Live knots

[E. Jensen]

I've got a bow I'm working on with knots that are dead on the back and live on the belly.   My thought would be to drill out carefully the dead and live both.   It seems that me the remaining grain would be the same as if it was all dead removed.   I like the see through look and I think it would simplify things.    2nd opinion?

[blackhawk]

Got some pics? What kind of wood?

Hard to say going in blind with vague info ..but ive done it with no ill effects with osage

[E. Jensen]

Osage

[E. Jensen]

 

[E. Jensen]

Oh geeze of course they load sideways

[LittleBen]

I've never done it, but looks like you left plenty of extra meat around that knot to eliminate any concern. I'd drill that bad boy out! Probably will just take longer than pushing out a dead branch because you will have to clean up the inside of the hole on the belly side. Again I've never tried but my suspicion is that's it not difficult, just more time consuming.

[E. Jensen]

1/4" bit and a chainsaw file will make short work of it I think.

[LittleBen]

Really looking forward to seeing this one completed.

[PEARL DRUMS]

You can dig just a bit out and leave it be, fill with thin super glue or drill it out. Any of those will work fine.

[E. Jensen]

Good deal.  I LOVE holes in my bows.  I can't wait to finish it and see the look on the faces of the wheelie shooters at the range!  I just wish there was more snake in this one too

[PEARL DRUMS]

You left enough around the knot to equal the width of the rest of the limb, that's all that matters.

[E. Jensen]

Osage has been a good teacher as far as following the grain.

[Pappy]

I usually dig them out with some small carving tools but I guess drilling would work if you are careful, by digging[yes it takes a little longer] I can follow the grain right down into the whole, drilling would seem more like a worm whole.
 Pappy

[Selfbowman]

I have done as pappy said before. Guys I have tried a couple of times to make the limb work -bend and work on a big knot. Every time the limb wants to or does split at middle of knot length wise from center of knot. Has anyone had success with this. I love those kind of character bows but I don't like hand shock. I have built some bows you can drop a half dollar thru  that have good cast but too much shock. Succjestions.   Arvin

[George Tsoukalas]

In the past, I've left them and shot it with superglue.
It is crucial to tiller leaving the knot flat. It should not bend as much as the rest of the limb.
Jawge