how important are knock overlays

[Schmidtster]

I'm building my first red oak board bow and have it bending nicely on the floor and want to put a string on it but haven't shaped the knocks I have left plenty of wood to shape them without overlays but wasn't sure if I HAD to put overlays on I would rather not and just have a nice clean horn shape out of the oak. Is this possible or problematic?

[John Scifres]

No you don't have to.

[No-sage]

I almost never use them.

[George Tsoukalas]

I never use them except to bolster a tip with a drying crack. Jawge

[Diamondback59]

if ur  using a b 50 string forget the over lays  if ur  fixin to fool with fast flight then add the overlays  horn or hard wood  brock

[Schmidtster]

awesome thanks alot guys I'll start shaping them tonight...man I love this site hahaha

[Jason Scott]

Just don't cut into the back, just the sides.

[ALW]

I'm sure they aren't needed if you don't cut through the back but if you use the right wood,
wood combinations, or horn it can really set a bow off.  I like using a couple very thin layers of differing wood.  Use super glue and you can work the tips in less than an hour.

Aaron