How to fix a bowed Stud? Be careful!
This is a new one-- today I read an article that recommended attempting to fix a bowed wall stud by cutting through it partially, bending it into the right shape, and then fixing it there with wood shims and additional 2x4 support. The idea is to cut on the curvature in a location that will allow you to bend the board back into a true shape. ?You put shims in the opening you create, and then support it with a 2x4 block over the area.
This sounds dangerous to me for at least two reasons. First, cutting a 45 degree angle in a bowed piece of wood isn't easy. You either have to do it by hand, or set your circular saw at an angle, which can be tricky for the weekend warrior. Even if you get the cut right, knowing how deep to make it so you can manipulate the wood without weakening the final product is not clear, either.
The second reason I don't like this is that you are starting out a new wall with a hacked up patch job. You will be relying on a few shims to basically keep a stud forever partially chopped in half. The stress on your patch is always going to be there, and if it fails, I'm not sure what exactly the wall will look like.
For me, it's far easier to pitch that stud into a scrap pile (Lord knows there are scraps needed in any project) and use the straight board for your wall. Don't plan on patching as a way to save a few bucks on another stud 2x4.
