This is a very attractive softwood. When using solid Yewtree, live knots, heart shake, ingrown bark, white calcium deposits, even holes and dead knots should all be accepted as part of the growth characteristics and used as an attractive feature of this timber.

Taxus baccata
Family: Taxaceae

Commercial Names: Common Yew, European Yew.

Distribution: Scandinavia, Europe, UK. Russia, Asia Minor, N. Africa, Burma and the Himalayas.

General Description: The heartwood colour is golden orange-brown streaked with dark purple, mauve and brown patches with veins, tiny knots and clusters of in-growing bark. The grain is straight, but sometimes curly and irregular, it has a distinctive white to cream sapwood, giving an attractive contrast to the heartwood. The texture is medium. Weight is about 670 kg/m3 (42lb/ft3); specific gravity 0.67.

Mechanical Properties: The bending and crushing strengths are medium, with low stiffness and resistance to shock loads. Yewtree has a good steam bending classification, with straight grained air dried material for preference.

Working Properties: Moderately difficult to work, but straight grained material works readily and can be planed to a good smooth finish; irregular, curly or cross grained material tends to tear out. Nailing may need pre-boring, and the oily nature of the wood demands some care in gluing. It can be polished to a beautiful finish.

Durability: The wood is durable, but not immune from common furniture beetle attack. It is resistant to preservative treatment and biodegradation.

Uses: It is excellent for turning, some carving, furniture making, interior and exterior joinery, fences, gates, posts, chairs, doors, tables, and rustic furniture. In veneer form it requires careful preparation, patching, flattening and handling, due to its buckled, fragile nature. It is an exceptionally decorative veneer used for every kind of application, including panelling and cabinetwork.