I'm trying Wensel Woodsmans again!

[Apex Predator]

I had shot them earlier in my traditional journey, and even killed my first hog with them.  I had no reason to switch, other than my draw weight dropped some.  I have been shooting Magnus I, which I can get scary sharp numerous ways.  My preferred method of late is using my Lansky sharpener.  

These Woodsmans are a booger to sharpen for me.  I figured I knew more than I did then, but still read everything I could find on sharpening them.  I started by inking the edges and then taking them to my belt sander to get the bevel right.  Then on to a flat diamond stone.  Finally to a piece of leather for stropping.  They will shave, but not nearly as readily as my two blades.  All stroking was done across the flats, while keeping the head as flat and consistent as I was able.  These are not "hair popping" sharp, but will shave somewhat.

Am I missing something here?  I have spent hours sharpening these 6 broadheads!  When I was done, I realized a brain fart.  One of the heads will be used strictly for targets, and didn't need the same treatment!  Aaaggghhhh!

[robtattoo]

It's all down to the sharpening angle. You'll never get a 3-blade to shave as well as a 2-blade, but it'll still blow through game.

Don't try & overthink it!  :D  If it's sharp enough to scrape off hair, it's sharp enough to poke through a piggy.

[robtattoo]

This little drawing proves 2 things.....

1) The angles of an equilateral triangle are not very accute & are fixed (Look at the back of a Woodsman    ) cmpared to the edges of a 2-blade head (as shown in the lower diagram)

2) I'll never be a graphic designer  

It does prove a point though; When you sharpen a 3-blade head along 2 edges simultaneously, you'll end up with a broad angle, not ideal for shaving hair. When you sharpen a 2-blade, the angle is far more accute, meaning it'll shave closer & better.
Honestly though, neither of these factors are particularly important in relation to a penetrating, plunge cut.

 

[MikeW]

These Woodsmans are a booger to sharpen for me. I figured I knew more than I did then, but still read everything I could find on sharpening them. I started by inking the edges and then taking them to my belt sander to get the bevel right. Then on to a flat diamond stone. Finally to a piece of leather for stropping. They will shave, but not nearly as readily as my two blades. All stroking was done across the flats, while keeping the head as flat and consistent as I was able. These are not "hair popping" sharp, but will shave somewhat.

Am I missing something here? I have spent hours sharpening these 6 broadheads!

Don't feel bad I think a lot of us have been through the same thing. I think I get them about as sharp as you can get them and I agree with
robtattoo "You'll never get a 3-blade to shave as well as a 2-blade, but it'll still blow through game"

Check my last post in this thread.
 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=067360;p=6#000080

[dino]

Originally posted by robtattoo:
It's all down to the sharpening angle. You'll never get a 3-blade to shave as well as a 2-blade, but it'll still blow through game.

Don't try & overthink it!   :D   If it's sharp enough to scrape off hair, it's sharp enough to poke through a piggy.

Rob,
That is one the smartest things that I think I have read on here about broadhead sharpening and right on IMHO. dino

[foxbo]

Get yourself a new file and use that method. All I use is a file and then leather for stropping and they pop hair like an old fashion lawnmower.

[DW]

Hey Marty, Skyler has been shooting them the past year and has had great luck with them. He has shot all the way through 4 hogs with 46 lbs, 26" draw, 250 grain Woodsman, 450 gr. total arrow wt.......BUT, we change the angle on a home made type of snuffer tamer and then use a buffing compound on leather...  We can get them scary sharp...It's a little time consuming the first time, when you're changing the angle, but after that it gets a lot easier....We can send you some pics of the sharpener if it would help.....Good Luck, Don and Sky

[fountain]

i killed a good sized boar with them yesterday with them--this is my first with them.  i'm like others, the sharpening process is aggrevating for me, but if you know how to do it i guess that is great.  i just like the 160 sharks because they are a little bigger and i can get them sharper faster.  still a good head, if i can ever get them sharp like i like, then i may keep shooting them

[hill boy]

I use the belt sander,then the bastered file about 10 strokes on each side, diamond stone until I feel the burr smooth out, usually about 35 soft light strokes on each side.I will polish them off with leather.Takes about 10 min a head and they will shave and blow right through.I spent hours coming up with this method and there are others that work just as well.But the edge will never feel the same as a 2 blade.The guys above gave good advice about not over thinking it and robtattoo made a great point.(no pun intended).These heads fly as good as any on the market.

[freefeet]

Just did some number crunching on a WW (sorry the geek in me has his moments       )...

Sharpening across the flats gives you a cutting edge of 60 degrees, which i think everyone knows.

Across the flats is not square to the edge, the cutting edge square onto each blade is about 61.1 degrees.

But the WW isn't going to used with the blades square on (or across the flats), they are used going point in first with everything that it hits encountering the blade at a 12 degree angle.

That 12 degree approach to the cutting edge gives the cutting edge an effective cutting angle of 14 degrees.

If you sharpened an edge to 14 degrees on the square the edge wouldn't stay sharp very long as it has no support, but the WW has a 61.1 degree edge on the square giving it a lot of support to keep that 14 degree effective cutting edge.

IMHO, stop trying to shave with it.  Get the 60 degrees across the flats polished up real nice and leave the design do it's job.

[Pat B.]

The very best way to get a 3-blade broadhead SHARP is with a Snuffer Tamer from 3Rivers.

[BOFF]

Originally posted by DW:
Hey Marty, Skyler has been shooting them the past year and has had great luck with them. He has shot all the way through 4 hogs with 46 lbs, 26" draw, 250 grain Woodsman, 450 gr. total arrow wt.......BUT, we change the angle on a home made type of snuffer tamer and then use a buffing compound on leather...  We can get them scary sharp...It's a little time consuming the first time, when you're changing the angle, but after that it gets a lot easier....We can send you some pics of the sharpener if it would help.....Good Luck, Don and Sky

What's the difference in angle over the original Snuffer Tamer? I tried a Snuffer Tamer on the WW, and it just didn't do it for me. I went back to sharpening the blades with a file and Arkansas stone.


Apex,
I've had some WW heads I just couldn't get sharp enough for my preference. However, for the past 2 years haven't had any issues. I use a file first, a Nicholson 16" whopper. Then a Arkansas stone. Pressure is the key, and consistency, I believe.