Fattening up glue-on broadheads

[Kavogt]

Anyone try upping the weights of their existing broadheads? I like the Zwickey No Mercy, but want to up them to 160 grains. I'm planning on adding some lead sheet to the inside of the heads and then gluing the shaft in, but I'd like to see if anyone has any better ideas.

[monterey]

You can add lead shot to the botton of the ferrule and shorten the taper on the shaft (wood).  It does not add a huge amount of weight but can help if you need just a bit for tuning.

[drewsbow]

woody weights  

[ron w]

Originally posted by drewsbow:
woody weights      

You can also do an internal footing to get the weight up.....or do both for even more!

[smokin joe]

Here is what I do:
You will need a grain scale...

Get some lead number 8 bird shot (take apart a shotgun shell). Put it into the ferrule of the broadhead until you have the weight you want. Heat the broadhead to melt the shot (I use my regular alcohol burner that I use for hot melt). Melt the shot. I make Wensel Woodsman 125 gr heads into 145 gr this way. I am also going to try making a WW 160 gr in the same way. There is plenty of room inside the bottom of the ferrule for the melted shot.

This is really easy, doesn't harm the broadhead, it works and you can custom make the head you want.

Have fun.
Joe

[Ray_G]

Here is something I have used, plastic worm weights (lead).  They are used on the line and have a tapered head to slide through weeds, plants or whatever underwater.  They come in all sorts of weights and the 1/16 ounce will give you 27 grains.  You can use a punch to tap them into the ferrule out of the way of an adapter or shaft or just epoxy them in.  No heat to mess with.

[ChuckC]

there is at least one older thread that discusses drilling and inserting a piece of metal rod into the wooden shaft, at the tip.  The length of rod of course will influence the weight.  

Jerry K (Orion) has a drilling jig made just for this and he has probably experimented with it more than most.  He may have some first hand knowledge and advice if he reads this.
ChuckC

[Fletcher]

Lead in the tip works but I found I couldn't add as much weight as I wanted.  I've drilled the nose of the shaft and inserted 1/8" lead wire and that works quite well.  It is permanent tho and you need to know what spine shaft you need before going that route.  By paper tuning, I found I needed 1 lb spine for each 8-10 grains of weight.  The 1/8" wire adds 35 gr per inch.  Two inches is pretty easy to drill, three about my max.  I use a jig in my drill press to drill the hole in the nose of the shaft.  Woody weights are another good option altho they start at 75 grains.

PM for more info or some wire.

[Kavogt]

Thanks for the advice. I looked into woody weights, but they start at some 70 grains or so. Bit too much for what I'm looking for.

The inserts are interesting, but I'd be worried about weakening the tip. Anyone have any problems with that?

[ron w]

I have drilled the shaft and put 1 1/2 " of steel rod in. Nothing weak about that! You can use a nail or coat hanger cut to the right length!

[JamesKerr]

If I wanted to add weight to an existing broadhead I would just use melted fishing split shot. That said, if you are looking for a 160 grain broadhead STOS are great heads and are close to the same specs as the No Mercy.

[JimB]

It sounds like you only need 30 grs.It's not a bad idea to weigh the broadheads to find out their actual weight.The most weight for the least space and ease of installing,is tungsten putty,like used for fishing weights or in pinewood derby cars.It isn't cheap but it weighs more than lead and you just weigh your broadhead,weigh a pinch of the putty and push it into the ferrule.Cut your taper to fit.The putty can be reused later if you change your setup.

On the other hand,the internal footing mentioned above will give some strength and not shorten your taper.I don't know what length and diameter equals 30 grs.

[deaddoc4444]

I have been adding  lead shot to the bottom of the ferrule and cutting the end off the shaft on woods for years. I can get more exact weights  on my broad heads that way . You CAN    heat the head to melt the shot  but the head has to get very hot to do that  and it CAN affect the temper of the steel . I Use a small drop of glue on the bottom of the ferrule ( I put it in with a toothpick )    then heat it as normal, to melt it on . I use  #8 or #9 shot and its easy to get exact weight that way . Put the broad-head on the pan on the scale  keep adding shot till it reaches the weight you want then put the shot in the ferrule heat the head to melt it on   it USUALLY puts the shot  even on the bottom . I have heated  heads where the weld came apart before the shot melted so be careful in heating it .
 MOST broad heads will let you increase by about 5 to 15 grains.   I Increase   145 Grain ACE broad heads to   160 easy .  With carbons or  aluminums  you have the washers or inserts to do the same thing .

[Roadkill]

I made an internal weighting device years ago.  They sell them on one of the big companies.  I built a device that drills down the center of the 11/32 shaft.  I used it to internally foot with bamboo.  Worked well.  We also put nails in to weight thy up