Al Yew was used in making furniture and floors in England about 150-200 yrs ago. England has a spear dating back about 50,000 yrs. I've worked on many Windsor chairs with bent pieces in it. Yew wood bows were very common. Most bent members had cracks and places where there are knots there are also cracks.Old chairs also have twists and warps in the seats and rails. I have also seem cups and plates made of yew,but as to being food safe,I wouldn't use it.I've never found any stories of people getting sick using them,but the leaves,seeds and bark are known to be poison. Livestock has died eating it.The bark was ,and maybe still is, used to treat cancer.The wood its self is very hard but for stable?I think you might want to look at some of those old English chairs. Randy