This is probably going to be an exercise in futility, but I can always use more exercise!
I've got an Osage stave I started preparing for a possible swap bow. It's been drying for at least 6-7 yrs. Once I got down to a good ring and cleaned it all up, I took it to the bandsaw. I was left with a chunk of the stave from the inside of the wedge once I had sawn the outside inch or so out. It's got some character for sure. Some knots and checks and cracks
I have to work around the knot towards the end of the limb. But I'm trying to keep the nasty looking beauty closer to the handle. In order to keep in the center area tho, it'll have to be a bit shorter than ideal.
I figure if nothing else, this'll give me some much needed practice. My trad interests have been pushed to the back burner for a few years.

I'll try to post some pics

Here's the knot closer to the handle

If the layout works, the shelf will take out some of the worst of the splits and cracks

I'd love to wind up close to #40 @ 28.5, but I'm not sure if it can take it

Here's at brace height

And about 32lbs @ 22"

Looks like it will break

Damn...

Good luck with that.

Cutting the shelf in could be the worst choice. I think you could work around the knots but the shelf is an unnecessary weak spot. A shelf can be added to the handle instead of cutting one in. The tiller looks pretty good so far, though. 

Yeah Pat, I didn't really want to cut a shelf. But there was a split heading into the meat of the bow. I cut right along the crack in the hopes that it might keep it from spreading.
I hate to spend too much time on the little things yet, until I see if it'll make it to 28"

You can cut out the bad and glue a piece in, I did it just to see if I could. It is a BBO.

It started out as the rough picture.

A guy found the bow in a archery shop in Chattanooga and asked me about it many years later, it is still shooting.

 

Pretty neat !!

That's really cool Eric!
Especially the fact that you still had the original pictures

Here is the story;

I was playing around with this project in the shop, the limb wood was spectacular but the stave didn't have enough wood for a handle after I cut out all the splintered wood, I decided to bamboo back the bow as insurance to keep it together.

I used Urac glue which is was bomb proof, I wish they still made it.

I got the bow shooting, it was a real performer. About this time a dear friend was trying to put together a rig to shoot cowboy action. He was of modest means so I asked him how much he needed to complete his rig, "$80" he said.

I thought of my Frankenstein bow and decided to see if I could get $80 for it. I probably posted it here, I told everyone that I couldn't guarantee it but right now it was a really great shooter.

A guy in Connecticut decided to take a chance on the bow and off it went. I got nothing but positive feedback from the buyer after he shot the bow.

I pretty much forgot about the bow until another guy contacted me about 10 years (I think) later about finding the bow in an archery shop in Chattanooga. He said he found a bow with my name on it and wanted to find out about it. I looked up the specs in my log book and determined it was my Frankenstein bow. i asked him to send me a picture to verify that it was, yep it was.

My pieced together bow has stood the test of time and my friend was able to finish out his rig for cowboy action shooting, a win win for sure.

Nice story Eric
Here is one similar but no  story.
You cant see the serving wrap but The crack was not going any further, just insurance

Personally I'd be trying to get a lot more bend near the tips to even out the stress across the full limb. Sort of a circular tiller.  It will help with hand shock a bit too.

As of right now I have a one piece bow. It's got about a dozen shots put thru so far. It's pulling about 36lbs @28. I put some clear finish on it this evening, and I'll try to put some more arrows thru the next few days.

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Very interesting bow and the tiller looks pretty good. Well done.   

Cool looking bow