Backcountry Broadhead File

Kevin Dill · August 03, 2015, 08:32:00 PM

I love a good mill file for sharpening my broadheads, and I'm always packing one on the hunting trips I take. Those little tapered tangs aren't much to hold on to, and they are pretty worthless. I decided to get busy:

4-1/2 disc grinder loaded with an abrasive sanding wheel...mine is well used. I took a new Kustom King file (my favorite by far) and used the sanding wheel to buff/polish the thin edges of the file. I also rounded the corners and made it generally more friendly in the hand and gear kit.

For many years I've used a broadhead file to get my edges 95% finished. I use the semi-smooth and slightly radiused file side as a steel to get the heads hair-popping sharp after filing. Using the abrasive disc to work the sides of the file produces a very good steeling surface...as good as the finest steel you can buy.

Kevin Dill · August 03, 2015, 08:38:00 PM

What to do for a better grip? I thought about it for a while and then spotted the answer. I had several nice hanks of 3mm GloWire cord from Lawson Products. I selected the bright orange cord with reflective strips. After some experimentation I figured out a good wrap sequence and applied it:

After that I trimmed up all loose ends and evened everything out before applying a coat of clear epoxy finish to seal the cord and anchor it.

Kevin Dill · August 03, 2015, 08:41:00 PM

Next is to figure out a very lightweight but serviceable cover or sheath of sorts. I'm thinking about 3/4" heat shrink tubing which can be shrunk just enough to grip the file when inserted. Meanwhile...I'm letting the epoxy cure.

meathead · August 03, 2015, 08:45:00 PM

Very nice. Kydex would make a nice cover/sheath too.

August 03, 2015, 09:05:00 PM

Very nice work!

Bisch

Chad Orde · August 03, 2015, 09:37:00 PM

Nice like that allot

ron w · August 03, 2015, 09:42:00 PM

Good idea........

Biathlonman · August 03, 2015, 09:55:00 PM

Vinyl siding, heat and bend to shape. Poor mans Kydex!

Big Lefty · August 03, 2015, 10:05:00 PM

Great idea!

Elkchaser · August 03, 2015, 10:31:00 PM

That is fantastic.
Thanks for sharing!

shreffler · August 03, 2015, 10:50:00 PM

Thanks for sharing Kevin, I may have to pick one of these up and try this out.

DesertDude · August 04, 2015, 01:53:00 AM

Outstanding. I like a file also

dhaverstick · August 04, 2015, 07:46:00 AM

That is way cool and quite innovative. Thanks for sharing.

Darren

Ray Lyon · August 04, 2015, 11:13:00 AM

I've used Kustom King file for years, but always the way it came. I like this modification. Thanks for sharing Kevin.

Zbone · August 04, 2015, 12:49:00 PM

Pretty cool Kevin....

Been using paracord a lot lately, but never thought of that one....

Izzy · August 04, 2015, 01:18:00 PM

Very nice and useful piece of gear you have there. I have seen a similar set up but with the common, removable wood handle. Also the end of the tang was filed to a point to be usable as a drill and the tip was also beveled to use as a lat ditch type of blade.

August 04, 2015, 04:06:00 PM

The old Grizzly file had the round sides, but with the file teeth still on the corners. With them, one can go for a smooth shaving edge by using the rounded edge as a steel or make a fine serration with file teeth. I do not know if these were a standard that they bought and had their name put on it, or if these were a complete custom order. My supply of them is running low, that rounded edge comes in handy.

Paul Cousineau · August 04, 2015, 04:34:00 PM

sweet idea

jess stuart · August 04, 2015, 05:49:00 PM

Nice solution to an old problem, thanks for sharing with us.

Kevin Dill · August 04, 2015, 08:08:00 PM

I used to use the Grizzly file too, but bought the KK file at a summer bow event a long time ago. That first one had really nice rounded sides to it and they were just barely abrasive...enough to bring the filed edge to a shaver edge. I never looked back and stayed with the KK file. I think I have about 8 of them placed variously. Something made me think about deliberately 'tuning' the rounded edges by using the grinder with a layered abrasive disc. It worked so well that I'd almost say this is the perfect file for a one-tool-does-it-all sharpener out on a hunt.