I first use a wood rasp Pat. Then clean that up using a large flat bastard file. I made me up a oval shaped sanding block to dress up the dished area.

Best to get a good measurment using a caliper before you start. I usually take the area down 1/16" at a time until the fret disappears.

Lost a bunch of pics awhile back and I reckon the ones I wanted where in it......Art

Question if I may. Could you thin the limbs down and make a new belly. I mean that is what you would do if you were putting horn on the belly. But could IPE or something else be used to make a belly. I know on this one it is the snaky limbs that would cause issues because you would have to heat and bend the belly to match and might not be possible. Could you glue on a new belly?
Kelly

Yeah, it's possible to do that also Kelly. Or you can save a damaged bow with a bad belly and use the pristine back to re-back a damaged bow. Lots of possibilities......Art

Thanks Art. It will be after Christmas before I can get to it but even if this doesn't work I have other opyions...Mate 2 orphaned limbs into a bow!
Kelly, I did that on my osage static recurve but it has straight limbs. If this had straight limbs I would do that but with these snaky and offset limbs it would be tricky at best.

I'm sure you'll make a shooter out of it Pat.

Stiks

Pat,
I must have missed the length measurement for this bow somewhere, but it looks to be plenty long for a 24in. draw. If that's the case, maybe just chopping it down to gain weight and then retillering her would allow you to remove the fret from the belly. I have done that before with good results, but I like shorter bows. I just thought that it might be easier than some of the other fixes.

We'll see Kris. It will be after the first of the year before I mess with it.
DVS, The bow is 60"t/t(58n/n). If I cut it off at the fret it would be 48" long but I have already shaped the handle so that won't work anyway.
 I normally wouldn't shape the handle or tips until the tillering is all but done for this very reason. You put all that purtying up into a bow just to have something like this happen. I was in a rush(big mistake) to get her done and sent out before Christmas or right after.

pat, I still think you could cut a two inches off the length, not cut out the fret. If you were looking for 45@24 you might gain anywhere from five to eight pounds. After cutting it and retillering the belly the small fret may come out while you drop the weight.

This is turning into a great teaching/learning thread.  Gonna keep watching and following along to see how you pull this one off, Pat.
Good luck,
Stan

Pat, this is the first time I've looked at this thread and so of course have read it all the way through - at one sitting. I'm dizzy now and have a severe headache. I may take something strong and go back to bed - just out of empathy for you -     :rolleyes:      :D   You are really something else, my friend. May you continue on to final success with this nightmare - and an ultimate return to a healthy mind    

Bernie, after building wood bows for as long as I have I have gotten used to these sorts of things. I get bummed at first but soon get over it and move on to the next. If you let it get to you it gets too frustrating and can kill the passion.
 I purposely picked another difficult stave for this project like I did for the TG bow trade last winter. It helps me learn more about the wood, the process and myself. I knew going in that there might be a 50/50 chance of success so then the /50 happens I try to move on. I will do what I can(after the New Year) to make this bow work. I have gotten some good advise from a few folks in the know, like Art Butner and others, so I'm probably at the 50/50 place once again with this one. I truely hope it works out but if not, I have learned from the experience so it is not a failure and never will be.

How true, and a good outlook.