Altering a bow to fit my needs

[Redux]

Hey guys, I've been thinking this over for a few weeks and would like some input. I have a PSE Heritage Marksman longbow 55@28" that is currently my main shooter. I'm wondering if I could increase the depth of my shelf by say 1/4" and radius it. I'm very comfortable working with wood and I'm certain I can do a clean job, but would this hurt the bow in any way? I'm also thinking about sanding the grip to contour my hand a little better. Refinishing the areas I worked on would likely be done with true oil.

[karrow]

the grip and the shelf radius will be no big deal as long as you don't weeken the handle by removing to much. cutting the shelf a 1/4 inch deeper does not sound like a good idea to me. the bow may break in half. what's your reason for wanting to increase the depth of the shelf.

[Redux]

I feel more comfortable with more of a shelf to rest on, I imagine it would also help if I needed to adjust the thickness of my side plate... As it sits now, I'm just using a piece of Velcro for my side plate and anything thicker I'll be shooting off my hand

[jsweka]

1/4 inch sounds like a lot. 1/8 inch and you might be OK.

Why do you want to do this?  If it's to get better arrow flight, you might be better off getting different spined arrows.

[LittleBen]

If your arrows are tuned well right now, they won't be properly tuned after yu cut the shelf in another 1/4"

If your arrows are not tuned well now, then cutting the shelf in is not the way to tune them.

I also think that cutting a shelf deeper generally adds a risk of the bow breaking there.

[Dan Landis]

You can add built up leather to make the rest area a little deeper, after reshaping cover with a leather wrap.  This should not change your arrow flight, if properly tuned now.

[macbow]

Like  Dan I like to use layers of leather soaked in CA glue to build out the shelf. Then sand to mate with the handle.

[Redux]

I believe I'm going to try the leather idea!  Thanks fellas!

[Roy from Pa]

Leather rest.

[Redux]

Looks good Roy!

[Wolftrail]

deltete....

[Roy from Pa]

Leather rests are easy.

[jhk1]

I had one of those pse marksman longbow a few years ago-- I know what you're saying about the tiny shelf. Mine was 50# or 55#, can't recall which.  I took a rasp to mine and made the sight window a little bit deeper so that there was a little more shelf to shoot off of, and rounded the shelf somewhat with no problem.  That bow is plenty thick at the sight window, so you should be able to do what you describe.  I don't think I'd go so far as cutting it an additional 1/4" deeper, though. Maybe another 1/8" deeper.