Ok,
i know from past sharpening experiences that is is very hard to sharpen anything without perfect edge angle control. When i decided i was going to go with the grizzly el-grande broadhead and had read all of Dr. Ed ashbey's articals and reading some peoples problems with sharpening it because of the hard steel, I made a jig. Cheap,simple, and excellent edge angle control. I also decided that diamond would be the best way to "BITE" into this steel. See my attached pics. I have a steel rub plate under the "legs" and the diamond plate for sharpening. Extra coarse grit required to change the angle to 25 degrees.It is not fast. It is very exact.I bought 2 DMT plates that have a different grit size on each side so there are 4 grit sizes.Online for $36 each. This will get the egde to hair shaving, on my arm, sharp. Not razor, since that requires some honing, but very sharp.
I have never been able to get things REALLY sharp without a type of edge control.My jig cost me nothing to make, just bits and pices in my shop including a 3/8 unc tap which i had.
(http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq30/Trfourtune44/DSCN0059.jpg)
(http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq30/Trfourtune44/DSCN0058.jpg)
just bringing this one back to the front of the list so everyone can copy it.
Even if you use a belt sander first-see other posts (with a hose running on it so you don't ruin the metal), this still makes an excellent finish before stropping. I think you can figure which holes are tapped and which ones have just holes. hint, bottom plate has tapped holes, top plate-the ones farthest from the broadhead.
have fun
Rob
Very nice design Rob,
I've seen quite a few home-made sharpening jigs and this one is among the best. :thumbsup:
Ron