Sharpening Zwickey 4 blades

[JamesKerr]

How do you guys go about putting your finished edge on Zwickey 4 blades. I have watched Terry's videos on filing and using the accusharp and can get a pretty good edge started either way and both edges will cut hair but they aren't truly shaving hair yet. I have tried some of my stones but haven't found a real good method yet of getting a burr and flipping it off with the way I am having to hold the head due to the bleeders? I really like the way this heads are built with the built in bleeders and can get the bleeders super sharp. Any help would be appreciated.

[Orion]

I use a tru-angle hone -- the file set and coarse and fine stones. I first take the excess metal off the triple laminated tip with a file following the existing bevel, then put it on the file block for a few strokes to get a consistent bevel the entire length of the blade on each side.  Then I switch to the coarse stone, about 10 strokes to a side then 8, then six, etc. down to two.  I follow that with the same number of strokes on the fine hone.  I sharpen the bleeders with a file and polish with a stone. Might spend a half-hour or more on a head, but they're amazingly sharp when I'm done.  Good luck.

[Quickblood]

Posted in the how-to section.  Works well with these types of sharpeners (Lansky, Gatco, KME).  Good luck.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000077

[frassettor]

Terry has a real informative piece on sharpening them in the "how to" section

[frassettor]

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000031

[JamesKerr]

I have looked at Terry's how to and can get them shaving hair using a file and then the accusharp to finish the edge. Just trying to figure out if there is a way to get them sharper than what I am able to get with the finished accusharp edge. It is a pretty smooth shaving edge about what I would say is equivalent to finishing on a 600 grit diamond stone. I would just like to be able to get them to say maybe a 1200 grit finish look. Is that possible with the accusharp?

[Butch Speer]

James,
Have you tried a leather strop with sharpening compound? It's kind of awkward, like using a file, but it will work. Go to a woodcarving site and get some sharpening compound for a strop. $15 should get it to your door. Probably last you a life time. Find some thin, hard pig skin. Glue it to a 1x2. rub the compound in real good & you're set to go. It will take the burr off & make the edge shine like a new nickel. Works great for knives too. That's the way I keep my wood carving tool sharp. Hope it helps.

[JamesKerr]

Butch I have used leather strops before on broadheads but I don't think you can use the 4 blade zwickeys on one because of the bleeders. I have no problem using the file I would just like to be able to get something like a stropped edge on my zwickey's. I have messed around some more with the accusharp as so far using it following a file is resulting in my sharpest edge even when compared to using my stones which I have used for every other broadhead and knife I have ever sharpened even zwickey 2 blades. I just can't seem to figure out how to make a stone work really well on the 4 blades yet?

[Terry Green]

James....I posted those vids cause it works....not might work, or should work, or hope it works.

If you watched them all,(yes, got your email)...the last strokes with the finishing accusharp are light...I also use honing oil.

Here's the best answer I can come up with....3 pics, 3 pass throughs with 60ish pound bows...I have more pics I could share, but this should be enough to answer.

 

 

 

[Blaino]

James you said a few times they would take off hair. What more do you want?    I get the idea of never having a broadhead sharp enough, but at some point you gotta say "this will kill" and go hunting!

[Terry Green]

Yeah,...you hear this a lot....'You can't have a broadhead too sharp'....

OH YES YOU CAN!!!!


You can have one TOO sharp....if the angle is shallow...it will be sharper...but too shallow the more apt to roll the edge.....defeating the whole purpose.  

What you want is a SHARP ....DURABLE edge...one that comes out the other side of the animal sharp enough to shoot again....not rolled, nicked up, chipped up.  Yes, even a durable edge can get dulled if ran perpendicular to a heavy bone...but shouldn't get destroyed by deer, bear or hog RIBS.

[JamesKerr]

Thanks for the info Terry!