Sharpening Aptitude

[Soilarch]

I'm a sharpening nut.  If we each have our oddities...sharpening things is mine.  Everything.

The group here is a pretty self-sufficient group who also enjoys DIY stuff.  But how many here enjoy sharpening things?  How many of you can put an edge on stuff but you don't enjoy it?  How many just flat-out can't?

[billy shipp]

I have yet to run across anything I couldn't sharpen, and I enjoy doing it.

[Soilarch]

Don't get into straight razors then...they jokingly call it Razor Acquisition Disorder and Hone Acquisition Disorder. RAD and HAD...I'm not sure which is more expensive.

I'm single, but I bet there's plenty of wives who would like us to change the name of the Classified Forums to the Bow Acquisition Disorder (BAD) Forums.

[Bowferd]

I'm an old retired butcher and learned the art from my father many moons ago.
I enjoy it but will be the first to admit that at times it can be frustrating.
When using the old tools of the trade you had to make sure to keep an exact degree of bevel without rounding the edges.
Sure would have been convenient to have my KME Knife Sharpener back then.

[lpcjon2]

Only problem with me sharpening my stuff as soon as someone see's me doing it, I spend the rest of the afternoon on their stuff.It bothers me to watch a guy wear a blade down due to lack of patience.The only thing I couldn't get crazy sharp was my Hill broadheads,but I am worken on that!

[ishiwannabe]

I can sharpen pretty much anything. Proof just got removed three days ago though....hey, it was my FIRST time getting stitches.  

[Earthdog]

The measure of a bowhunter is what's in his quiver,,,that was told to me about 35 years ago by the man that took the time to show me how to sharpen my own broadheads.

I say the same thing today to any young man I teach the same things too.

Being able to sharpen both your broadheads and knives should be the very first and most basic skill for anybody calling themselves a hunter.

That some people today can't do this but still call themselves hunters,,,,is just sad.

[Brian Krebs]

Sharpness of the broadhead is our biggest responsibility. The sharper the better; learning to do so is something we all need to be able to do.

 If you have a broadhead that you cannot sharpen; then don't hunt with it.

 I am going to defend the 2 blade Zwickey delta- because it is easy to get to scary sharp; and that is what you need to be able to do.

 I use a mill bastard file; and in my perfect world - I strop them on thick harness leather glued to a 2x4.

 The way you get a broadhead sharp; is to get each side of the broadhead on the same angle.
 If you file one side; turn it over and file the other- your better off than hitting it several times on one side; then flipping it over and hitting several times on the other.

 Fred Bear watched me show how to sharpen a broadhead at an Anderson Archery 'bow clinic' and said that I sharpened a broadhead faster than anyone he had ever seen.
 
 I wallow in that and totally set aside his sense of humor    

 I have made recoveries from hits with a sharp broadhead that make me realize how important it is.

 And not that far back we had a discussion about it here; and I kind of played devils advocate; and then realized I was believing what I was saying and - and had to stop and adjust myself to a more humble person.

 Sharp is totally necessary and if your having problems with it; lets deal with it !

 Most of us have a while to practice..........why not commit a dozen broadheads to learn how to sharpen them to perfection?

[Sharpster]

I pride myself on being able to put a decent edge on just about any kind of blade but, while there is certainly a level of satisfaction and reward in the finished product, I don't particularly enjoy sharpening like some people do. To me, it's just a necessary evil. I do very much enjoy teaching others how to do it though.

Ron

[swampbuck]

I've always enjoyed making things sharp,not sure why exactly but putting an edge on something that'll shave hair has always been my thing.I have decided long ago that the kitchen knive's are sharp enuff with a flat file and a steel follow up,that'll shave arm hair fairly easy and can be quickly touched up with just the steel for some time between useing the file.

Now face shaving sharp is a differnt kinda sharp than arm shaving sharp and I only do that once in a while anymore mostly around huntin season  

[reddogge]

I like to sharpen things, knives, broadheads, kitchen knives.  I have special knives used only for butchering animals or filleting fish and when my wife or someone else uses one to chop celery or bone a chicken I freak out.

[Clinglish]

I enjoy the act of sharpening my knives and broadheads but it can be frustrating at times trying to get them to shaving sharp.

[Jeff Strubberg]

I don't know that I enjoy the process, but I enjoy the results.  A knife is the most basic tool and should be carried at all times.  A dull knife isn't much more than a waste of pocket space.

[vitalinvader]

I don't really enjoy doing it, but I sure do like sharp.  Seems I always think it could be a little sharper.

[Bowmag]

Broadheads sometimes frustrate me. Knives are not much of a problem.
My granddad was a barber back when they still used straight razors. My dad learned the art from him. When i was growing up every knive in the house was shaving sharp. I still have some of my dad's knives that have been sharpened down to little more than toothpicks. Seems like he would sit sharpen those things for hours, just to do it.
While I have no where near his talent for it he most definitely left me with a respect for a wonderfully sharp blade.

[bowfiend]

I can usually get a good edge on knives and broadheads, but I had a hell of a time with my single bevels last year. It was counter intuitive to me - it seems like it should be easier to only sharpen one bevel! I couldn't get them as sharp as I like so I went back to some well-used Zwickey Eskimos which touch up perfectly for me. I think there's a tutorial on here for single bevels, but I have limited patience for messing with what works when it comes to broadheads.