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Yew Bowl

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Yew Bowl

Postby selectortone » 06 Jun 2017, 13:44

I turned this bowl not long after I started turning and I was never happy with the big clunky foot I put on it. So I stuck it on my home-made cole jaws this morning and re-did the outside. I'm much happier with it now and the thickness is much more consistent. It's about 8" in diameter. I filled the large crack with epoxy and wood dust and it's still stable nearly two years on.

For me, yew is a favourite wood to turn. You never know exactly what figuring you're going to end up with and it's a nice hard wood for turning and finishing. Just don't let any bark fall into your cuppa! (The Romans used yew bark as a poison.)

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Re: Yew Bowl

Postby Woodster » 06 Jun 2017, 14:33

That's very nice and the foot looks great. I've yet to turn any Yew but I do have a bowl blank and some branch wood in the store so hopefully it'll get turned soon. What finish have you use on it?
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Re: Yew Bowl

Postby selectortone » 06 Jun 2017, 14:51

Thanks mate - it's finished with diamond white polishing compound and then carnauba wax applied with polishing mops on the lathe.
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Re: Yew Bowl

Postby selectortone » 06 Jun 2017, 14:58

Re the yew bark poison thing - historically, not only was yew popular with poisoners, it was highly prized for making longbows. At one time here in Britain fine yew staves were at such a premium, they were levied as an import-tax on goods arriving in British ports.

It grows as separate shoots that combine over time into a single trunk, hence the complex figuring.
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Re: Yew Bowl

Postby Dalboy » 06 Jun 2017, 18:23

Did you have a photo of the bowl when you first turned it.

However the re-turn of this one has a great shape and finish, I agree yew is a great wood to turn and it always has such a wonderful grain
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Re: Yew Bowl

Postby selectortone » 06 Jun 2017, 18:46

Thanks Dalboy - sorry no "before" pics I'm afraid.
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Re: Yew Bowl

Postby Andyp » 06 Jun 2017, 19:44

Very nice Terry. Probably my favourite wood too. I have only turned much smaller stuff 4" diameter, I think. I would love to do something bigger.
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Re: Yew Bowl

Postby Woodster » 06 Jun 2017, 22:25

As a point of interest I think nearly all parts of the Yew are poisonous except for the berries. I believe they used to use the leaves for cancer treatment. The berries taste very nice by the way, I used to eat them when they came out on the 20 or so small yews we had in the garden of our old house. You mustn't chew or swallow the pip though, only consume the red flesh of the berry. ;)
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Re: Yew Bowl

Postby Rod » 06 Jun 2017, 23:15

Sounds a bit like Russian roulette to me!

I have a friend that used to sell his yew clippings to a firm that processes them for medical purposes.

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Re: Yew Bowl

Postby justaskin » 07 Jun 2017, 08:31

Hi Rod very nice work there.
A different filling I tried on a cracked yew bowl by putting brass filings in with the epoxy coloured makes a wow of a difference like yours.
Keep up the good work
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Re: Yew Bowl

Postby Rod » 07 Jun 2017, 08:35

Terry's work not mine

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Re: Yew Bowl

Postby Phil » 07 Jun 2017, 13:43

Nice looking bowl Terry.
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