You know guys, the older I get the less weight I can pull. It's not a problem of making a new lighter bow, but having all these arrows for heavier bows. So making a lighter weight bow and cutting shelves in still allows me to use the same arrows. And we all know, making bows is so much more fun than making arrows................
Best advice I can you you is to just be smart about cutting your window in. Make sure to leave enough wood in your handle to not jeopardize it's integrity. Another problem with cutting deep windows in selfbows is that more often than not the handle/fades are to short to support them.
Personally, I wouldn't cut a selfbow all the way to center. Leaving at least 3/16-1/4" from center will allow you to easily match arrows which will probably be the same weight as bow poundage. Good luck and have fun....................Art