Poor mans broadhead sharpening pictorial

[RGK]

So you're a cheapskate like me and like to resharpen  and reuse your broadhead blades or you don't care for the degree of sharpness your blades have when you bought your heads and you want to make them scary sharp. well worry no more bucko, have I got a deal for you. Welcome to the poor mans sharpening thread. I am a staff shooter and on the hunting pro staff for Ace hardware stores (kidding) and your local hardware store has everything you need.

You say you want to sharpen those Rage blades or those tiny Trophy Taker Ultimate steel blades but you can't come up with a way to hold them securely. Never fear. Ace Sells a broadhead holder but for some reason they keep them in the paint Dept. They mislabled this as a Window scraper. For those fixed blade, two bladed broadheads, you can use a office paper, binder clip. You can find these on your co-workers desk when they are out to lunch or at a meeting. Most likely the clip is being used for some unimportant papers anyway.



These two holders can then be used with your favorite sharpening stones. If you don't have any sharpening stones, Ace hardware carries an assortment of wet/dry sandpapers that work perfectly. 400, 600 and 1000 grit works great. For best results, tape the sandpaper to a piece of sheet glass. If you dont have any glass, you can get some from old storm windows. You can get old storm windows from your neighbor's house when he is at work. To check progress and to better see knicks, dents and dings in the edge, use a sharpies marker to coat the blade edge. Here is a Rage Blade



Once you get the blades as sharp as you can, your still not done, Now you're going to want to strop or hone the blades to a razor's edge. Barbers use a leather strop to get their razors shaving sharp. If you dont have any leather, never fear. You already have a suitable substitute in your kitchen.  open up an old cereal box and lay it flat. I prefer Frankenberry and Count Chocula but I've heard good things about Wheaties and corn flakes boxes. Next, coat the carboard with buffing compund (also sold at Ace)Use the stick to draw all over the cardboard.



I like the white compound for broadhead blades. Just draw on the box like your using a big crayon with the polishing compound (powdered form) suspended in the wax.



Then strop you blades backwards across the cardboard making sure to give both sides the same number of strokes.

[RGK]

Should you be feeling ambitious, you can make a leather strop by gluing belting leather to a wooden paddle. Here is one I made yesterday.



I rubbed one side with white rouge (fine) and emery cake (course)



Even small and narrow blades like Rage can be weasily held.



Then I bothered the Mrs. to borrow one of her legs to test for sharpness. A finer woman you will not encounter. She enjoyed getting her legs done so much she even asked if I would shave her back.  Ahhhh Amore'


You won't find another woman like her and she does not have any sisters. Sorry boys. No go on out and buy yourself one of those window scrapers at the hardware store and get to sharpening those blades.

[Papa]

Thanks for the informative tutorial.  It will give me something to do now that the days are getting shorter.

[cacciatore]

Very nice tutorial,thanks for posting.

[adeeden]

Great information and even better comentary!


     

[Lost Arra]

Great photos    

[stykbender]

Like your style!!!

[BenBow]

That is so cruel! Getting us all hyped up on your wife's beauty and then telling us she has no sister. The shame of it.  

[the elf]

Unless my eyes are playing tricks on me--it
looks like the replacable blade in the first
picture is in backwards---halloween joke maybe ?

[goldflinger]

Great Job! Thanks for taking the time to post.

[goldflinger]

Question, do you use the rough or smooth side of the leather for your Strope? Did you use equal parts of the white rouge and emery cake? How frequently do you need to apply them to the leather? Is one side "course" and the other "Fine", or is it a one sided strope with both compounds mixed together?

[ronp]

Great information.  Thanks!  I will put some of your suggestions to good use.

[neargeezer]

Excellent read and tutorial! Thanks

[Talondale]

Good ideas.  Thanks.  The commentary is funny.

[Jimikinz]

Aside from being a helpful post - I am gonna try this - you had me alughing out loud with the back shaving comment...thanks.

[KyleAllen]

Bravo my friend. BRAVO!!

[Cory Mattson]

Ron - Excellent post - Thanks
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[Bill Carlsen]

RGK....genius at work! Now the question is...."Why didn't I think of that"? Kinda like looking at a deer you don't see until it moves. It has been there all along...just needed to be pointed out. Thanks.

[olddogrib]

Okay, you've got my attention.  Now, for our cheapskate sharpening PHD(post hole digger)thesis, help me figure out how to rig these or other items to modify a Lansky/KME type clamp to hold a 3-blade so that two blades will align horizontally with a slot. With minimal adjustablilty, voila these devices can sharpen 3 blade heads.  Ron Swartz, I'm willing to sell the patent on this if you're listening!    

[ishoot4thrills]

Excellent tutorial and very witty writing! I enjoyed it very much and appreciated the laughs.

Also, if I may add, the Mrs. has very nice legs!              :p