Re-shaping a grip

[technoman26]

Ok, so I'm not sure this is a good idea for a first project or not, but I have a custom bow I bought a couple years ago.  And I don't shoot it much because the grip isn't as comfy as I'd like it to be.

I'd like to re-shape it.  The basic shape is OK, but I'd like the throat a little deeper and a little trimmer as well.  This particular grip also has a bit of a palm swell I'd like to trim down too.

I don't think it's too big a deal, but I'm also a little uncomfortable tearing into a bow I paid nearly $1k for.

Is this a project better left to a pro?  Should I ship it back the bowyer and let him do the work?  

If I do it myself, after the re-shaping is done, what should I use to finish it?

Sorry if these are basic questions which have been covered before.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Rob

[Minuteman]

1000$ , man! Does it shoot and skin the deer FOR you?
 I would do it if you felt like you had the skills to do it. Of course there's always the real possibility of it breaking because you thinned it too much.  You might contact the maker and see what he says....

[BMN]

Shipping it back to the bowyer may be your best choice but it is going to be difficult for him to get the grip exactly how you want it without you being there or shipping it back and forth several times. You may try taking a piece of scrap lumber and recreating the grip you want. Then send the scrap grip and the bow back to the bowyer. He should then be able to match it.

I just reshaped the grip on one of my longbows. It's not very difficult if you go SLOW and use only hand tools. I wanted to try it myself and didn't have a ton of money tied up in the bow anyhow.

Bill

[DCM]

Sound advice above.  I have redone the grips on old used bows with good success.  Nearly any kind of wood finish (polyurethane) can be blended back once you get the wood shaped.  The throat is the critical area, where performance loss or catastrophe may result of you don't leave enough thickness, mostly, but also width.  Palm swell can be manipulated no problem.  

I personally would make a model like BMN suggests and get the bowyer to do it.

[Bjorn]

I would not make that my first one for sure. Send this one back to the bowyer and practice on some other ones.

[technoman26]

Thanks for the advice gents.  I think if I do end up doing something with this, I'll ship it back to the bowyer.

[EIGHTWGT]

May I make a suggestion ?  Cut a 2 X 4 to the shape and thickness of your riser... basically carve it to the shape of the bow you have...accurately... THEN reshape it - If you feel confident - go ahead and do it to your boaw after that  OR send the bow and the 2x4 (as a template) to the Bowyer....  

Good luck...

[Tom Leemans]

Good advice above. I like the idea of making a template for the bowyer. He can decide if it's doable. It's always a give and take. The riser can take so much stress, and narrower risers are going to need some depth, or a combination of materials to make up for it. Likewise, a deeper grip will require some meat or reinforcement in the other direction.