New at chasing a ring Updated

[hunter255]

I just started working on my first self bow. I have a osage stave and i started chasing a ring. I have a couple of questions about it.
Here are some pictures

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Not sure about this area





And round this knot


Thank you
Steve

[George Tsoukalas]

Are you talking about those islands on the edge?
Use a scraper and start at the edge scraping away the wood.
See if this helps.
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/osage.html
Jawge

[SLIMBOB]

George's site has lot's of good info on this type of thing. I would caution that you could be down into a lower ring on those "islands" rather than merely having a small spot that more wood needs to be scraped away.  Can't tell form the pic, but just make sure you know which it is before you go to scraping on that area.  On the knot, take a scraper, draw knife, pocket knife etc.. and carefully remove from the knot until it is the same ring as the rest of the back.  A little sandpaper on the last remains will clean it up nicely.

[Pat B.]

I'm new at this too but it looks to me like those islands are below the surface of the rest of the back and therefore on a lower ring..
If that's correct you'll have to take the rest of the back down to the new lower growth ring..

[TimBo]

My first thought was that those were the next ring down also, but it's hard to tell from here.  Good lighting, especially natural sunlight, is your friend...with the right angle, the rings really pop out and it is very clear.  For knots, I like to work out from the center of the knot (downhill, I suppose) rather than from the rest of the limb into the knot (uphill) to avoid tearouts. 

[CustomArcher15]

To me it looks like you just have to scrape those islands down to get to the growth ring your wanting... But it's hard to tell without seeing it in person

[JoJoDapyro]

AI am doing this right now also I'll throw in my 2 cents. First off, go slowly. Take everything down except for the knots first. Then work on the knots. I found that if you use a scraper and go slowly then you won't violate that next ring. Good Luck.

[George Tsoukalas]

Correct. One does not know for sure. Scrape the edge  first; that way if you make a mistake it not catastrophic.
Thanks, SlimBob.
Jawge

[hunter255]

Thank you everybody. I think i will go down another ring just to be safe.

[George Tsoukalas]

You don't have to. 99% sure the islands are on top. Jawge

[SLIMBOB]

If those are on top, your minutes from being done.

[hunter255]

Thank you for the information. I will scrape down those islands.
Steve

[GlisGlis]

Looking at a magnified version of the second picture
http://s44.photobucket.com/user/hunter255/media/20140719_141207.jpg.html
looks like it's not an island on top. Instead this seems to be a ring lower 

[hunter255]

I worked on the stave again. I did violate a ring. I went down 2 rings.

[SLIMBOB]

Looks like you have some mean checks in it.  With few exceptions, I seal the back anytime I expose a new ring.  Even if it should be dry.