Hi I have this mulberry stave, the top 3rd has 3 ugly knots, I was thinking of just trying my luck, or using the other 2 3rd as half of a TD bow,
I've just removed the sapwood, and coated the back in glue.
I, stuck pieces of paper under each knot, incase they weren't very easy to see in the pic.
What are your thoughts on this stave ?
Living in a typhoon area, I'm finding it very difficult to find wood that is clear of twists and knots,
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kqRLbpLvd3M/ShrC95xnZ1I/AAAAAAAAAco/MzOf1grjZdg/s400/DSCN1200.JPG)
How wide is your stave? It looks to me like you could eliminate the middle knot and leave a bit of "meat" around the other two and make a nice bow with character. Will you give us a full length pic?
Pat's got the right idea, of course ;) Take your time around the knots. These kind of staves can be a good education.
Thanks guys. The stave is almost 2'' wide on it's narrowest part.
The middle knot runs very deep, I'll have no choice but to include it into the bow.
I'm battling to take a decent pic of the whole stave, but here is an attempt. The stave is 60'' long, it looks shorter. (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kqRLbpLvd3M/ShtfQo-VnHI/AAAAAAAAAdc/5q3U2WJHGrA/s400/P1020113.JPG)
Yes, indeed. Leave the handle full width and the nocks a good 3/4 inch wide until you string it for the first time so you can make adjustments to track the string. Jawge
A stave like that will teach you a lot about wood bows and what they are capable of if you allow it to.
Is that middle knot where the handle would be?
If so it could be reinforced with a built up handle. Take time with the knots leave them thick and use superglue to keep them stiff.
Thanks for the feed back. I'll give it a go.
Tommy, no the knot, is bout 1 3rd down, it would end up in the middle of the bow limb.