While cutting out the core for a new BBI, I found a knot.  Very small.  Its about 12" from the tip.  Would you use this for a core?  Thanks

Mark

Glue your boo to that side and I think ti will be fine. Hopefully ti doesnt go through to the other side.

From what I see, thats the entrance and exit that is circled.  Hate to get to 28" and blows up. Guess thats the deal.

The side knot should be gone by the time you tiller it out. I just fisnished two BBI's and they are both 1 1/8" wide at the fades and are very thin even with very thinned down boo on the back. I say go for it and dont sweat it.

I've never seen ipe that looked like that!

When you say core, do you mean there will be another piece of wood above as the belly?  If so, then it won't matter.  If not, then Place the clean end against the bamboo and knot may be tillered out, or neutralized with a rounded belly.  I have two bows with knots like that, the rounded belly worked well with the knots.

QuoteOriginally posted by Pat B:
I've never seen ipe that looked like that!

This is rough after working.  It will look more brown when I sand it.

I was kinda surprised it looked that way in the picture.

QuoteOriginally posted by Sal:
When you say core, do you mean there will be another piece of wood above as the belly?  If so, then it won't matter.  If not, then Place the clean end against the bamboo and knot may be tillered out, or neutralized with a rounded belly.  I have two bows with knots like that, the rounded belly worked well with the knots.

Yep, thats what it means, when someone says BBI.  Meaning bamboo backed IPE.

I don't think the knot will be tillered out as it runs from the side to the face that will have bamboo to it.In other words, you would have to tiller all the way to the face,  If you find a knot, there is a beginning and end.

sal was talking about a belly lam added after the ipe.  Like a boo backed, ipe core, and osage belly. A trilam so to speak.

with your not, depends if you need a bow, or are you just hobby building.  When I make a bow for someone, I go with a sure thing, when it's for myself or a hobby bow, then I'll use questionable wood to see what happens. If you don't mind the work possibly ending in splinters then take chances, if you want the best possible survival rate, then get a new piece. At least that's how I look at it.

I probably agree with ya DVS.  If it was running back to belly, I might not worry, but across it, that might end up bad.  I have seen knots be disasterous on IPE.

Thanks Guys,  I have it at 68".  Thinking of making a bend in the handle bow.  That way it won't bend much.  As a hobby that is.  I have a bunch of URAC I was hoping to use up.

If it starts to give you trouble, you could also patch it.

Big I just added a .060" thick osage lam to the belly of one my BBI's to bump the weight up. It worked super and looks very cool against the dark Ipe. The 1/16" thick allowed me to bend it up my fades  even. The oasage strip stopped about 10-12" from my tips, no use in adding weight to a dead section of limb. Then I just feathered it in and it looks awesome and works even better. That piece of Ipe will make a fine bow backed with boo and a thin belly lam glued on. If I didnt hate Photobucket so dang much I would post a pic of the bow I am talking about.

Pearl now that is just not fare how is bigcountry going to stay motivated if you want share a pic of what sounds to be a wonderful bow?

pearl probably just makin it up. That's why there are no pics. Hehe. Like that one bow I made from fossilized mastodon tusks.

You can be whatever you want on the internet DVS! Heck I have never even built a bow, but I did read TBB I, II, III......twice each.