Sharpening tools...

[Daniel F.]

I just purchased a G5 Sportsman Sharpener, does anyone have experience with them?  Do they get a broadhead sharp enough to ethically hunt with?  I've tried sharpening on a stone for a little while    , but I must be doing something wrong, cause I'm not getting anything like hair shaving sharp with that yet.  Should I keep trying with it?  Is there something I should know about technique when using a stone?  I know manual sharpening is considered something of a lost art, I'd like to master it.
I shoot Zwickey Eskimos.

Thanks.  

~Daniel~

[Friends call me Pac]

Sorry don't know anything about the sharpener but I do use Zwickey heads on occasion.  I seem to do better with a file with the zwickeys and finish them with a piece of tungsten rod.  

I try to get them crazy sharp with my lansky but I don't think it does any better with these heads than the file and tungsten.  Magnus heads on the other hand I can do way better with the lanskey than the file.  Have no idea why but that's how it is for me.

[Terry Lightle]

Do not know anything about your sharpener.Have always used a file.Have shot Magnus,Zwickey,and am using Woodsman Elites now.Can make em shave with my file

[bendbig]

Need to start with a extra rough stone then work up to a fine one. IMHO starting with a good rough stone getting your edge started at the correct angle is the most important step in sharpening broadheads. Do a search for sharpening and try the how-to section on here, or PM me and I will try to help you along. Glenn

[EHK]

I shoot Zwickeys and use the Lansky system.  When sharpening for the first time, using just a coarse stone takes forever to get the tip ground down even with the rest of the blade.  I take a 6" file and secure it to one of the other stones with a rubber band on one end and then just hold the other end with my hand.  With that setup, it takes the point down very quickly and at a consistent angle.  I then switch over to the stones and get them razor sharp pretty quickly.

[$bowhunter$]

yes from my exsperience with just a rock it take a very long time to get them shaving sharp and like others said you need a rough rock and work up to a smoother stone. i now use a file and it takes about half the time of just a stone i still use the very fine stone to put the finishing edge on though.

[metsastaja]

File and diamond stone and a very light touch

[Bud B.]

Originally posted by metsastaja:
 File and diamond stone and a very light touch

Same here. Wicked sharp on any head I own no matter what the brand.

[Bowmania]

You can have the best series of stones or files in the world and if you can't hold an angle you won't get them sharp.  I need a bracket, but am learing on a bench grinder.

Bowmania

[USN_Sam1385]

What kind of file are you guys using??

[Brett Wilmore]

Nicholson 21842 12-Inch Mill Bastard File without handle, about $12.95 at Ace Hardware.  Is wide enough to catch two blades of my Woodsmans at a time.  Finish with an Arkansas stone and a white finishing stone.

[Tutanka]

I do own one of these, and in my opinion it does not get a broadhead sharp enough, I have not been able to get anything close to shaving sharp using it.  I agree with the above comments using a bastard file and then working on the finer stones or even on a jewel stick.  I do use the g5 for quick touch ups on my knives while boning game out, for this it's seems to work OK as long as the bevel as already been set, the small size makes it nice, and it doesn't add a ton of weight to the pack.

[Butch Speer]

Daniel,
Contact Mike or Brenda at The Nocking Point. They're sponsors & great people to deal with. Have them send you a "Grizzly" file. Only $9 or $10. It tputs a burr on a broadhead very fast. After that, just use light strokes to remove the burr. Light & easy to carry & will put a razor edge on a BH in no time at all.