Hickory stave with large knot

[8upbowhunter]

I just purchased a hickory stave for my first try at making a selfbow. When the stave arrived the first thing I noticed is that it has a large knot in the center of it where the grip will be on the belly side but I see no signs of it on the back after debarking. Looking at it from both sides it only shows up on one edge about 1/4" from the stave belly. I didn't find much info on the web on dealing with knots in the grip area so what are your thoughts on this. I will know more about what it looks like deeper down after I remove some wood in that area.

Not sure how to post pictures here, do you have to use Photobucket to post them?

[8upbowhunter]

I removed about 3/8" from the belly where the knot was and it is now gone so maybe it will work out in the long run.

[LittleBen]

It sound like it will be fine. Post a picture if you need more concrete advice.

[RedStag5728]

As long as you are planning on making the bow a stiff handle that knot will pose no problem at all, it will add character!

Even if it was in the bending portion of the limb, as long as you leave enough wood flowing around the knot and don't gouge it out too bad it still won't pose a problem. With hickory most of the time you can work the knot as if it wasn't there because hickory is tough wood.

I've got a knot about the size of a quarter in the dead center of one limb about 6" from the fades in the second bow i've made (hickory). I over built the area (left some rings around it), and it's stiff and doesn't bend hardly at all in that area and my bow is still shooting after thousands of shots. However it's performance isn't spectacular (it's 43# at 28"; 40# at my 27" draw and throws a 560 grain arrow (14 gpp) 133 fps on average)

[Pat B]

Knots on the belly aren't as troublesome as knots on the back. I usually don't worry about belly knots unless they are close to the edge.

[8upbowhunter]

How do you post pictures here, Photobucket?

[Pat B]

Yes, Photobucket.

[8upbowhunter]

First picture is the stave.
Second picture is the knot on the belly.
Third picture is the back opposite the knot after removing the bark.
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[8upbowhunter]

#1 after removing 1/2" where the knot was.
#2 after removing to the back of the grip area.
#3 progress yesterday on one limb.
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[Eric Krewson]

That isn't a knot, it is just hickory heart wood which is darker than the sapwood back.

[8upbowhunter]

Thanks I didn't know that. This is my first attempt at this so I am learning as I go.