concave sections on back while chasing ring

[gfugal]

So this should be a simple question. What do you guys do when you run across concave sections on the back when chasing a growth ring? I'm chasing one on the honey locust I got from spring buck, but there are spots where my draknife can't reach without violating into the sides since they are higher than the middle. I'm thinking I might try chisels to work those spots down but wanted to check with all you first. I haven't followed that many growth rings yet. I've just done board bows, or simply took the bark off.

[mikekeswick]

Get a good sharp pocket knife and use it like a scraper but going across the grain. The earlywood comes off in thin 'strands'. I've just finished a 70#@30 osage with a back like this.

[Dances with squirrels]

I use a gooseneck scraper... whichever part of it best fits the curve I'm working in.

[osage outlaw]

I made a scraper with rounded corners.  It works great for chasing concave rings.

[bubby]

You can also use a spoon if nothing else

[BowEd]

gfugal...Yes a tear drop or curved scraper works great there.Those kind of staves take a bit more time to chase rings but easily doable yet.

[Eric Krewson]

Years ago I did a pictorial how to on making what I called a"pin knot scraper" out of a concrete nail. I made a bunch of them of different sizes for just about any scraping need. Some sizes work really well in the hollows on the back of a bow.

[Parnell]

Man oh man, Eric.  That's a clever little tool.  Gotta make me one of those.

[High-Desert]

I use a small spoon gouge across the grain to remove a majority of the wood, then the details with a goose necked scraper.

Eric

[PatM]

You can buy hooked knives for hollowing with various curves. Lee Valley sells just the blades and you can fit your own handles.

[wizardgoat]

I use a couple kinds of rounded cabinet scrapers