Please, help with a knot!

[Cade]

Ok, so I'm working on my first bow. It is a hickory, 67 inches long 2 inches wide tapering to 3/4 inch tips after mid limb. In the middle of the top limb near the taper is a big knot about 3/4 inch wide going all the way from belly through to the back. How should I go about this? Sorry no pics yet. Oh yeah I just pealed the bark off so didnt have to chase a ring on the back. Don't know if that changes anything. Thanks in advance.

[huisme]

I'd keep it just a tad wide at the knot, just enough to follow some grain around, and just proceed as normal-- but pics would help decide if that's the way to go in this particular case.

[Pappy]

Hard to say without seeing it ,but usually pretty much what huisme said if it is a clean knot.
  Pappy

[DarkSoul]

A knot that is 3/4" wide is a big knot for a bow. I'd like to see a picture as well. Is it a dead, brown knot or a healthy, tight knot? With a knot this big, you must indeed make sure the actual grain of the limb flows around the knot in a natural way, on both sides. That means the limb will be wider at the position of the knot. The limb should be about 3/4" wider (the diameter of the knot) to compensate for its weakness.

[Cade]

Here is the pic. Let me know if it doesn't work

[Joec123able]

How about a pic of the back be careful around the knot to not tear a huge chunk of wood out

[Del the cat]

I'd say pick out any of the black punky stuff on the belly side (don't drill it, pick it out and you won't disturb the flow of the wood fibres) pack it with sawdust/epoxy mix (mix it drier than you think, as when tamped in it gets wetter somehow). You can't do anything to strengthen the back except leave it wider (or add an overlay which isn't a good idea). Dou't worry about trying to plug the back as it will just pull away from a plug 'cos it's in tension.
IMO it's important to remove the manky stuff from the belly as it has no strength and can collapse causing a pinch.
Del
(other opinions may vary....  )

[George Tsoukalas]

Tiller it so the knotted area appears to be slightly  stiff at full draw.
Jawge

[Stickhead]

Looks manageable to me so far.  Stop using the draw knife around the knot - just a rasp.  You don't want any more deep ruts.

[Cade]

Ok thanks for the great advice. I'll start using the rasp

[PEARL DRUMS]

Tiller it so the knotted area appears to be slightly  stiff at full draw.
Jawge

Id say the same. Keep a bit of wood around the knot extra. Just like you have. Hickory bows don't really break anyhow.