sharpening w/ tungsten rod???

[Black Gold]

Has anyone ever used a tungsten TIG rod to sharpen broadheads?

[Pete W]

It will act like a steel if it is not to smooth.
 If it is a bit rough it works better.
 Limited success.

[R.W.]

Most of the tungsten TIG rods I have seen are pretty smooth in finish.

The tungsten rod might work as a burnishing tool, which would work kind of like a strop, in a way.

It sertainly wouldn't hurt to give it a try on an extra Broadhead, and see how it works out.

[Dave Bulla]

I just picked one up the other day to use.  Shouldn't be any different than a smooth finished buthcers steel with the exception that it will concentrate the pressure slightly more due to it's smaller diameter.  

I use a steel a lot when I sharpen my broadheads and it really works great.  You just have to get them pretty sharp before you even put them on the steel.  Or, more correctly, you have to clean up the edge and get the angle right first.  A steel doesn't really remove any metal unless it's got the grooves and then only a tiny bit.  The smooth ones mostly polish the edge and straighten up any burrs that may be present.

I plan to mount my tungsten rod in an antler tine and make a pouch for it on my side quiver.  I already have a file on the quiver and between it and the steel I will be able to touch up heads or totally resharpen one that maybe hits dirt......