Sharpening Question?

JamesKerr · February 14, 2012, 10:19:00 PM

How do you go about on sharpening the back of some 2 blades like the new Eclipse Werewolves, ABS heads, or stingers? I am inclined to try the new werewolf heads and would like to know also what the advantage is of sharpening the back of the blads.

Jake Diebolt · February 14, 2012, 10:33:00 PM

I think you'd have to either use a grinder or a really aggressive file to take off enough material for a bevel - I'm not sure, never done it before. As for advantages, well, if you get a pass through there's no advantage at all, but maybe if the arrow was still inside the animal the extra cutting edges would come in handy. I think my dad and uncles used to sharpen the back of two-blade heads, but they've since switched to 3-blades and don't bother.

I'd be careful though - if you take off too much metal it could affect the integrity of the broadhead.

February 14, 2012, 10:47:00 PM

I shoot Silverflame XL's and don't worry about trying to resharpen the back. I just sharpen the main blades with my KME sharpener and go hunting.

Bisch

babs · February 15, 2012, 12:46:00 AM

I use the KME broadhead sharpener on my two blade stingers and they are scary sharp. I dont sharpen the back either just the two main blades

m midd · February 15, 2012, 04:10:00 AM

I sharpen the back of my grizzlies with a file and finish with a ceramic round.. Something with a deep bevel like stingers or werewolves i would just use a ceramic round with light pressure. I wouldnt use a file because they have a nice factory grind..

Charlie Lamb · February 15, 2012, 09:44:00 AM

I'm with M Midd. If the broadhead has an existing grind on the back of the blade it won't get much abuse so simple honing with a ceramic stick should do.

I no grind exists then careful file work should get it done.

mongoose · February 15, 2012, 11:17:00 AM

I don't sharpen the back of the blades simply for safety reasons. I think it would be to easy to bump the rear of the BH while its in the quiver. Can you say OUCH!

m midd · February 15, 2012, 02:22:00 PM

i know what you mean mongoose.. I started out with short arrows.. one evening i drew on a nice 8pt and drew the back edge on a stinger into my index finger... you could have blood trailed me...

mongoose · February 15, 2012, 05:45:00 PM

So..you probably CAN say "OUCH"

3arrows · February 15, 2012, 06:59:00 PM

You can use a dremel tool with a cut off discs.The advantage is when the arrow stays in the deer and it pulls the arrow out with his mouth you will have two wound channels.

StanM · February 15, 2012, 07:13:00 PM

I did quite a bit of testing with sharpening the back edge of a broadhead when we were developing the Razorhawk.

Honestly, I don't think there is a significant advantage to having the back edge sharp from a performance standpoint on game. If you're getting pass throughs it won't make any difference.

For a single bevel head there is a benefit in beveling the back edge, but not like most do with the back edge beveled on the same side. I found it advantageous to bevel the opposite side on the rear so extracting the broadhead from my Rhinehart target was a lot easier.

This is what I mean by opposite side rear bevel.

I don't do this on the heads I sell as the cost associated to bevel the rear edges isn't justified by the benefit of arrow extraction.

Overspined · February 15, 2012, 10:11:00 PM

Good tip Stan!!