Hickory Stave - large knot recommendations

[Ken Babicky]

I bought this hickory stave to build my first selfbow. I've built a number of board bows in the past, but this is my first from a stave.

I have a ways to go, but it's starting to bend now and I am looking for some advice as to whether I need to do anything with this knot. It was right in the middle of the stave, about 10" from the end, so couldn't go around it. It appears solid and also looks like the outer growth ring completely covers it. I am fine with leaving it, but I didn't know if it would be an issue due to extra weight, or some other reason I am not realizing.

Please let me know what you would suggest.


 

 

 

 

[Ken Babicky]

One more pic.

 

[Ken Babicky]

The bow is 66" ntn, and my goal is 55#, give or take a few pounds.

[Pat B]

Just tiller out the bow leaving the knot area slightly stiffer. I wouldn't sand the back anymore either. The belly side isn't critical at all. It is the tension side that can lift a splinter.
 That limb probably won't perform as well as a clear limb but just tiller so both limbs are bending evenly and together. You will have to imaging the knot blending in with the rest of the limb. I look through squinted eyes to eliminate the details so I can just see the overall bend.

[George Tsoukalas]

You did well leaving some wood around the knot. When you tiller, leave the knotted area a little stiffer... just like Pat said. Jawge

[Ken Babicky]

Thanks guys! I think I'm good for the moment.

[Roy from Pa]

Looks good to me. Looking forward to more pictures.

[LittleBen]

That's a total non-issue.
Leave it a little stiff there and enjoy the character

[mikkekeswick]

Look at your last photo and look how the cambium 'flows' around the knot - like water round a rock in a stream. You should have followed the grain lines around that knot (width).
If you had left the extra width then there is no problem, however because you have essentially reduced the width of sound knotfree wood in this area then I would go with what the others say and leave it a little stiff. Only a little though.
Stiff spots in a limb lead to the handle side of them being over strained and if it's bad enough then chrysals.
The other factor is that the knotty area on your belly will act differently (stiffer) than the surrounding totally clear wood. Knots are harder than clear wood.
On your next stave make certain that you follow the grain around knots more than you have above. Follow the grain!

[Wolftrail]

Originally posted by mikkekeswick:
........ then I would go with what the others say and leave it a little stiff.

yup

[mikkekeswick]

Wolftrail - my whole answer is important not just one little bit taken out of context.....

[Ken Babicky]

Mikkekeswick,

Believe it or not, that was the width of the stave back at that point when I received it, or I would have followed the grain and left the material. I didn't have any choice that I could see which I why I was looking for advice. All I did on the edges was sand it. I took a bit more off of the belly since these pics were posted. The bow is actually complete now and I have been shooting it, I just haven't gotten around to posting completed pics yet, but will at some point.

Thanks again everyone.