Wood id.

[ozzpoz]

Hi all. I mentioned to a mate I liked making boxes and he's given me this piece of wood. Anyone have a guess what it may be. Why's it got a purple stain either end and if it would be any use after cutting it square. I don't have a planer, I can do the edges on my table saw sled but I'd have to try and flatten with a hand plane.
Thanks

 

[Chris152]

Is it yew? Wear a mask if there's dust.

 

[niall Y]

With all that sapwood it could be Yew.

 

[Amplidyne]

Colour and sapwood tends to make me agree that it's yew. As said.
Also as said wear a mask. there's always dust with pretty well any woodworking process.
I'm allergic to wood dust now. Had to pretty well pack in woodworking some time back.

 

[Stigmorgan]

I also agree it looks like Yew, as said make sure you wear a mask as the dust is toxic. Interestingly the red berries produced by this bush/tree are edible as long as you remove the pip/seed as even 1 or 2 would make you severely sick.