Sharpening Woodsman Broadheads... grrrrrrr

[Submarinokotbw]

So i have some woodsman broadheads and i want to smash them with a hammer...   :mad:   All kidding aside, i cant put a consistent edge on them no matter what i do. Ive watched the "how to videos" on youtube, used files and jewel sticks, sharpening stones, sharpie markers everything. I just havnt been able to achieve any sort of consistent hair cutting edge. I just want to get them hunting sharp.

Does anyone have any recomendations? Should i resign myself to taking them to a key maker to get them sharpened? Is there something else i can do?  I guess i am just not a very skilled sharpener at this point.   :confused:  

Thanks in advance

[hawk22]

The best advice I have ever gotten on sharpening broadheads is use light strokes and let your file or stones do the work.  A lot of guys put too much pressure on the blades.

[MnFn]

X2 on Hawks message. Go lightly on the strokes.
Also:
Call Ron at KME. He is  a great guy who genuinely wants to help a guy get sharp broad heads . Ask him.

[cosgood]

The hardest part that I encountered was the initial grind. Mine were almost concave to begin with and took a lot of coarse stone work to achieve a straight edge. Once the edges lined up I moved to a fine diamond stone and car window. The car window with very light strokes was the key to hair popping sharp.

[Scott E]

Flat stone light strokes.

[Alexander Traditional]

As said above your stones have to be flat. I have three different grit stones. I use moderate pressure with the coarsest stone,a little lighter pressure with the fine stone,and then I have an arkansas fine stone and barley put any pressure at all to finish them,and they get really sharp.

[Homebru]

Light strokes.  Patience.  I have to admit that my Woodsman's never seem quite as sharp as my 2-blade heads (hair shaving-wise).  I think that's because the bevel angle is shallower.  Despite that, they've blown through deer and a hog.
homebru

[wingnut]

I always found it hard to get "sticky" sharp with the WW heads until I built a hollow grind sharpener for them.  Then they are unbelievably sharp.

Mike

[Ron Vought]

Use a mill file with light strokes as per the Three Rivers Archery video. Go buy a Smith diamond sharpener to touch up the blades after using the mill file. The Smith diamond sharpener is flat so you just run it over the blades as you would the file. You can buy this file at Walmart for $15 and it works great.  Like others have said use light strokes. The trick is light strokes and use the flat diamond file to put the finishing touches on the blades after using the mill file. I can shave with my Woodsman broad heads using this method.

Ron

[mec lineman]

First things First, once you mark with sharpie make sure you remove the concave that is usually in the middle od head. This may take a while. A belt sander would be ideal as long as you don't get the steel to hot. On most WW the tip and back will be the first place where the sharpie will disappear, keep on filling until you are removing the sharpie along the middle of the head. I work on two edges at a time until I get the grind right,then I rotate head. finish all sides with even LIGHT stokes.  put chalk on your file to prevent build up.

[dragonheart]

My brother recently bought some new.  We use a belt sander to clean them up first (light pressure) then file.  

As Mr. Westvang has stated about a hollow ground edge, I have also used the edge (rounded) end of the belt sander for a hollow grind and gets them very sharp.  

You might try the same process that Ryan Rothhaar uses for his Snuffers.  Very effective hollow grind.

[dragonheart]

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=031172#000012  

Take a look at the way Ryan Rothhaar sharpens a snuffer.

[Tim Finley]

I use a Simmons file the red handled ones. I finish up with a Schrade hone steele . Counting your strokes is important they must be filed and honed evenly . With this method I have had new ones out of the package shaving hair in about two minutes and an odd Woodsman will have one blade you cant seem to get sharp .

[Russ Clagett]

I do the thumb check with my woodsmans...if it seems to cut into my thumbnail I consider it plenty sharp enough...and so far they have blown through whitetails...so fast I thought I missed...pass thrus....

I start with the belt sander and move to the file...then cardboard....then the thumb.

Be careful.........they will cut through your thumbnail with enough pressure....

[overbo]

I know I'll get flamed but get the Snuffer Tamer kit. Been using one for 20+ years. For me, it's the easiest system I've used to date and like you I've watched all the videos and tried all the articles on sharpening Snuffer's and WW's.

[Bill Turner]

Call Ron at KME. He recommended a file to me that made the job a lot easier. He also wrote an article for a Blade magazine that was quite helpful, which he will share with you. I love the Wensel broadheads. For some reason the original heads appear to be easier to sharpen. Good luck and "Keep'Um Sharp".  

[Submarinokotbw]

Guys, thanks so much for the advice and tips. I tried some of them (starting from the top). I finally got my broadheads cutting and shaving hair!
Thanks!

Pressure seemed to be what was hanging me up. I was just using too much pressure.