I have a stave now what?

[twitchstick]

I have a osage stave that is ready to work. My first question is it better to chase the ring for the back first or should I cut the profile out first? It is a pretty stright stave but dose have of few areas I have questions on the best approach. Half of the stave is stright with no knots. The other half has a knot around the handle area and two knots in the limb. I'm not sure if I should try to cut the profile out around the knots or work the ring to see how the knots look where the back will be. Thanks for any advice. Here are a few pics.

[twitchstick]

This is the half of the stave with the two knots.

[twitchstick]

This is the side veiw of the bigger knot.  

[twitchstick]

This is the smaller knot towards the end of the stave.

[twitchstick]

This is the knot around the handle area.

[twitchstick]

Here is a top view of the knot around the handle.

[twitchstick]

Here is a pic of the rings on that end of the stave.

[takefive]

I would chase a ring first.

[mikkekeswick]

Yes seeing as it isn't 4 inches wide it's safest to chase the ring first. that's not t say you couldn't square the sides a bit first.

[George Tsoukalas]

I always chase first. Some like to narrow and then chase but not I. Lets me see what is going on with the wood.

There's alotoing on with that stave.

Knots have tobe tended. Leave enough wood around it to see the grain swirl.

Remeber to follow that vertical or lateral grain.

More on my site.

http://traditionalarchery101.com/

Jawge

[twitchstick]

Thanks everyone.