Has anyone done any work at home on their own bow such as fileing the handle down for a better fit a refinish and if so how were the results. Thanks

I have never felt the need to modify an already finished bow...on the other hand I have three bows that started out in blank form...I do a bit of work on the grip area and then put on some finish and shoot them for a while...works well for me

DDave

I cut in the arrow pass some on a Jeffery's recurve I own. Used a wood rasp, scraper and sandpaper then sprayed it with poly. That was about 25 years ago.

There was a post on here sometime last year about a re-shaping and checkering project. I think if you do a little work with the search function it will show up.

I recently reshaped the grip on a Jerry Hill longbow ...made a straight grip from a dished grip

I have reduced weight, reshaped risers, altered string grooves on bows that would not behave, modified center cut etc. The first pass of the rasp is the hardest after that any intimidation is behind you.
Get out that Nicholson 49 and have at it!  

I'm the same as Bjorn,I've built a few bows in the past and have a huge woodworking shop with all the tools.Very seldom I get a bow I don't do something to it.Don't be intimidated.Most of mine turn out a lot better than when I started,especially in the grip area.

thanks bjorn that us the hardest part watchin that first dust fall to the table

I've not done any re-shaping, but I have done a few re-finishing's. Just finished a pair of Bear T/D limbs. They were all scratched up. Sanded them down, refinished with tru-oil. They turned out really nice. On other bows, I've used wipe-on Poly with good results as well.

Yep I do them every day.  LOL

The first thing you need to do is go very slow.  No power tools should be use until you reach a point that if you ruin one it's ok.

Have fun.

Mike

Always.  No issues.

All of the time. No one can custimize a bow like the shooter. Shape the grip, file down the shelf and window, till it just right. I do not care who make the bow, I'll make it fit me.

Yep......all the time, just like Wingnut said, take your time and go slow.

When I got my Red Stag I knew the fit-and-finish wouldn't be the same as a high end bow. The grip was larger than I like, kind of chunky. I sat and sanded it with some sand paper to tet it just right and then just re-poly'd it. I knew working the grip wouldn't effect the integrity so it was no problem. Grip fits me much better, doesn't hurt my hand after long shoots, and is "custom" to me.

If something is bothering me, I take the bow to my knife grinder and go at it...be it shape or too much weight.

Peeled some meat off a Chekmate grip once. Really pleased.
My present Bear Grizzly could use a rasp. May just do it. As above, go slow and keep checking progress.
Don't have the know-how to reduce weight.

ALWAYS!  My grips especially followed by string grooves and arrow rests.  I'm never truly satisfied with any bow without my tweaks and adjustment.  Love working on bows.  

Kris

Yep, reshaped the grip on a kodiak hunter, ended up refinishing the whole thing. Really no big deal, common sense is all you need.

yup  I have been known to take a file to a bow handle and I've never regretted it.

I've reshaped grips, taken weight off limbs, re-tillered, done limb tip overlays, installed inserts, etc. and, of course refinished.  A bit choosy as to when I do it though.  If it's a high end bow, tinkering with some aspects of it (the grip, for example) it will reduce its resale value, often by a lot.  I've seen some real butcher jobs for sale, and usualy they don't sell.