Can I use yew for a knife handle?

[Stew]

I really love the look of yew but we all know it's poisonous so carving spoons and bowls for food use is a no no.

I was wondering what I could make out of a piece of yew that I can actually use and thought, "knifehandle!"

I'm wondering what people think about the safety of this. I see MadDave has a Bison on order with a yew handle.
I'm a bit concerned about my sweaty hands getting the toxic bit on them, then say handling food that I ingest.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Adi007]

I really can't see it being a problem Stew ... the wood will be dried and stabilized.

 

[Stew]

What if it's not stabilized?
ie it was a piece originally intended for some wood turning (I think it's actually a piece that was destined for the woodpile, not store bought)

 

[Adi007]

Does this help:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...lm=01bdaaab$f6affc60$1c4b18d0@jmcgaw.usit.net

 

[alick]

Yew was / is a sought after timber for furniture, and long bows were made from it too, so I don't see a problem with handling the wood day to day. In a knife handle, I'm sure oiling will help to seal it and reduce any transfer from the wood to your hand.

When it comes to oil finishes, I like this piece of advice :
One coat a day for a week, then one coat a week for a month, then one coat a month for a year (23 in all) then maintain as necessary. Yew is pretty dense though, I doubt that you'd ever get 23 coats of oil to soak in !

Cheers

 

[Dave Barker]

I thinkmthat as long as the oiling is done with a good oil you should be alright. make sure the oil is one that goes dep into the wood.

 

[maddave]

I've ordered my Bison Buscraft knife with a Yew handle, I've worked with Yew for several years (woodturning etc) and have had no ill effects. Give the handle a good oiling and it'll be hunky dory

 

[Adi007]

I've ordered my Bison Buscraft knife with a Yew handle, I've worked with Yew for several years (woodturning etc) and have had no ill effects. Give the handle a good oiling and it'll be hunky dory

I didn't think it would be that bad ... I never heard of anyone drying from using a yew bow (well, ok, a death not associated with the pointy ends of the arrows!).

 

[nowhere]

What is it about the wood from yew that is meant to be toxic. I've only ever heard of the seeds in the berries being poisonous (you can even eat the berries)!

Steve.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Yes, the red bit of the berry isn't poisonous, but it was impressed on us by the Woodlore folks that the seeds were deadly and that trying to eat the fruit and not get any of the seed mixed in was a pretty bad idea.

Remember, you can live for weeks with no food, berries aren't all that nutritious, why go dicing with death if you don't have to? :-?

The wood also carries some toxins, not as much as the seeds, but some. I think that it would only be a problem if you were drinking water that had collected in the bowl of a yew tree, cooking/eating with yew wood utensils, or inhailing the dust (but that goes for a lot of woods).

Don't worry about it for knife handles, it will be fine. Lots of woods that are REALLY bad to inhail, or cause skin irritation make great knife handles. The same oils that cause skin problems are what make them so durable.

 

[C_Claycomb]

The foliage, bark, and seeds - but not the fleshy red aril - of most Taxus species are toxic due to the presence of taxine.

http://www.shee-eire.com/Herbs,Trees&Fungi/Trees/Yew/yew1.htm

This has all you might want to know...I hope :-D

http://www.botanical-online.com/alcaloidestejoangles.htm

 

[Chopper]

NO! you can't use me for a knife handle, it would hurt!!

 

[Stew]

Don't worry about it for knife handles, it will be fine. Lots of woods that are REALLY bad to inhail, or cause skin irritation make great knife handles. The same oils that cause skin problems are what make them so durable.

Skin irritations were the least of my concerns - it was more the cardiac problems it can cause!!

That's good anyway. I had pretty much decide to use yew, just wanted some reassurance!

 

[Schwert]

This carving knife by Kestrel Tool (Gregg Blomberg, Washington USA) has a Pacific Yew handle. It is a good choice for this knife made in the NW Coast pattern.

BTW that is a self-portrait attempt.

 

[narsil]

I've heard that yew beer barrels have beeen found in Viking burials, i suspect that the toxins (alkaliods) may have had some halucenogenic effects, perhaps related to a shamanic viking cult or berserkers, who knows.

The presence of alkaliods may also be the reason why yew trees are traditionally associated with gaveyards and 'outhouses' since they have an antisceptic effect.

Yew is a lovely wood and is frequently used for knife handles i see no reason why there should be any problems, in fact I have some seasoning myself even as I write for that very purpose.

 

[Gary]

While yew is one of those woods around which much mythology has grown - Mythology often added to by people who dont really know the facts or in the case of the old church Yew by people who want to preserve their sanctory or sanity!. I think it should be pointed out that while green the wood, needles and berries are best avoided for most things.

But as Adi says once dried and Stabilized (good word) it should be ok - most nasties used by trees as protection or to heal themselve are general carried in the sap not the wood fibres.

I have even heard tell of table ware and chopping boards made of Yew - in todays sue culture no manufacturer would risk that is the slightest hint of risk was involved.

 

[jason01]

Heres some Yew, I posted this on another thread, sorry if youve seen it already!

Before I get told off let me just say I dont use the spoon and spreader for food.