broadhead question

[nhbuck1]

before i put my zwickey deltas in my quiver they are shaving hair off, i took one out ran it through the kme on fine diamond real quick and stropped it out jeans and now there not shaving sharp again, am i missing something or is this typical?

[McDave]

Sharpening is not rocket science; it all depends on maintaining a constant angle.  Assuming you set the edge initially with the KME, running it through the KME again should set the same edge.  If you didn't set the edge initially with the KME, you might not actually be sharpening the edge, but just grinding steel off above the edge.  Stropping is the same thing: you have to maintain a constant angle, which would be hard to do on your jeans.  If the angle is constantly changing when you strop on your jeans, you could just be rounding the edge over and dulling it.

[nhbuck1]

well if its shaving hair it wouldnt just be grinding steel correct?

[McDave]

In your first post, you stated that your broadheads were hair shaving sharp at first.  I assume at that time, they had been sharpened correctly.  You then stated that you took out a broadhead and sharpened it some more, after which it was no longer hair shaving sharp.  The only possible conclusion is that you sharpened it incorrectly after taking it out of your quiver, and I suggested several possible reasons why that might happen.  Sharpening a broadhead incorrectly could dull it more than it was before you sharpened it.

[nhbuck1]

Dave i sharpened it shaving sharp before then i took it out to test it out of the quiver and it didnt shave hair, After i found out it didnt i then took it on sharpener for  a few minutes, the fact is it was sharp when put in quiver when i took out it was not cutting hair

[McDave]

Yes, carrying broadheads around in a quiver can dull them, and they may need to be touched up before hunting with them.

[Mike Faith]

nhbuck1, two things I do to limit this issue is making sure my arrow gripper on my bow quiver holds  the arrows snugly as not to allow the arrows to slide down while shooting, also I put a coating of lip balm on the sharp edge to prevent moisture exposure, it is very humid where I live and rust develops quickly, hardly noticeable to the naked eye, and will dull the broadheads...hope this helps and good luck this season!
Mike

[Sam McMichael]

I would suggest using broad head covers to protect the edges. They can still dull over time, but it won't be as fast. Unfortunately, periodic touch up is just as much a recurring part of the game as initial sharpening in preparation of the season.

[nhbuck1]

so every time i go out i have to touch them up? i leave them in my quiver while i practice

[Bladepeek]

We are not normally talking high carbon quality steel for broadheads. If the steel is soft, as most broadheads are, they will dull quickly if allowed to rattle around in a quiver. Unless they are stainless, the edge will oxidize as Mike Faith said. What makes them shaving sharp is that one molecule thick edge of the edge. When that oxidizes, what was shaving hair a week ago, may not do so today. A lot of inexpensive knives exhibit exactly the same thing.

Sharpen them, protect them from oxidation with an air-tight coating of wax, lip balm, grease, something and don't let them rub against anything.