stinks when that happens,the bow was looking sweet too! I've got a sweet birch sapling that I'm goona start work on soon and now I'm nervous about knots in birch! I have built a couple already and I can say this,be careful if you back it,I used hickory to back and it was so strong it crushed the belly like an accordion!! I think I'm going to try cherry next time! I hope you can fix er' Gl,Ron