patch or fill

[stuckinthemud]

So I have an elb in blackthorn I'm roughing out. There's a 4mm (1/16) wide knot in the belly that runs diagonally from just off centre on the belly to emerge in the middle of the side. Its solid in the belly but rotted out on the side. Would you drill it all out and plug it, fill it with epoxy or scarf in a patch on the side?

[Del the cat]

I'd probably fill/plug.
If it's an odd shape you can always drill and dig it all out, fill with epoxy/saw dust mix and then when that's cured drill a clean straight hole through and plug it.
Del

[stuckinthemud]

Thanks Del, the shape is pretty much circular and uniform so it should be fine to drill through as is

[Del the cat]

You can always try drifting it out with nail with the end filed flat first, it avoids cutting into any fibres. Give it a good sharp tap, if it doesn't shift  you can still drill it... I always start with an undersized drill in case I don't judge the direction correctly, you can the correct the direction with the correct size drill.
Del