VPA or other 3 blade edge retention issues?

[ThePushArchery]

I'm having an "issue" but not sure if it's truly and issue.

I've been a 2 blade man for quite sometime now, but I just mounted and took some VPA heads for a stroll this past week.

I can get these puppies hair popping sharp and my confidence in these heads are higher than I've ever had in a broad head in some time.

Here is my question. I can have my number 1 arrow hair popping sharp when I enter the woods. After stalking and hunting all day or a couple different hunts, I'm noticing my broad heads are not as sharp.

I use a quiver with foam in the hood, and during my ground hunts the arrow may enter and exit my quiver maybe 3 to 5 times.

After a couple hunts I always touch my number 1 broad head up, but I am noticing that the broad head cuts my arm hair rather than pops my hair after these hunting stents.

My other two broad heads tha stay put in my quiver hold their edge beautifully, and pop hair no matter how long they stay stagnate in the quiver.

My question is, should my number 1 broad head really be loosing it's "hair poppingness" after entering and exiting my foam quiver a handful of times??

Thanks guys.

[Charlie Lamb]

Do I think it could... yes. Do I think it matters...No!

[JamesKerr]

It depends on what type of foam you have in your quiver. It has been my experience that some foams will substantially dull even a high rockwell head like VPA's. I have never noticed this problem with my Bowmate Elite side quiver, but when I shoot with my Selway bow quiver. It's hood foam will dull just about any head I have tried so far if you take out a head and replace it frequently.

[Gordon martiniuk]

Keep it simple touch up the edge from time to time ,, problem gone

[pdk25]

I think it can be harder to get the 3 blade head to slip in the quiver straight, and may dull up a touch easier than a two blade.  As Charlie said, hair popping or hair shaving will get the job done.  I have a Big Jim big 3 broadhead made by vpa, and it gets very slightly more dull from being put into and taken out of the quiver.  When I first pull it out, I very lightly hone it on a litle 6 inch crock stick and it is good as new.  Easy to carry it with me in the field.  A short bastard file, crock stick, and wheelie sharpener are almost always in the pack with me and take up virtually now room.  I got a hodgepodge in my quiver, and only use the wheelie on the two blades, though I have heard that it works on the 3 blades as well.

[Easykeeper]

Something else that might be happening is when you sharpen you are not completely removing the burr.  This can leave a very sharp feeling edge that dulls quickly as the burr "folds" over.

I try to keep the final part of my sharpening to strokes with minimal pressure.  All the hand does is guide the head on the stones.  About the only pressure down is from the weight of the head.   On my final fine grit stone I can hear a subtle but distinctive high pitched "ring" when I have the pressure right.

[Roger Norris]

I hit my broadheads with a steel almost every day hunting, whether I shoot them or not. I always figured it was a combinatioon of the quiver foam and oxidation.

[Roger Norris]

P.S....with regard to 3 blade heads, I have only seen 2 guys that can consistently get 3 blade heads hair popping sharp. I like them, I have used them, they work, but I have never got that crazy scary sharp edge....

Absolutely not a condemnation on the heads, but rather my sharpening ability.

[Bullfrog]

Thats why I went to Razorcaps. The stainless definitely stays sharp longer.   BILL

[Bill Carlsen]

Bullfrog X 2!

[TxAg]

How about rotating the arrow that you pull out while you're hunting?

Then each arrow might be pulled out/put in only once rather than the same one 3 or 4 times.

[Zradix]

That's the problem with any FINE edge...they're easier to dull than a less fine edge.

Your experience with VPA's sounds about the same as mine.

I'd like to add that I had a hair popping edge on one a few weeks ago. I went hunting and scouting with it one weekend and took it in and out of my foam quiver quite a few times.

The next weekend I went out to the woods.
Took that same arrow out of the quiver and remembered I didn't touch up my heads the night before. I checked the head and it didn't POP the hairs but they did still shave.

Used that "dull" head to Poke 2 holes in a nice doe at about 18 yds with a 450 total grain arrow out of a 45# bow at 28".

Along the lines of what Charlie said...don't let it get to ya.

I have found a LIGHT coat of vaseline helps prevent rust AND seems to let em slip into the quiver with out as much dulling...but we're splittin hairs here.

[KentuckyTJ]

Yeah I can't get my VPA three blades near as sharp as my single bevel Grizzly's. But they are great heads other than that. Gonna check out Rick's method. How come I feel I'll have to buy something?

[AWPForester]

A file is all that is needed to get it like the video I posted above, which is pretty dang sharp.  Most guys that say they can't get a 3 blade sharp aren't doing it right.  I was one of those guys until watching Rick's video on you tube.  However, pulling it backwards on a file does not get these results, or at least it didn't for me.

If you are going to do it like Rick, A medium file, fine stone or/and jewel stick with fine grit will scare the heck outta you.  If you sharpen broadheads already, you should have everything you need.  God BLess

[TxAg]

Rick's video is great.

I picked up a diamond file sharpener from Lowe's the other day.  It has a coarse and fine side. Worked like a champ and then I finished with a ceramic stick.