Thanks lostarrow, Grady and Pearl. I like plan A a lot. The wood is probably twice as dense as the knotty stave, and it shoots really sweet. Plan B has me intrigued though. Lots of knots, but pipe straight otherwise. Chased a ring on it back in Feb. Had a few very minor tear outs. With thicker rings I would have sanded them out no prob, but not on these slivers. So I took it down another ring just to be safe Got it clean, clean this time. We'll see.