews in my yard that I began cutting down. I was throwing it on my burn pile, but wondered if it was useful for anything. Did a bit of research and discovered it is desirable for things like musical instruments and bending for archery bows. I'm wondering if anybody here has any ideas as to what I might do to give it some purpose other than firewood? I have no idea as to how to sell it or give it away. There are some fairly substantial size pieces.

Make Taxol?

I was going to say bows as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Butch 2340:
I was going to say bows as well.

Well, I really wasn't thinkinking about making anything with it, I was just wondering if there might be a way to find someone interested in having it.

That stuff is hard as hell. I had one in my front lawn that my neighbor helped me cut down and he had to keep stopping to re-sharpen his chainsaw blade because it kept dulling it so quickly.

It’s my understanding that biologically it’s considered a softwood but it’s a very very hard softwood, very heavy and dense.

It was used in the Medieval era for longbows because of its strength and flexibility. I heard one person described it as natural laminated wood.

Not sure if it’s used for any sort of woodworking nowadays?

Depending on the size it might be useful to the woodturning world. A quick Google search might yield some local clubs that could make bowls or hollow forms out of it.

quote:

Originally posted by sig229-SAS:
Depending on the size it might be useful to the woodturning world. A quick Google search might yield some local clubs that could make bowls or hollow forms out of it.

Probably the largest pieces are about five inches in diameter so any bowls would have to be small.
Actually, you were one of my first thoughts. I wondered if it would make decent pepper mills. A lot of it has a pretty nice red color.

Do a search for nearby bowyers who specialize in longbows who might like some good stock.

quote:

Originally posted by Redleg06:
Do a search for nearby bowyers who specialize in longbows who might like some good stock.

The American Longbow Society is best to advise you where you might offload it - it is worth money to a bowyer who will surely hoover it up pretty smartly.

https://www.facebook.com/traditionalarcherysociety/

Here in UK, home of the longbow, a yew wood bow fetches a huge premium