3rd will be the charm! (Other comp crashed twice.)
Obviously, because of the above I'm no computer wiz so I can't help on the videos not loading.
However, you're in luck because I love sharpening. To me it's a whole hobby in itself just like archery and whitewater! So, here's a written outline of the videos. The videos are better, but maybe this will help until they work.
Materials:
3-blade Broadhead
Sharpie (color's not important, but I find red the easiest to see.)
4" or bigger C-clamp
BIG file (12" or bigger, don't stress about the "cut" just make sure it's a metal file and not a wood rasp)
*Medium* Stone (More on this later)
Finishing stone or "crock-stick" like Mr. Lamb uses.
Explanation and Procedures:
In theory, these are easy because you don't have to hold an exact angle. The broadhead itself will hold a perfect 30 degree angle on two edges at one time if you lay it flat on the stone. Trouble is, stones and broadheads are rarely perfectly flat and they need to be in order for the full length of each edge to contact the stone.
This is where the file come in handy.
1. Clamp the little handle of the file to a workbench with the handle away from you.
2. Take your Sharpie and color the entire length of all six bevels (two bevels make each "blade").
3. With the point of the broadhead pointing away from you, lay the broadhead on the file.
4. Hold it carefully by the blade that is sticking up.
5. Push the broadhead forward down the length of the file.
6. Inspect the bevels. Where the Sharpie is gone are the "high" spots.
7. Repeat 5. until there is no Sharpie markings left. This will mean you've gotten the bevels/edges flat.
8. Get all 3 sides flat.
(The beauty of using a file is that they are either flat or BROKE so you know you're now working with a broadhead that has 3 "true" sides)
*Medium* Stone
-Basically repeat steps 2-7 listed above. You don't need to use the sharpie but it always helps to have some visual feedback for beginners. You can push AND pull on the stones but NOT THE FILE. Files only cut in one direction.
Finishing Stone
-Make a few light passes on your finishing stone or crock-stick.
For all these processes there are some over-arching rules: 1. Take care to make sure you place it on the stone/file flat. You don't want to bugger up the corners or edge by being hasty. "Straight down" and "Straight up".
2. LIGHT pressure. Every beginner I've ever worked with gets in a rush and starts to use pressure. The short explanation is
DON'T !!!!
The file ought to be easy enough to find at any hardware store.
The *medium* stone can be several things. (And I keep putting ** around *medium* because it's a very subjective term. Don't freak out if it says "coarse" or "fine" on it somewhere. I'll add links to stones I would personally suggest below.
You can use a finishing stone or a crock-stick to "finish" the edge. I like the idea of a stone for ease of use. I'm sure Mr. Lamb uses a crock-stick because it's easily taken into the field on a hunt for quick touch-up if needed. (As an aside, I've found that when Mr. Lamb posts here it is usually the sharing of absolute-practical-field proven knowledge he's acquired over a couple decades of walking the walk.)
The file can be ordered at 3 rivers (and a dozen other places) if you can't find one locally. Again, trust me and get the 12".
Grobet File For the *medium* stone there's several options. I'm a fan of the DMT's for an application like this because they are always flat and can be used to flatten your other stones if you don't want to use a crock-stick or another DMT.
6" DMT Dia-Sharps I'd get the "fine" to use as your *medium* stone. You can get a larger 8" stone or even 11", but they are luxuries, not necessities. What IS needed is the continuous smooth surface. You'll be happier with these as opposed to the ones with little holes in the surface. Use these with water.
-or-
India Stones Coarse/Fine Combo This could be both your *medium* and finishing stone. However, these are rarely flat when you buy them and will dish-out with use...requiring you to flatten them with a DMT....so they aren't as good of a deal as they seem. Use these with oil. (I basically include these so you know there are cheaper alternatives.)
-or-
KME\\'s med/fine ceramic stones KME is top shelf. Period. They actually have the 6" DMT on there site as well. I'm fortunate enough to have the KME ceramic stones. For specific applications (like this one) I can heartily recommend them. Use these with oil, water, or panther piss...makes no difference
Finishing stones/ Crock-Sticks
First up is a crock-stick like Mr. Lamb uses. I can't find one that resembles his. If you want to go this route I'd buy this:
Crock-Stick Sharpener Use can use it to touch up knives (if they aren't TOO dull already) and just take a single rod into the field with you.
There's really a 1,001 options here. Just be wary of the grey diamond-coated options. Some may be coarser than we are wanting here. (And I'm trying to save you the expense of trial-and-error.)
Or you can get an actual finishing stone.
Again, I really like DMT an application like this. You could get a DMT with the Fine on one side and Extra fine on the other.
Fine/E.Fine Combo DMT "finishing stones" are a world all to themselves. You can get as exotic, expensive, fancy, and "fine" (in grit) as your imagination and budget will allow, but I have to stop myself here. Your head is probably swimming already and there are just so many different options. The problem nearly every finishing stone will have is that it will dish out, and the DMT solves that. The KME excels at it's intended purpose, but it's not fine enough to finish an edge IMO. The E.F. DMT leaves a 9 micron scratch pattern. Red blood cells are typically 8 microns.
Here's the easy answer:
Get the file -$15
Get the Fine/E. Fine DMT -$47
You'll have all three "stones" and you'll never have to worry about flattening any of them. The DMT will be small enough you can take it with you. (Think of a heavy Hershey's bar). If they need a touch-up pull it out, spit on it, and take a couple swipes down the E.F. side. It is not the cheapest route but it's IMO the most practical and fool proof. That F/E.F DMT is what I'd buy if all my sharpening stuff was stolen and I wanted to shoot 3-blades.
PM me if you want to pan out a shoe-string budget plan or if you need clarification of anything.
Topic: sharpening snuffers (Read 423 times)
