Advice please

[Don Case]

I'm working on this Ocean Spray bow. It has a big lump 8 1/2" from the tip. You can see the knot and beside it there is a hole. I can stick a piece of wire about 1/2" into the hole and wobble it around some. I'm guessing it opens up to about 1/4" to 3/8" inside. The knot looks iffy to me and I'm wondering if I should drill the knot out? The knot is just starting to show on the belly and I still have quite a bit of wood to take off. I'm toying with the idea of opening the whole area up but I'm afraid that will compromise the back too much. Any suggestions please.
Don

[BOWMAN53]

when in doubt drill it out

[PEARL DRUMS]

Drilling out rotten wood doesn't strengthen anything, it just keeps it from falling out later and messing up your finish. The integrity of the wood is as good as it can be now, or if its removed. Id clean any loose stuff up and call it good.

[Don Case]

You can see in the bottom picture that I've left it  bit thicker where the lump is. Do you think I'm being over cautious? In the top picture you can see that I followed the grain around the outside.

[PEARL DRUMS]

As tall as that knot is, Id keep my belly flat with the rest of the limb and leave that area a mega fuzz flat. Id consider that a solid knot.

[Don Case]

Sorry, mega fuzz???

[PEARL DRUMS]

A tiny bit!

[Don Case]

Thanks, back to rasping

[Pat B]

I would not drill it out because you could be violating the back ring. I would pick out the loose stuff from inside the knot. If it goes all the way through to the belly leave it a hole or fill it with saw dust and super glue.

[bow101]

A shame.  Good luck with that Don.  I just cleaned up some OS I cut last year. One piece is 1 1/2" thick then sort of branches out about two thirds of the way having a good curve in it.  I don't have a photo yet. I really hate to start on such a project knowing deep down after 2 hours of work it will break in the section where the branch off shoot is.
If I leave the OS whole I can use it for tip overlays or other stuff.   

[bubby]

don os is some tough stuff and hard to bust I say go for it just like pearl said

[Don Case]

A shame.  Good luck with that Don.  I just cleaned up some OS I cut last year. One piece is 1 1/2" thick then sort of branches out about two thirds of the way having a good curve in it.  I don't have a photo yet. I really hate to start on such a project knowing deep down after 2 hours of work it will break in the section where the branch off shoot is.
If I leave the OS whole I can use it for tip overlays or other stuff.   

Did you have anything important planned for that two hours? This stave was collected in Sept, I think. I bandsawed it in half, leaving it as thick as possible in the handle section. Its weight has followed the RH for a month so I'm pretty sure it's dry. I glued a piece of mahogany on the handle but after I finish it there won't be much left. I'm tillering it now and I have a good feeling about it. Oh, I've jinxed it now haven't I.

[bubby]

OS takes  a long time to dry i'd watch for checks

[Don Case]

OS takes  a long time to dry i'd watch for checks

I'm "reasonably" confident in this one but as I build my stock of staves I plan on a one year minimum. I started this hobby/obsession last August and I am pushing the envelope here cause I'm sick of waiting.

[bubby]

I know that feeling Don