Osage knot questions

[Fox]

Getting back in the saddle again after not making bows for a couple years, and wondering about some knots. Making this one for my girlfriend and don't want it to blow up on her. Did I leave enough material on these funny knots or should I go down another ring and leave a little extra? Thank you!

Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr
Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr

Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr

[Eric Krewson]

I always chase a grain over the knots which leaves a small hump on the back of the limb, you have your limbs a bit flat over the knots.

I don't think you will have any problem with them if you soak them with all of the superglue that they will hold but can't say for sure because I have never worked knots and left them like that.

I made a scraper out of a concrete nail to carefully work pin knot clusters on the backs of limbs from every direction. Most of the time I can work them with round end cabinet scraper but some take a little extra care to be sure I don't violate the grain that runs over the knots.

Pin knot scraper;

[mmattockx]

Getting back in the saddle again after not making bows for a couple years, and wondering about some knots. Making this one for my girlfriend and don't want it to blow up on her. Did I leave enough material on these funny knots or should I go down another ring and leave a little extra? Thank you!

Those are on the back, I assume? The top one I would put a patch over (sinew, rawhide or other material just to prevent a splinter lifting) after digging out any loose wood and filling it with CA glue, as Eric suggests. The other one I would just hit with thin CA and carry on.

I made a scraper out of a concrete nail to carefully work pin knot clusters on the backs of limbs from every direction.

You have the coolest tool selection, Eric.


Mark

[Pat B]

If the back ring wasn't violated just add super glue and keep on keeping on.  If it's on the belly it shouldn't be a problem. Again, fill with super glue.

[Fox]

Okay I went another ring down and I think these maybe look a bit less scary? what do we think

Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr
Untitled by Livvydog, on Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr

[Hamish]

Doesn't look too bad. You have left a little swelling around them to help compensate for the knots.
Another option in your arsenal is to leave a little "wart" of wood on the belly side around the knot. Its not often used because it makes tillering a little more complicated, but it does work well, especially against stopping chrysals.

Curious to know how wide the limb is, and how powerful you want the bow?

[Fox]

Okay thanks hamish that’s a good idea too. Dimensions are 60” ttt 1 3/8” wide at fades tapering to 1 1/4” a little past mid limb. Aiming for 40# at 26” think that’ll work out alright? I usually would leave it wider but this is what I had to work with for this stave

[bassman211]

Knots on the back of the bow can be problematic, and no one likes wraps on new bows, but my method, and you may not like it is to clean that knot out to good wood , and mix saw dust ,and crazy glue, and patch the knot, and most of the time I wrap it afterwards. I have used saw dust,and crazy glue on limb edges with no wraps to save a bow with excellent results. I didn't invent  the method, but who ever did had a good idea. When you mix the saw dust with the crazy ,and apply it makes smoke, and gets as hard as a rock.

[sleek]

Thats a rough one. Its the number of unbroken broken fibers that make the difference. Anytime you question a bad spot, make that wider. Ive had those lift splinters enough times that I would wrap them and soak the wrap in super glue to help hold the splinters down.