Sharp Heads....Pics

[joe skipp]

Noticing quite a few "how do I get these heads sharp" with their hunting seasons right around the corner.

There are 2 threads out there now with great advice. For the new comers, there are plenty of products out there to help you but in my opinion, KME rates the highest, especially for single blade and single bevel broadheads.

I've been sharpening my heads since '69. Took some time to get everything right but I can my heads sharp pretty quick. I still use a 10 mil bastard file and ceramic stick to finish. However this year I started using (again) a good leather strop and fine grit.

Works great on both my 2 blade heads and large Snuffers.  My strop has leather on one side and suede on the other. 25-30 strokes with the file and then finish off on the strop. I still feel bowhunters should learn to use a file or carry a good carbide sharpner with them in the field. It doesn't take forever to get the heads sharp and then touch them up to keep em sharp.

A few pics of my strop.....

Leather side:

 

Suede side:

 

File, Strop and a razor sharp Deadhead...

 

[jcprintz]

Joe:
Wheredid you get that strop?

[Night Wing]

Nice looking broadhead. It that an old Pearson "Deadhead"?

[bornagainbowhunter]

I like deadheads alot.  They whistle when you shoot 'em but I never had a deer spook from it.  They usually just look up, then its too late.  

[kybowman]

I think I just cut my eye reading this post.

[Stone Knife]

I do mine with a file Joe, four blade black Diamonds that shave hair and cut deep    

[straitera]

I told Joe once I never saw anyone yet could sharpen a BH worth a dang in the field with a file. I was wrong!! Good job Joe. Maybe a "how to" is in order. Bunches of newbes here now. I'll save it this time myself. Thanks in advance. b

[Keith Zimmerman]

All I use is a Mill Bastard file.  Works great.

[bentpole]

Hey Skipper I thought you might have gotten a haircut by  the title  of the thread!!!                

[onewhohasfun]

Paper Wheels for me. 2 minutes flat. I wonder how many professional sharpeners out there are using stones and files?

[Shawn Leonard]

Joe can sharpen a spoon and ya could shave with it!! He sharpened a Snuffer for me once in about 2 minutes and a couple weeks later I ran it thru a turkey and I mean like butter! Shawn

[caleb7mm]

Originally posted by jcprintz:
Joe:
Wheredid you get that strop?

X2  

[Jason Hansen]

Originally posted by caleb7mm:
 

Originally posted by jcprintz:
Joe:
Wheredid you get that strop?

X2      [/b]

X3...I think some of us are interested in getting one!    

[americanhunter7]

I'll bet Joe probably made that strop??? But I'll add a X4    just in case I'm wrong.

[ozy clint]

i get my heads sharps with a mill file then diamond steel (jewelstick stubby) then strop. i carry the stubby and a strop with me in the field. infact my strop has two uses as it's my arm guard.    

there's sharp and then there's 'water buffulo sharp'  

[Ray Hammond]

just make one of those, guys.

Buy some smooth belting leather and shape a 1 x 2 into a handle with a file, or a belt sander if you have one.  

Be sure you are stropping on the smooth side. Rouge, or polishing compound applied to the leather like Flitz, or the rouge sticks (make sure you don't use CUTTING rouge, but POLISHING rouge only) you can get at the big box DIY stores all work fine.

[Butch Speer]

I've got to agree with Joe about the file. I use a paper wheel & strop at home. But, in the field, I use a file, if needed, a diamond paddle & small strop. Broadheads are easily sharpened with a file. The only trick is to always keep the same angle while filing. File the same angle with medium pressure on one side till it raises a burr or wire edge the complete length of the opposite side of the head. Flip it over & do the same to the other side. Make sure you have a burr from tip to the back. Then just stay at the same angle & swipe each side with very light pressure. The burr will soon be gone & you have an edge sharp enough to shave your arm. To refine it, strop at the same angle as you filed. If you use a stopping compound, like Yellowstone or Flexgold, ( from a wood carvers shop) it will really polish it in very little time. The hair on your arm won't stand a chance.

Ray had a good solution too about going to a home improvement store for polishing compound.
 
I use thin pig skin on my strops. It's porous so it holds a good amount of compound. If the leather is too thick or soft, it will roll up over the edge & dull it.

Always maintain the same angle on every file & strop stroke & it's a very easy job to sharpen a broadhead or knife.

[Bowspirit]

Thank you for posting this, Joe. For a few years now, I've considered using a leather strop treated with some sort of fine rouge. This post was just what I needed to go out and get some to try with an old leather belt. I came up with a combination of sharpening tools that I really like, and the strop is definately going to be a permanant part.

[sagebrush]

I use a leather strop I made also. Lately, I've been messing around with cardboard as strop material. It works great. Gary