I have worked with wood most of my life although I don't do it much any more. I love the smell of wood and the touch and all the varying hews to the grain. I gave up woodworking when I discover metalworking and all the sparks I create can be dangerous. No wood working in a metal shop!
That said, last week I came across a wonderful slab of Yew Wood and couldn't resist! This is ancient wood that grows sparingly here in the Pacific Northwest and it was almost exterminated in the 1990's!
Some idiot thought its Bark would be the next cure for cancer and sent trainloads of people into the forests to strip the bark, leaving dead trees all over the place. Most firewood hunters will cut these up into cordwood but once in awhile someone will see some beauty and cut a rough slab.
That said, last week I came across a wonderful slab of Yew Wood and couldn't resist! This is ancient wood that grows sparingly here in the Pacific Northwest and it was almost exterminated in the 1990's!
Some idiot thought its Bark would be the next cure for cancer and sent trainloads of people into the forests to strip the bark, leaving dead trees all over the place. Most firewood hunters will cut these up into cordwood but once in awhile someone will see some beauty and cut a rough slab.
