DO you guys prefer to push or pull the broadhead to sharpen them? Or share your method? For guys that are anal about sharpening like me. Does it matter at all?  Bill

Push for me on my 3 blade VPA's.

I like to push the broadhead into the stone/file/whatever. But I always make the last few light strokes in the opposite direction.

To my mind it makes a difference. You may not think so.

Oh, I should mention. To increase the life of my diamond hones I like to pull the broadhead initially.

If a head is pretty dull I do both directions in removing a bit of steel, once getting close to sharp & razor sharp I push. Scary sharp heads are a must!

 ElkNut1

I hold my broadhead on a short section of shaft and using either an 8" file or a folding DMT diamond sharpener (depending on how dull they are) sharpen with strokes from back to tip at an angle.   I've also done it pushing them on a flat stone and had just as good results. I can just do it faster holding the broadhead on a shaft.  Like Charlie said, I don't think it matters which way you choose but remember...light pressure. Once I figured that out getting them shaving sharp was a snap

I do like DarkTimber. I pull backward on the leather strop.

QuoteOriginally posted by Charlie Lamb:
I like to push the broadhead into the stone/file/whatever. But I always make the last few light strokes in the opposite direction.

To my mind it makes a difference. You may not think so.

Yep!  

I am more convinced all the time that the time spent getting that last bit of edge on our broadheads would be far better spent shooting so we put it exactly where we want

DDave

Both...to finish the head, I pull backward very lightly on wetted 600 grain sand paper laid over flat marble to obtain the finest edge I can.

Kris

I generally use a file and ceramic rod and move them from back to front while head is on a shaft.  I occasionally strop going backwards on cardboard but I can't tell that it makes much difference.  I've yet to have one not end up in the dirt on the other side when I did my part.

I do neither.
I use varying grits of paper of a flat steel plate and move the heads side to side, using equal pressure, stroke and ensuring that the head moves evenly side to side.

I can shave hair easily with my VPA's when i am done.

push

WELL ACTUALLY BOTH..

I hold the head at about 1/3 back from the tip.
With my thumb on one side and index and middle finger on the other. (using two fingers evens out the pressure as your thumb is pretty strong)

I grind 20-30 times back and forth on all 3 sides at 1st with a fair amount of pressure...just grinding at this point.

Then 15 push strokes on each side( 15 on one, rotate, 15 on next etc)
Then 10 strokes, then 5, then 3, then 1 stroke.
I use lighter and lighter strokes each time I step down to the next count.

I do the 1 stroke & rotate 15 times. with barely any pressure at all.

..then do the same whole process on the next grit stone.

Once I get thru my finest stone, I strop backwards on corrugated cardboard "against the grain"

At that point the heads will about make my eyes bleed if I look at em too hard.


ps...if they're REALLY beat up, I'll start with a few push strokes down a 14" babbit file then switch to stone.

Thanks for the reply. I have fooled around and find that the last few strokes on the ceramic stick done backwards is the ticket. I have tried it ALL ways but this does seem  to make them feel a bit sharper.  Bill