This is my attempt to share what I have learned in the past 2-3 years about sharpening. I have always been able to get a knife as sharp as anything, but I really struggled with the concave Simmons heads. This is just the way that I do it. Like most things, I learned this from someone else, so don't think too highly of me.
https://youtu.be/HyPCO4yOTtE
:thumbsup:
Don't worry, I won't. :laughing:
Good video. I was put on to the Rada about a year ago by Southpaw and it was in direct response to my question about how to sharpen Simmons, which I knew he used. Very cost effective and it does the job. Recommend it highly.
Would this "system" work with the Centaur heads? For whatever reason, I just can't get those heads sharp. Thanks
Thanks for that. Man it looks so darn easy! So you just use the factory bevel and go straight to the Rada sharpener? Or do you touch it up with something first?
I just tried this out after watching your video. I picked up some summon interceptors and a rada a few years ago and never had much luck sharpening them, even after looking for help here and on YouTube. I knew to use a sharpie, and to lighten up my strokes as I went. But the big key you gave was to tilt the sharpener and keep that Broadhead straight! I still need to fine tune my technique but I now have two heads that will rough shave. They aren't hair poppin sharp yet, but with practice I'll get there. The two I worked on had little if any file work done to them originally. I do have two that I need more help with. They're like the one you showed in the vid that I've been working on with files and stuff and I probably need to change the angle to salvage these heads. You can see how different the angle is on either side. Any tips on restoring a messed up simmons head?
The late Chris Surtees turned me on to the Rada 7 or 8 years ago.I use that and a jewel stick to touch up the inside of the curve. Works well for me.
Ive been using a Rada wheelie sharpener for a while with excellent results on about any blade. I sharpen my knives with it and they shave like butter. Instead of holding the Rada base at an angle, I just hold the blade at a downward-pointing angle. I do believe holding at the downward angle, whether the base or adjusting the blade angle downward, makes a world of difference. I also strop on cardboard when done to remove any light burr when done with the Rada and get excellent results. I still use a file and fine stone on my 3 blade heads just because it's so easy with the built-in angles.
Thanks for sharing the video!
Rada seems to be good for almost any sharpening task. Jus strop when done. :thumbsup:
Y'all better be right..I just ordered three..LOL
Thanks Gents!
I didn't watch the video and maybe it shows this, but I find it easier to poke the broadhead into a board ( wall of shop) and pull the RADA from front to back. I get the rear cutting wings better that way and it just seems to work ( for me...)
CHuck
Awesome job!!!... Pat also told me about this method thxs for the video Daniel can't beat it and how cheap a Rada is
Radas are awesome! Best $8 i ever spent.
Just ordered mine for $6.15. I have no problem sharpening my zwickeys. The Simmons have been a challenge
QuoteOriginally posted by bunyan:
I just tried this out after watching your video. I picked up some summon interceptors and a rada a few years ago and never had much luck sharpening them, even after looking for help here and on YouTube. I knew to use a sharpie, and to lighten up my strokes as I went. But the big key you gave was to tilt the sharpener and keep that Broadhead straight! I still need to fine tune my technique but I now have two heads that will rough shave. They aren't hair poppin sharp yet, but with practice I'll get there. The two I worked on had little if any file work done to them originally. I do have two that I need more help with. They're like the one you showed in the vid that I've been working on with files and stuff and I probably need to change the angle to salvage these heads. You can see how different the angle is on either side. Any tips on restoring a messed up simmons head?
I have a head that's been absolutely mangled by my sharpening capabilities. I'll try to
Salvage it with the rada.
QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
Rada seems to be good for almost any sharpening task. Jus strop when done. :thumbsup:
FWIW, I have never stropped it on anything. Shaving sharp is plenty sharp enough for me.
QuoteOriginally posted by jbpharmd:
Thanks for that. Man it looks so darn easy! So you just use the factory bevel and go straight to the Rada sharpener? Or do you touch it up with something first?
Straight factory. The problem with me "touching it up" on anything would be my lack of consistency. One things i've learned about sharpening is you have to be consistent. That's why so many people have such great results with the KME, it removes human error.
Daniel,
I have 2 or 3 RADA that I bought for our kitchen and for the Simmons.
I got bored while on stand today at 1100 and keep a RADA in my backpack so I re-touched all my arrows in my quiver after watching your video, great job!
That's the nice thing about radas, accusharps, and files...you can bring them into the field with you. Good luck lugging your belt sander to the stand!
My rada skills are getting better. I've got two Simmons heads to a point where I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with them, and a couple more that are sooo close. They grab when you try to shave, but aren't cutting an entire patch...yet!
Good video Daniel. It shows how quickly you can get them ready to hunt out of the package. I don't do much differently other than the way I take care of the trailing edge. Don't forget, the RADA sharpener is great for taking the burr off of single bevels as well.
Hey Pat while your at it, please share the method for the trailing edge.
That the one area I have the most trouble on and I believe it is one of the most important part of the broad heads design.
It is really simple. I take the broadhead off of the arrow, turn it around and pull it through the same as the rest of the blade, changing the angle that of the broadhead with respect to the sharpener as you pull through because the blade is more curved here. I keep the sharpener fixed on a table (or on a tree when in the field) and adjust the broadhead for the angle rather than the sharpener. After the trailing edge is sharp, I turn the broadhead around and pull through to blend with the rest of the the broadhead. I prefer to have the broadhead on an arrow for this part because it makes it easier for me to stay perfectly straight.
You shaved that big ole pumpkin face!!! You look like a little kid pal!
QuoteOriginally posted by PastorSteveHill:
You shaved that big ole pumpkin face!!! You look like a little kid pal!
Thanks for the kind words, Steve, JERK!!! haha! Yeah, I knew I was going to look like a balding 12 year old, but its already growing back! First time I had shaved in over 5 years.
QuoteOriginally posted by pdk25:
Good video Daniel. It shows how quickly you can get them ready to hunt out of the package. I don't do much differently other than the way I take care of the trailing edge. Don't forget, the RADA sharpener is great for taking the burr off of single bevels as well.
I have tried your method of flipping it and for some reason, I didn't continue doing it. I will try it out again.
FWIW, I do pay extra attention(more than I did in the video) of where I start the blade. I typically start it all the way at the back and pull all the way through.
Thanks for teaching me how to do this, Pat! It has been great so far!
No problem Daniel. Just the way I do it, and I know they are plenty sharp for hunting and it can be done easily in the field.
Rada sharpeners work!That is why we sell them.
Terry
Just received half a dozen of the new Simmons 175gr. Tiger Sharks. Have a Rada and commenced to sharpening those suckers up. Does do a great job. Then decided to give it a try on one of my 200gr. single bevel Cutthroats. Wow. The sharpest I've ever been able to get them. If you don't have one of those sharpeners, do yourself a favor, and a lot of money, and get a Rada.
I have never believed these things could possibly work, but after watching you shave that hair off your arm, I just ordered 2 of them to give them a try. I sure hope they work on regular broadheads too because I don't have any Simmons heads. I absolutely hate sharpening broadheads. It takes me over 30 minutes per head to get them shaving the way I want them. If this works Daniel, I will buy you a round at the next 3D shoot we are at together!
Bisch
I had a rada that I left in the kitchen. Brought it down to the basement tried it on my tree sharks and it did a great job. Nice video, thanks. May have to get another one for the kitchen now.
QuoteOriginally posted by highlow:
Just received half a dozen of the new Simmons 175gr. Tiger Sharks. Have a Rada and commenced to sharpening those suckers up. Does do a great job. Then decided to give it a try on one of my 200gr. single bevel Cutthroats. Wow. The sharpest I've ever been able to get them. If you don't have one of those sharpeners, do yourself a favor, and a lot of money, and get a Rada.
How is it possible that this sharpener can work on a single bevel? It cuts a double bevel as it sharpens??? It seems to me that you would just essentially slowly be turning your single bevel into a double bevel by using this sharpener on it???
Bisch
Yeah what Bisch asked...please let us know.
I shoot single beveled Centaurs, similar to the Simmons, and that was what I was thinking about this sharpener in reading this post.
I went from Centaur heads to the Cutthroats because I couldn't get them sharp,sharp. Both of them are great heads. I, too am wondering if the Rada would work on the Centaurs.
I have watched Pat (PDK25) sharpen a single blade with them. I haven't ever shot a single bevel, so I wouldn't know. Hopefully he will be along soon to show y'all his tricks, as he showed me.
You won't know until you give it a try. It ain't rocket science.
I called RADA and asked them what the angle was for this sharpener, and was told 38*. I am assuming that means 19* for each bevel???? I have never seen any knife sharpener that sharpens at a 38* bevel for each side. I hope I am correct. If so, it will perfectly match all the heads I now use.
Bisch
Thanks for the video Daniel. I can never sharpen those curves blades. Going to try these out on my deltas and maybe even get a few tree sharks for the turkey season now that I might have a chance of getting them sharp.
Bought 2 off there website best sharpeners I've ever used,and with shipping I don't think I paid over $14.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bisch:
QuoteOriginally posted by highlow:
Just received half a dozen of the new Simmons 175gr. Tiger Sharks. Have a Rada and commenced to sharpening those suckers up. Does do a great job. Then decided to give it a try on one of my 200gr. single bevel Cutthroats. Wow. The sharpest I've ever been able to get them. If you don't have one of those sharpeners, do yourself a favor, and a lot of money, and get a Rada.
How is it possible that this sharpener can work on a single bevel? It cuts a double bevel as it sharpens??? It seems to me that you would just essentially slowly be turning your single bevel into a double bevel by using this sharpener on it???
Bisch [/b]
I'm guessing it does in fact put a slight bevel on the non beveled (flat) side of a single bevel head. When I sharpen a single bevel by hand I do the same thing...sharpen the beveled side until I raise a slight burr on the flat side then take the burr off using light strokes on the flat side (at an angle). The slight bevel that forms on the flat side is barely even visible and has no effect on the rotation caused by the large beveled side. The Rada probably does the exact same thing.
Regarding single bevel blades, this is how I use them. First of all, you must already have a good bevel set. Where this sharpener shines, is removing the Burr and just touching up the tip. You don't want to alter the bevel that is already set. Gentle strokes and keeping it straight will give you a very sharp edge, although perhaps not quite as sharp as a true single bevel, but you will retain all of the advantages of a single bevel Broadhead. I can promise you that it will still be exceedingly Sharp. Using this will eliminate the need for breaking out a file until the Broadhead has been considerably dulled up or gouged. Even then, I use a file to bring up a burr and then very gently remove the burr with the RADA. You could play around angling the broadhead to more closely follow the bevel, but I find that to be a waste of time, and more difficult to maintain alignment. Try this on a cutthroat broadhead right out of the package. It really all is about something quick and convenient to me.
Bisch, I presume along with you that it is 38 degrees total. Also, those are round wheels, not flat carbide cutters. There is some amount of "hollow grind" going on there at the very edge.
Well Im sold. Coming in the mail in three days. We will see if I can get my simmons shaving!
I don't know why I didn't try one of these before. My nephew has worked at Rada for years. I have one coming now!
DarkTimber is right on. It does produce a very slight double bevel, but as he says, does nothing to negate the desired effect of a single bevel. And as Pat says, it doesn't take a lot of pressure.
I've tried them and they work, I have drawers full of them and knives. Rada is only ten minutes away!
I received one yesterday.. They are an amazing little sharpener.
Quick and sharp it is.
Great video. Have always been impressed by the Simmons blood trail pictures on this website. Just figured they would be a real pain to sharpen. After watching your video, I might have to give it a try.
I received mine today and did some work on kitchen & pocket knives and WOW they are sharp! I'll hit the broadheads right before turkey season. Thanks for the video Daniel.
Just finished an old Razorhead. Took about 20 seconds and perhaps ten strokes per edge. Won't be using a file ever again. And for those skeptics out there, you owe it to yourselves to give this badass sharpener a try. Even if you still don't like it you'll only be out about $7 or $8.