For the life of me I can't get them square on the adapter. What's the secret?
Make sure your glue is well melted (hot melt type) then spin the head a couple of full revolutions to spread that glue evenly.
After that they should go on straight easily.
I've done that but I can't get them to spin true. No matter what they mostly seem to wobble.
The glue should act as a lube to slide everything to the proper depth. Get the head a little hotter to make sure the glue is liquified and press the head into a board or something to make sure it goes all the way on. If it still doesn't work then one of your components isn't square.
Gooserbat,not all broadhead ferrules are created equal.I never was very good at aligning broadheads by spinning.A few years ago,I finally built an alignment jig.I don't spin the arrow,just align the arrows point to a reference dot,turn 90 degrees and align again.It is precise and repeatable and usually very quick.Here is an explanation:
http://www.singlebevelbroadheads.com/Mounting_Aligning_the_Tuffhead.html
I get the best results on my 5 degree taper when I use a sanding disc to taper my points. I also use hot melt glue, spin and press down hard on a oak board. I rarely have a head that does not spin true.
another thing you might think about is that tip on even a new head may be off not allowing it to spin true. If you sharpened it you may have put that tip off axis as well.
I hold my arrow by the nock about 3 feet above a hard object and drop it on the point which really drives it home.Sometimes it may damage the tip a little but for me I always file the needle point back anyway.
I have some broadheads that slide right in and I have a couple other types that are the Dickens to get straight. I think that there is more at play here. The ones that are tougher are both longer, narrow heads.
My shop is not totally finished at the location where I do the glue ups, so I spread the hot melt (or epoxy), apply the head, and press it into the wall, holding the head parallel with a small pliers while pushing and spinning the shaft. I try to make certain the head is aligned in a parallel plane.
Once it sets at all, I spin test it on a small metal plate I have right there. When spin testing that way. . note. . if the tip is not right, it could give you false readings.
ChuckC
How are you tapering your shaft? Which tool?
Glue in adapters
might be too much glue, It doesnt take a whole lot to firmly glue a point on.......
Check the length of your taper and make sure it isn't bottoming out in the broad head . Easy to check before you put any glue on the shaft.
I had trouble just mounting a field point to screw in adapters, maybe it's too much glue as mentioned. I was just goofing around and did not need them.
You can make a quick jig. Make a 90 degree board with two Additional boards with "v"'s cut in them. Put a squrse BH on the V's and mark the vertical board with a dot. Then spin your new BH with the hot melt and gently push the high side down until they spin true
I made my V's out out of plastic. This thing will ladt 5 lifetimes