World of Wood

The Wonderful World of Wood:

Yew:

• "Taxus baccata"

Other names:

• Common yew
• European yew.

Sources:

• Europe.
• North Africa.
• Burma and Himalayas.

Tree Characteristics:

• A relatively short tree, with a dense crown of evergreen foliage, it reaches an average height of about 50ft.
• The trunk is short and deeply fluted where shoots have intergrown to produce an irregular form.
• Yews are the longest living trees in Europe, with indivdual examples exceeding 1,000 years.

Characteristics of the wood:

• A tough hard and durable softwood.
• It has an orange red heartwood, with distinct light coloured sapwood.
• The growth of the trunk produces irregular shaped boards, often with holes sapwood and bark inclusions.
• Small knots are common, but generally the growth pattern makes the wood very decorative.
• It has good bending properties and can be steam bent.

Workability:

• Moderate to difficult, depending on the grain.
• Straight grained wood can be worked and machined to a smooth finish, but the surface of irregular grained wood can tear.
• It is an excellent wood for turning.

Average dried weight:

• 42lb/cuft.

Finishing:

• It accepts stain satisfactorily and polishes to an excellent finish.

Common uses:

• Furniture.
• Turney.
• Carving.
• Interior joinery.
• Veneer.