Help with Stave issues

[razorback]

I took one of the Cherry staves I cut on 9/11 and started reducing it to bow dimensions. This is a really nice stave with 2 small issues; a little twist in one end and a knot right in the middle. As you can see this is no ordinary knot. I was cleaning the sides when I found this spot. The branch had abviously broken off several years ago and the tree grew over it. I cleaned it out and found it to be about 3/4" of an inch deep and it is right under the sap wood. The 36" ruler is lined up with the ends of the stave. I could put it in the handle or in the limb depending on which way I go. Just not sure how to handle a spot like this.

Full Length


Back of Bow


Knot





Opposite side


Location on Limb




Any and all input would be appreciated. I am going to continue reducing the limb area and leave the middle part alone for now.

[PEARL DRUMS]

If you have the length available I would cut it in two and splice it back together minus the knot. Thats an ugly knot for sure.

[razorback]

I hadn't thought of that solution drums. I will check it and see if I've got enough length.

[razorback]

Only got 30" on the one end, so don't think that will be an option.

[okie64]

I would put it in the limb. Looks like you got about 3/4" of wood above that knot. That should be plenty thick enough in the limbs for a moderate weight bow. It will make a nice character bump in the limb too.

[Pat B]

Is the knot just on that one side? If so, you might be able to eliminate it when shaping the handle even if you have to offset the handle a little to do so.
You could possibly put it in the non working part of the handle and still get a 62" to 64" t/t bow. Make it wide.

[razorback]

Okie and Pat, they are the two options I am looking at.

Pat, the cavity goes in about 3/4" if I eliminate that how does the surrounding wood tend to act. I know there is the actual limb wood in the knot and then the wood that flows around it. It that wood just as stable in the non-bending part of a handle as straight grained wood.

Okie, yes there is about 3/4" of sap wood above the knot. It would be in the fade area or early part of the  bottom limb, if I go that way. I have not tillered anything like this before so want to be careful. That said, until anybody does therre first they have never done it before either.

I might pick another one to start on.

[Eric Krewson]

I would work the knot into the middle of your handle, pretend it is not there until you get to the long string.  I would then plug what what ever hollow place is left with sound wood using urac. If you have a non bending handle and cover the spot with leather you will never know it is there.

Here is one of my extreme handle buildups.



Still shooting as far as I know. Here is a picture of the same bow a guy sent me after he bought it from an archery shop in Chattanooga 5 years after I made it.

[razorback]

Thanks Eric.
I think putting it in the handle will be the way to go. The rest of the limb is very straight grained so probably have the best chance of getting a bow out of that. Will take plenty of pics and put them up as I go along.