anyone use a flat bastard file?

[Justin Falon]

Does anybody use a flat bastard file for sharpening broadheads?  I picked one up today and it puts lots of little serrations in the blade.  Just curious.  Thanks.

jf

[acolobowhunter]

Think mine is always a mill bastard.  Try shifting the angle of your file that might help, more parallel to the blade.

[30coupe]

Yes! The little serrations are ok. If you use very light strokes (move the broadhead over the file if it's a 3 blade) the serrations will be light as well. I think file sharpened blades keep their edge better than finely honed ones. I'm kinda in the Fred Bear camp on that.

I do carry a medium diamond stone for emergency touch-up though. It's easier to pack than a file. I usually go back to the file once I get home though.

[Stone Knife]

That is what I use on my heads, when I have them sharp I just go over them maybe three strokes with a accusharp. I can tell that there ready for that when the accusharp feels like it is cutting good, then they shave hair.

[JC]

Yep, flat file sharpening has killed more critters than anyone can count. It takes practice but it works as well as anything else, and when done correctly, better than most, imho.

[mdwatts]

Yup.  Flat Bastard.

[Squirrel Bait]

What JC said

[Justin Falon]

Gosh, this is good to hear.  I've struggled with the mill bastard.  Picked up this short little file today and wow that edge reaches out and grabs ya!  I think with a little practice, I will get very good at it!!


jf

[Nate Steen .]

Yes, the flat mill bastard file the best.  It's been the sharpener of choice for Pope, Young, Hill, Bear, and all kinds of hunters for a hundred years.  The light serrations are what make it so deadly.

[joe skipp]

10 mil bastard...finish up with ceramic sticks.

[SuperK]

I've always heard (from oldtimers) that a filed edge doesn't dull or roll the edge as quickly as a honed edge on muddy hides and bone.  Dr. Ashby tests on fiberous buffalo hides proved a honed edge penetrates better.  It does seem to me that if you shoot a filed bh and a honed bh into a foam target a couple of times, the filed bh will still cut your finger while the honed edge feels dull.  Lots of discussion on this one.  Do a "search".  Lots of good points,pro and con.  I like a filed edge myself.

[BOFF]

I use a 16" Nicholson  mill bastard file. Heavy and bulky at 16" long and 1 1/2" across.The WW heads do nicely on it, and don't slide off the edges of the file since it's 1 1/2" across. I touch it up on a medium Arkansas stone with oil. Shaves hair easily.

[elknut1]

I've used the exact method as BOFF on WW & SnufferSS, it takes aprox 10 min per head. Every other day I touch them up on the Arkansas stone to keep the great edge there! There's sort of a bond between the Hunter & his heads, kinda like your bow! (grin)

  ElkNut1