question about snuffers and woodsman broadheads

[T.L]

hello all.
is one easier to sharpen than the other? a fellow at the local shops claims there is a difference. i have some W.W. but have never been able to get them as sharp as my single blade heads. i would like to try some snuffers for turkeys.
any opinions would be appreciated.
thanks,
Tom.

[overbo]

Snuffer tamer kit.
Heat the head till they start to glow.Then hit them on the files.It'll take some time to work into the new angle,but the head will be come very sharp w/ some light strokes.

[SlowBowinMO]

I believe you'll find the sharpening qualities identical.  After all, they use some of the same parts, use the same steel, work and sharpen on the same design principal and come from the same plant.   :D

[tomh]

overbo, if you heat that head like you say, you will draw all the temper out of them and they will be dead soft. Easy to sharpen, but won't hold an edge and will bend at inopportune times.

[Pat B.]

I would NOT heat till they glow.. You can however heat just the edges until they START to turn blue, no more.. They file a little easier then but still seem plenty hard.. The Snuffer Tamer kit from 3R is the real deal, it works.

[RAU]

I dont know about snuffers but I find woodsmans a cinch to sharpen. I use a file thats wide enough to lay 2 blades on dead flat, make a few strokes, turn, make a few strokes, turn, then finish w, stones, it only takes a few minutes per head to get em shaving

[Running Buck]

I have the the same opinion as T.L. I use a diamond bench stone and a razor strap on the woodsmen and although they do get somewhat sharp, I can't get them to the state of my two blade heads. The snuffers sharpen the same way.

[Mike Bolin]

Here is how I (and many others!) get Woodsman and Snuffer heads sharp-
1. Take a black marker and color in the blade edges until no shiny metal is showing
2. Take a file that is wider than the head and lay it on a flat surface. I nailed a pc. of 1"x 1" on my bench to keep the file from sliding. Lay two edges (V down) on the file pushing the head away from you (lenghtways on the file). Take x number strokes (I use 20 to start) and rotate the head. Repeat until all 3 sides have been done.
3. You need to repeat this process until you have an even, shiny surface on the cutting edges of the head. ALWAYS use the same amount of strokes on each side of the broadhead. Keep track, I usually stick with 20 strokes per side until I achieve the even, shiny surface. I start with a fairly firm pressure and decrease it as I progress.
4. After the edges are "roughed in, I repeat the process with a decreaing number of strokes- 20x3, 16x3, 14x3.....after the first head, you will get a feel for it and develop a system that works for you.
5. I finish up at 1 stroke per side
6. I then finish with a diamond file or diamond stone. At this time, I hold the broadhead by a single blade (use a leather glove) with the V up. I lay the file on the two blades and file from the back of the head to the front, using the same number of strokes per side in the same type of descending pattern. I actually start with a medium diamond file and then repeat the process with a fine diamond file.
7. SCARY SHARP! Will shave hair with no problem! After you've went thru this procedure, a quick touch up with a diamond file is all that is needed to get the broadhead ready to go again. I hope I wrote this so that it is understandable. I fought for years to get Snuffers sharp and this is what works for me. Good Luck! Mike

[Mark James]

Good tute, Mike. Pretty much what I do , you just said it better!

Mark

[LEOPARD]

Mike's nailed it right there. That's pretty much what I do.    

[overbo]

YEAH,YEAH, about heating the head,
Been shooting these things 4 12+ years now and have been heating the heads the same amount of time w/ no issues.
I have hunted w/ many others that shoot these heads and haven't found another w/ heads as sharp as mine.
This is what works for me

[flyfish1]

Follow Mikes instruction and they will be everything he says they will. The 3 blade heads are easy to sharpen without heating.

[PastorSteveHill]

Woodsman don't whistle while in flight as much as the snuffers. Both will kill!

[Mike Bolin]

It has been my experience that if you are getting a whistling sound, then the head is not mounted quite true. I have had them spin perfectly to my eye, but whistle in flight. When this happens, I heat the head up just a bit and give it a twist and that usually quiets the flight right down. Mike