Advice on Working Knot

[hickry]

Hello.  I've built a couple of bows now and have decided to give a character bow a try.  I have a 67" stave of HHB that I'm working on.  It's got a knot in the mid-limb area that is right on the edge of the limb.  There was one below it that the limb just caught the edge of and i took it out... this one I can't.  The limb is 1 7/8" wide at it's widest point in the knot.  I've never done anything like this... does anyone have advice?  I thought about just leaving this part of the limb stiff  but it sure will take out a lot of the mid-limb.  Should I leave it stiff?  I'm concerned about 1) the knot being right on the edge of the limb and 2) it being located around the mid-limb area.
Knot-Belly
 
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Knot-Belly
 
Knot-Belly
 
I would REALLY appreciate any advice you may have on this!
Thanks,
Alek

[Dano]

There doesn't look like enough wood around the knot, I would cut the punky area of the knot out and work around it. I don't think it would survive if you left that area stiff.

[hickry]

OK... thanks Dano!  I removed the knot and have another beginner's question.  After removing the knot, the back of my bow (where the knot was) is much wider than the belly on one side of the bow.  Should I leave some extra thickness on that side of the limb to help make up for that?  Below are a couple of pictures that may explain this a little better.  I'm going to shave this down to an even thickness tonight so that I'll be ready to start tillering by the weekend.  Thanks for your help!
 

[John Scifres]

I'd leave that part alone for now and work the rest.  It looks like you did a fine job and I bet it'll make it.

[hickry]

Thanks!  Maybe I'll be able to post a bending bow soon!  Thanks again,
Alek