Due to its hardness, Yew wood has been used for shuttles, cogs, axle-trees, and pulley-pins. The colorful wood (red heartwood, white sapwood) has been used to veneer furniture, to make lute bodies, bowls, tankards, combs, tool handles, pegs, and various art objects.
It has been used in many ways by various religions, and certain yew objects such as drinking-cups, are still regarded as having a certain spiritual potency.
USES: modern - taxol traditional - bows, tools, paddles, snowshoe frames; the fruit, although considered toxic, was sometimes eaten in small amounts; inner bark: braiding, weaving
With its deep orange brown heartwood Yew has an unusual and distinctive grain. Often used for exceptionally decorative veneers, it is suitable for panelling, and cabinet making. Also yew has a high natural resistance to attack by decay fungi. Botanically a softwood but tough and very dense.
Heartwood colour is golden orange brown streaked with purplish tints, stripes and spots. Sapwood is distinctive off white. Grain is straight but sometimes curly and irregular. Veins, knots, heart shake, ingrown bark all contribute to most attractive figuring. Dries rapidly with little degrade although care is necessary to prevent shakes. Workability Machining easy, Turns well. Finishing Can be polished to a beautiful finish.