I'm a first year bow hunter and I just bought some 150gr VPA 3-blade broad heads to hunt whitetails with this year.  I thought that they were pretty sharp out of the package, but definitely not shaving sharp.  I worked one of the broad heads on a whetstone for a about 15 or 20 minutes and then finished it up with a diamond jewel stick.  The blades were noticeably sharper, but still not quite shaving sharp.  So my question is: Do they need to be shaving sharp to be ready for hunting, or are they good to go, considering they're sharper now than they were out of the package?  

Thanks, David

Probably good but I like them to shave.  The trick for me was a ceramic crock stick.  Couple swipes with the stick now and I bet they shave.  Can buy the sticks cheap on the big auction site.

Just my opinion, but get them as sharp as you can, put them in the right spot, and everything will be fine.  The term "shaving sharp" always seems a little vague to me, I can shave hair with an edge that really isn't very sharp (although I'd rather not).

They can never be too sharp but be realistic, some people are better than others at working an edge but it probably doesn't have anything to do with the number of animals they kill.  Just do your best.

I also think it's tougher to get a three blade as razor sharp as a two blade because of the blade angle, but they certainly get sharp enough.  The fact that you are improving on the factory edge puts you above a lot people from the start even if you never achieve the precise edge some get.

David,
If you want to easily shave hair with it, finish stropping it on a piece of leather. That will really bring out the edge.  

If you use a fine stone and strop them, it takes little effort to get them shaving sharp.  Remember,not to much pressure.  Unless they knock the hair off my arm, I'm not dropping the string....

I really think if you are spending 15-20 min on one head you are working on it too much.  You should be able to take a VPA out of the package and give it about 15-20 strokes per side on a fine wetstone (I do one stroke, rotate, one stroke, rotate,  etc) then strop it on leather or cardboard and it should peel hair off.  Make sure you aren't using too much pressure on the wet stone, it doesn't take much.   Yours would probably do the job just fine but with a little practice you'll get them right.  Good Luck

Did you watch there videos on there site? Andy on here made some of them. Really good. And when our done listen to he gentleman above and strop them. They will let the wind and liquids out    

Yep! Light pressure and stropping.  

Its tougher to get a 3 blade as sharp as a two blade as Easykeeper said.  Sounds like you are almost there.  I use a file to sharpen my 3 blades.  The most important aspect is to put it in the right spot on an animal...right in the lungs/heart and they will work surprisingly fast.  And shoot at broadside or slightly quartering away animals.  Should be no problem.

QuoteOriginally posted by DarkTimber:
I really think if you are spending 15-20 min on one head you are working on it too much.  You should be able to take a VPA out of the package and give it about 15-20 strokes per side on a fine wetstone (I do one stroke, rotate, one stroke, rotate,  etc) then strop it on leather or cardboard and it should peel hair off.  Make sure you aren't using too much pressure on the wet stone, it doesn't take much.   Yours would probably do the job just fine but with a little practice you'll get them right.  Good Luck

x2

you should be thinking more like polish. the factory grind on vpa are very consistant. try to remove as little metal as you can and still get your desired edge.

Working it too much for sure bud. Just a jewel stick and a cardboard or leather strop and you're good to go.  

I get them as sharp as I need most of the time with just my 3 sided jewel stick.    I find VPA's the easiest broad heads there are to sharpen.

Good luck this season, hope you get you first trad deer!

Thanks for the input, guys!  I'm definitely pretty challenged when it comes to sharpening a blade, which is one of the reasons I went with the VPA's.

I will try using a strop on the one I sharpened last night and then for the others just do a few light strokes with the jewel stick, plus the strop.  

Can't wait till October 5th...I don't think I've been as excited as I am about hunting, since I was a kid!

Cheers, and good luck to you all.

Pa brother good luck as well! Remember light pressure...

What Curt said, I gave him the jewell stick he is using. We both get them scary sharp. So sharp I don't even look at them, I don't want my eyes to start bleeding. A good jewell stick(3 sided can be had for around $20-25 and ya start with the most abrasive side and work to the side that is basically smooth. Takes less than a minute and if ya hurry about 30 seconds and they become incredibly sharp. I rarely finish with stropping as the fine side of the stick pretty much does that for you! Shawn

Also haveto agree about the VPA and the angle, they are perfect and by far the easiest head I have ever sharpened. I just bought a dozen of them and hope to run at least half of them thru deer this year! Shawn

A 3-blade head will inherently have a different cutting angle than a 2-blade head.  Further, a 2-blade head can be single or double-bevel.  These and other factors will effect "shaving sharp".  

I have gotten 2-blade heads, both single and double-bevel, scary sharp.  Yes, once you touch them you're almost scared.  Lots of guys can get those same heads that sharp.  It's unbelievably sharp compared to any kitchen cutlery I've ever touched.  

I've never had a 3-blade head "feel" that sharp.  I've certainly shot those same 3-blade heads through hogs and whitetailed deer.  

VPA 3-blade heads are impressive.  Get 'em as sharp as you can and, shoot straight.

homebru

Thanks again for the replies.

QuoteOriginally posted by Shawn Leonard:
A good jewell stick(3 sided can be had for around $20-25...

Do you remember where you bought them?

3 rivers. Where I got mine

Do a search, a good cutlery shop, I was not impressed with the one 3 Rivers has! Get one that goes from 600 grit to 1200 or even 1400 grit, the last one is basically smooth! Shawn