Oi! Yew! Before I kill myself.....

[jimi43]

Ok...I have formally frightened the living do doos out of myself today....

There am I merrily whittling and sanding the two cheeks of my prototype bowsaw today which are made out of yew...when a voice in my head whispered...."Jimi...this stuff is really poisonous ya know!"

Well...after frightening the living poo out of myself Googling "yew dust"...and reading such waring as "taxine" and "really poisonous" and "heart rhythm affected".... :shock: :shock: ...I decided to ask around here...as you folks are not normally scaremongers and are quite used to using such exotic British woods.

So...have I killed myself? How long have I got? #-o #-o

Jim

 

[woodbloke]

As long as you don't start munching the berries Jim (or any other part of the tree for that matter) at eleven's you should last for another few years. Seriously, yew is toxic but it's only the berries that shouldn't be ingested - Rob

 

[Pvt_Ryan]

What makes you think you will still be around to read this response?

From wikipedia:
"Most parts of the tree are toxic, except the bright red aril surrounding the seed, enabling ingestion and dispersal by birds. The major toxin is the alkaloid taxane. The foliage remains toxic even when wilted or dried. Horses have the lowest tolerance, with a lethal dose of 200–400 mg/kg body weight, but cattle, pigs, and other livestock are only slightly less vulnerable. Symptoms include staggering gait, muscle tremors, convulsions, collapse, difficulty breathing, coldness and eventually heart failure. However, death occurs so rapidly that many times the symptoms are missed. Fatal poisoning in humans is very rare, only occurring after eating a lot of yew foliage. The lethal dose is reported to be between 50 and 100 grams. The wood is also poisonous. Some bow makers are reputed to have died from the frequent handling of the wood in their craft."

So unless you have managed to ingest an ounce you are probably ok. Might be advisable to use a dust mask in future though and/or work with it outside.

 

[jimi43]

I'm still here so far....will let you know tomorrow!

I read the same article PR....frightened the living hell out of me!

I prefer to side with Rob.... :mrgreen: And your last comment!

Jim

 

[feswood]

R.I.P dint know the guy but he seemed a decent chap you will be missed :lol: :lol:

 

[studders]

you will be missed

That's absolutely terrible........









It should be ' He will be missed'.

Bagsy first dibs on his handtools.

 

[duncanh]

As long as you don't start munching the berries Jim (or any other part of the tree for that matter) at eleven's you should last for another few years. Seriously, yew is toxic but it's only the berries that shouldn't be ingested - Rob

The berries are actually very tasty (similar to a very sweet raspberry) and can be eaten safely. Just don't swallow the seed inside.

 

[tekno.mage]

Actually the red flesh of the berries makes a delicious jam - but you do need to be scrupulous in removing the black seed part inside each berry before using them.

With regards to the wood, be very careful of the dust when sanding - use good dust extraction and make sure you wash your hands before touching food/drink if they have yew dust on them. Some people have an allergic reaction to yew dust, or can develop one after repeated exposure as they become sensitised to the wood.

I imagine that the sap released when whittling green yew might also be a problem - the toxin may be absorbed through the skin - which could account for reports of deaths among yew bow-makers, who would be working with the wood every day.

 

[loz]

I get palpitations just looking at Yew ! -

Not have never suffered any effects so far ! - use dust protection, and shower afterwards !

Yew extracts are being used as cancer treatments now ( google taxol )

 

[Racers]

Hi,

I made the wife a yew bangle and she is still alive :evil: :wink:

Pete

 

[jimi43]

Ok...still here...off to continue whittling! So...hands off me tools and Pete...that was PRICELESS! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Little things say "I LOVE YEW!!"

Jim

 

[tomatwark]

What makes you think you will still be around to read this response?

Some bow makers are reputed to have died from the frequent handling of the wood in their craft."

How many would have died from inhaling loads of normal wood dust ?

Like everything else common sense would suggest you wear a mask when sanding anyway.

There was a fad in the 80's of Yew repro furniture I never heard of any one dying from exposure to the dust in the manufacture of this.


Tom

 

[jimi43]

I always wear a dust mask when sanding...and goggles...it was just that little voice telling me something I had read somewhere...

I fully intend to carry on using it..I just wash my hands afterwards and had a shower last night...which I would have done anyway...whatever the species!

Thanks for the commonsense responses guys! And the humour! Much appreciated!

Jim

 

[Orcamesh]

Hi Jim

I made a shelf out of Yew many years ago (you can see photo on my website, if you are feeling really bored!! :lol: ) and have had no side effects (at least in my opinion, if you asked someone who knows me you might get a different answer!)! As others have said dust protection for any wood is a must, as I know you know. I still have some offcuts if you want some more, just ask!! :wink:

I always wash my hands when I come out of the workshop so I think this is also good advice.

cheers
Steve

 

[jimi43]

Hi Steve....that is good to know! I am still feeling ok...but I was particularly concerned of the heart rhythm being affected bit when I googled it..given that I have just had the bypass! :mrgreen:

If you have any bits where the sap/heartwood transition is longer than 13" then I am your man! More than happy to pay for them and the postage! PM me if you think you have something suitable.

Jim

 

[Benchwayze]

I think the French found it quite deadly in 1415.... V

:mrgreen:

John... :wink:

 

[jimi43]

I think the French found it quite deadly in 1415.... V

:mrgreen:

John... :wink:

BRILLIANT! =D> =D>

Jim

 

[OldWood]

Just to offer some additional reassurance, I worked for a period with my cabinet maker brother, and made myself a desk of yew (now supports this keyboard and monitor) over 20 years ago at his premises. I never thought about any hazards, so it was machine cut, machine planed, hand planed and then sanded without any protection (not even ears which I now know have deteriorated from lack of protection from wood machinery).

I don't think I've suffered at all - certainly not physically !!

I am now of course older and wiser and certainly will take precautions in future.

Rob

 

[Benchwayze]

Thanks Jim!

You could say it was one in the eye, for what happened in 1066, when King Harold's Battle Cry was, 'I'll be seeing Yew!'



John :mrgreen:

 

[Pvt_Ryan]

I just pissed myself laughing at the last 4 posts.. I read them to the missus who just looked at me blankly, I had to explain the references... /sigh...