Need to make a wood grip...how do you do it?

[Bill Carlsen]

This summer I got Lyme disease. I know have a bit of arthritis at the base of my thumb on my bow hand. My doc told me I needed to have an ergonomically correct grip on my bow that eliminates the pressure as much as possible from the base of my thumb. I have some nice pieces of mahogany that will make a handsome grip for my DAS riser so I have decided to save some $$$ and try to make one myself. I have some ideas about how to get started but before I do I thought I would ask here if anyone knows of a tutorial that I could refer to. I also have an older metal Black Widow that has what appears to have the perfect grip for me so I want to replicate it. I simply don't have the money to have a custom Loesch made so please don't take me there. One question I do have is what glue is used to glue the I beam section to the side plates? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[BobCo 1965]

I would suggest getting it just right using Loctite Multi-Purpose Repair Putty. It may not look as nice as wood, but it can be easily worked with. There is also no big deal if you mess up. You can get it just right and then apply pressure into it while soft to get the impression of your hand (more important your pressure point). Then just trim down the rest with a file or dremmel.

[flinthead]

I made one for a Hoyt FITA bow. Took a piece of Zebra wood and sanded it to the width of riser handle. Glued a 1/2 in thich piece of Cardinal wood to each side. Drilled thru the area where all 3pieces joined and glued oak dowells in. Then I ground off the handle til it had the shape needed.Also chechered it. If I had a good router it would have simplified everything. Pretty simple, Roy

[lpcjon2]

Bill,
  They make a wrap that you can put on the handle that will conform to the shape of your hand. Its soft rubber and it works well to fit the shape of your hand.I had it on my wheels.

[RUSTY1]

Once you have it made you can just use double sided tape to put it on the bow. To start I would take the block of wood and get the grip cut to fit on the bow before you start shaping it. A dado blade on a table saw would work. Once the groove is cut on the back to fit with double sided tape, then start shaping it. Never made my own before but that's how I would do it!

[Hud]

Bill,

You said, your BW grip fits and you want to replicate the grip. What I have done for several recurves Bear TD's (wood handles) is to make a pattern from another on cardboard. Set the bow on a flat surface, with a piece of cardboard underneath, (thickness found in a spiral notebook, or writting pad), then from a shadow, or with a Right Triangle, and pencil draw, or mark the outline of the grip (profile). You may be able to trace it with a pencil.

Next, cut the curvature of the grip with a razor or scissors, to see if the curvature on your DAS is the same, or what needs to be changed. If you can reduce the handle, to get the same grip, I would start there.

Once you have determined what needs to be done to the DAS, so the profile is the same as the BW, you will see where it needs work, and whether making a new wood grip would work. Use a pencil to shade the areas to be reduced.

I use the cutout as a guide when changing the handle. Reducing the area under the thumb should be easy, once you get the profile right, assuming you need to reduce the pressure at that point. Use a finish sander, or file and sandpaper to reduce the areas. Go slow, it is easier to remove material then to put it back.

Reducing the Handle on the DAS may be easier than making a new one, unless the grip is two side scales attached with pins, or screws. If it is a one piece handle, you will need to determine if the thickness is such that it can be reduced without cutting through.

If you want to make a new one-piece grip, it would be necessary to make a mold of the metal handle, and a reverse mold, which is more work.

I would also consider getting some help, if you do not want to try doing the work yourself.

[JimB]

I think Flinthead has the simplest idea.Inletting one solid block of wood is not a simple job.I suspect that manufacturers mill that.Shaping the exterior is far easier than inletting.

I would want to take the bow out and shoot it occasionally during the shaping process.If you want to go the epoxy route,taxidermy suppliers sell epoxy putties in a few different colors.You can get a real,custom fit with that,plus can add to a reshape any time you want.If you don't want it to stick,just paste wax the handle first.