Hey folks, looking for a new head for my deer & bear hunts.
I have some VPA 3 blade heads, just can't get em to feel as sharp as I'd like. I have Diamond stones & followed the videos, just something about a 3 blade that doesn't feel that sharp.
Also, I really don't like how the VPA heads rust.
Wondering who all has tried the larger Day Six broadheads? I have the paper wheel, Stickboys on YouTube shows how to get em razor sharp with the bench grinder.
I understand what you are saying about the 3 blades not feeling as sharp, but I think they are sharper than you think. The bevel angle on a 3 blade head is, for lack of a better word, steeper. If you test broadhead sharpness by shaving arm hair (which most of us do), you need to increase angle of the broadhead in relationship to your arm when you try to shave hair. Most 2 blade bevels are 25 degrees give or take. Try it and see....I have been wrong before!
Blades that rust, sharpen more easily, and hold an edge better. Put a little wax on them.
Also, if you want them sharper, cut back on the pressure you finish with. Even though you think you are finishing light, it could be lighter.
BigJim
During the NINE LTR hunts, 80% of all critters were killed with VPAs. :campfire:
How heavy? VPA 3blade stainless go to 150 grain = no rust. I find diamond requires a lighter touch to get max sharpness. Otherwise you remove the burr every time you sharpening the opposite side of the bevel.
Get yourself a leather strop with some polishing compound. Pull the backwards on it, 5 or so strokes at a time.
Like Mike said 3 blades don't appear as sharp as 2 blades
Quote from: Flemish Twister on December 01, 2025, 02:13:02 PMHow heavy? VPA 3blade stainless go to 150 grain = no rust. I find diamond requires a lighter touch to get max sharpness. Otherwise you remove the burr every time you sharpening the opposite side of the bevel.
I have a half doz of the VPA 1 1/4 175's that I took to Canada on a bear hunt. 175 seems to tune best out of my Wessel recurve.
I have a few diamond stones & a good strop, I'll work on them some more with lighter pressure, see if I can get em sharp enough!
I've shot the iron Will heads & can't help but compare the sharpness to what I was used to with those. They just have so many angles on the head they are a pain to sharpen.
I think we get a little crazy with sharpness at times. If it's plucking some hairs it's plenty sharp enough to blow through a deer. I used to over think it. Trying to get my 3 blades the same as a knife blade won't happen and doesn't need to.
For 3 blades just do the fingernail test or rubber band test then start heading to your spot...... they'll bleed!!!
3 blades are EASY to sharpen. Just drag them backwards on a stone or diamond rod. I use a diamond rod....
Wensel Woodsman....
Quote from: Terry Green on December 02, 2025, 12:17:39 PM3 blades are EASY to sharpen. Just drag them backwards on a stone or diamond rod. I use a diamond rod....
Wensel Woodsman....
I'll try switching methods, in the past I had always sharpened by a push/pull method. I'll try pulling only & see if that makes the blade feel sharper
I see nobody has actually answered your question, so no, I haven't used Day 6 broadheads. One of my friends has though and he really likes them. They seem to be a solid head and they perform very well for him.
Quote from: buckeyebowhunter on December 02, 2025, 09:31:51 AMI think we get a little crazy with sharpness at times. If it's plucking some hairs it's plenty sharp enough to blow through a deer. I used to over think it. Trying to get my 3 blades the same as a knife blade won't happen and doesn't need to.
YUP!!!!
I use the VPA heads, they are great heads.
I wipe a little honing oil on them after I sharpen them, never had an issue with rust .
Quote from: frassettor on December 04, 2025, 02:42:05 PMI use the VPA heads, they are great heads.
I wipe a little honing oil on them after I sharpen them, never had an issue with rust .
I do the same, cept with gun oil/lube, then right into the quiver to put a coating on the foam to help keep them resisting moisture throughout the season.
I guess I'm real old school and wouldn't hunt with anything other than a Wensel Woodsman.
Super easy to razor sharpen 3 blade heads with nothing more than a bastard file.
You won't get a 3-blade as sharp as a two blade (more on that at the end!)
Think about it. Those Iron Wills are 19 degrees per side for 38 degrees total. When you sharpen a 3-blade flat on a stone, you end up with a 30 degree per side angle, 60 degrees for the entire cutting edge. More than a 20 degree difference between the two. That's substantial. 3-blades have a pretty blunt edge. They can still be gotten plenty sharp, of course.
But for those that are perfectionists, there is a solution. You need to sharpen the heads on a rounded surface. There are some commercial options out there, or you can just use something like a coffee can with sharpening film or sandpaper adhered to it. You can get a 3-blade really, really sharp this way.
Quote from: Undomesticated on December 06, 2025, 04:50:47 PMYou won't get a 3-blade as sharp as a two blade ....
Maybe if there's a need to get sharper than razor sharp.
Quote from: Undomesticated on December 06, 2025, 04:50:47 PMYou won't get a 3-blade as sharp as a two blade (more on that at the end!)
Think about it. Those Iron Wills are 19 degrees per side for 38 degrees total. When you sharpen a 3-blade flat on a stone, you end up with a 30 degree per side angle, 60 degrees for the entire cutting edge. More than a 20 degree difference between the two. That's substantial. 3-blades have a pretty blunt edge. They can still be gotten plenty sharp, of course.
But for those that are perfectionists, there is a solution. You need to sharpen the heads on a rounded surface. There are some commercial options out there, or you can just use something like a coffee can with sharpening film or sandpaper adhered to it. You can get a 3-blade really, really sharp this way.
Correct, due to the angle a three blade will never be as sharp as a two blade. However, three blades are sharp enough to slice any flesh or hide and hold a better edge when encountering a bone because of the angle. That said, penetration is more of a concern if you shoot a light weight bow. If you get adequate penetration they are sharp enough and most peoples time would be better spent practicing putting the arrow where it should go.
Quote from: Walt Francis on December 07, 2025, 04:56:58 PMQuote from: Undomesticated on December 06, 2025, 04:50:47 PMYou won't get a 3-blade as sharp as a two blade (more on that at the end!)
Think about it. Those Iron Wills are 19 degrees per side for 38 degrees total. When you sharpen a 3-blade flat on a stone, you end up with a 30 degree per side angle, 60 degrees for the entire cutting edge. More than a 20 degree difference between the two. That's substantial. 3-blades have a pretty blunt edge. They can still be gotten plenty sharp, of course.
But for those that are perfectionists, there is a solution. You need to sharpen the heads on a rounded surface. There are some commercial options out there, or you can just use something like a coffee can with sharpening film or sandpaper adhered to it. You can get a 3-blade really, really sharp this way.
Correct, due to the angle a three blade will never be as sharp as a two blade. However, three blades are sharp enough to slice any flesh or hide and hold a better edge when encountering a bone because of the angle. That said, penetration is more of a concern if you shoot a light weight bow. If you get adequate penetration they are sharp enough and most peoples time would be better spent practicing putting the arrow where it should go.
Spot on, plus a reason to tanto shape the somewhat delicate needle point, to beef it up.
I shoot VPA 200 grain 3 blades , 1-1/8" cut , awesome blood trails. Also have a few 1 -1/4 200s they penetrate just as well and bleed just as well. I just like the longer ones.
As said you can make them really sharp. I black the edges and (now no gasping) mounted on an arrow, pull them from back to point lightly on my 6" fine wheel bench grinder . Watch the blackened edge and go slow. when you have it cleaned up, I have a handifile by Nicholson I think , use the single cut side, 3 light strokes,then 2 then one barely touching the broadhead.
Shave in about a minute and shoots thru deer into the dirt (usually)with 42-46 lbs
YMMV
I ended up putting course to finer grit sandpaper on a 6" pvc pipe & sharpening that way. Just waiting on a piece of leather to come in the mail so I can finish stropping.
Tried out a new method of testing sharpness just with a piece of paper & I'm satisfied!
I know as a fact that the sharper I can get my heads the more animals will bleed. I wanted full confidence that the arrows I send @ animals are as sharp as I can possibly make them, mission accomplished.
Merry Christmas!
THE L T R HUNTS. We're mostly from 2:00 to 250 grains.
If anybody doesn't think that three blades work once again, here's a picture so that you will know that you have no standing on your claims.
Quote from: Terry Green on December 02, 2025, 12:17:39 PM3 blades are EASY to sharpen. Just drag them backwards on a stone or diamond rod. I use a diamond rod....
Wensel Woodsman....
Quote from: Terry Green on December 02, 2025, 12:17:39 PM3 blades are EASY to sharpen. Just drag them backwards on a stone or diamond rod. I use a diamond rod....
Wensel Woodsman....
Three blade....
Quote from: Terry Green on December 26, 2025, 08:13:20 AMThree blade....
Such a cool hunt, incredible animals!
Excited to put these VPA's to good use now that i've figured out how to get them as sharp as possible!
For what it is worth.......I am 100% convinced that the rubber band test is more applicable to what we do than the hair shaving test.