Woodsman Broadheads Seconds

[the rifleman]

Awhile back a friend bought me a couple dozen Woodsman broadheads that were sold  as seconds.  I have tried everway possible to sharpen these heads---using a file, even using a very slow moving belt sander, stones, diamond sticks etc. and can't get them anywhere near sharp.  Figuring the angles might be off I have spent quite a bit of time with the file and the belt sander to try to get them to raise a burr and read to finish---nothing has worked for me.  I don't bear down on them when trying to sharpen and try to let the file do the work.

Has anyone else had any experience with these broadheads as seconds and/or could provide me with any insight into what is going on with them or what would make them a second.  If I can't get them sharp I guess I will relegate them as squirrel heads---I know they will work for that purpose.  Thanks.

[kennym]

The way I was told on 3 blades and have done it on Woodsmans (not 2nds) is put it on an arrow shaft and black the edges with a sharpie . Fine wheel on a 6" grinder and do 2 blades at once. Just enough to remove the sharpie black. Then with a fine file do 3 strokes across 2 blades at a time, then 2 then 1.

Last few , go really light on the file, only its own weight. I can make them shave in about 2 minutes each.

If you go from back to front it is easier cause it's hard to line the point up if you start there....

BTW, what this does is put a hollow grind on them so you only sharpen the very edge with the file. Last doe I took last year, I cleaned the VPA 200 up and it would still shave!

[Biggie Hoffman]

That's exactly why, when we designed and sold the heads, we did NOT allow seconds to go out. Some got out somehow but we never authorized it. Seconds happened with poor welding and unsatisfactory heat treating. Sorry for your problem and ebven more sorry I can't help.

[the rifleman]

Thanks Biggie!  I wasn't sure if it was just me.  I have always heard nothing but great things about the Woodsman broadheads and figured that  either I was inept in my technique or there was something wrong enough with the heads that made sharpening futile.

I will likely try to purchase some new (non-second) Woodsmans down the road.

[Charlie Lamb]

Yep, don't judge all Woodman broadheads by you experience with some seconds. It's one of the finest broadheads ever designed.

[Curtiss Cardinal]

Send them to me. If I can't get them sharp, no one can. You only have to pay shipping both ways.
It sounds like they might be harder than normal Woodsmans. If you don't want to send them to me anneal them and regarded them to the proper heat treat..

[Greg Szalewski]

I have been using seconds for years and have had no problem. Sometimes it is only a sloppy looking braze that makes them seconds. Never had a dead deer complain.

I start with a fresh disk on the disk sander and lightly get each side flat and finish with a diamond stone by Work Sharp. As a toolmaker for over 40years I see no reason any piece of steel can't be brought to a sharp edge. The harder ones just hold the edge better.

[Terry Green]

 I don't want this to come out wrong I really don't I swear I do not want this come out wrong but I would never never never ever ever ever buy seconds in Broadheads... Never buy 2nd.... did you hear me never. That is the business end of every piece of equipment that we have yes the business end I would never skip never skip on the business end seconds yeah you want to shoot some coyotes or some kind of rabbits or squirrels or rats or butterflies I don't care but I don't have a answer to your question because I never buy seconds I shoot First Quality at everything First Quality

It's like the people that claim they shoot their warped wooden arrows they save those for rabbit hunting or squirrel hunting I never understood that either why would anyone try to miss an animal or plan on missing an animal or try to use inferior equipment on any shot at game???,,, I will never figure out never in my life why people do that nor will I ever shoot a crooked Shaft or  a warp shaft at an animal.. a squirrel or rabbit if it comes out of my bow.  If I take a shot in an animal I want my arrow to fly true and kill it no matter what it is no matter what it is any kind of wood arrow I get that doesn't fly right gets broken and throw it in the garbage cuz I don't want me or anybody else to use it or wasted on some stupid shot hoping I get lucky my warped and hopefully  Finds Its Target.  I never figured that out the mentality of that just blows me away

[Russ Clagett]

I know the Woodsman is a killing machine once you get it sharp. It's probly my favorite broadhead, but I've never used or even seen seconds. Didn't know they were even for sale.

[Terry Green]

Yep from bunnies to bison....

[Rob DiStefano]

i like woodsman's best of all, and that's all i shoot.  i run the heads on a belt sander and pyramid the point a tad, for front end strength, but a mill bastard file will sharpen WW's guick - see charlie's tutorial at the 'how-to' board.

http://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=108924.msg2041040#msg2041040

as to the WW 2nd's, i've had a few and their issue was warped blades that needed some very serious truing - i got that done on the belt sander and got a few to true up.  however, it took off a lotta metal and and lost some weight, if that matters much.  some would have been impossible to correct as the blades were so warped that i'd be grinding at least one off to true it up.  so yeah, i'd avoid WW 2nds unless you could see 'em and lay 'em down on a flat surface to determine how bad the blades were warped.

[the rifleman]

Thanks all for the thoughts on this.  Curtiss, thank you for your offer, if i can't get them sharp i may pm you.