Sharpening Brand New Broadheads?

[timber_ghost]

Do you sharpen brand new, from the factory broadheads that have never been shot? I typically will have brand new broadheads on my first few arrows in my quiver during elk season (overkill I know but I like the added mental confidence of an arrow that looks perfect on the spinner). I go back and forth on whether I sharpen and tune the factory edge or not when they haven't been shot yet.

 

[bowhuntercoop]

Every single time from Magnus, to vpa, to iron will. They all get a initial bevel set, then diamond stones, then leather stropped and polished.

 

[ATL]

I have always used replaceable blade fixed, and more recently, mechanical broadheads. I sharpen every brand new blade before hunting. Very Sharp blades are one of the most important elements to a successful hunt is what I have found. Most blades from the factory are not sharp enough for me.

 

[Dennis]

I sharpen and strop each of my heads before the hunt and touch them up every few days during the hunt. Broadhead steel quality and durability makes a difference in the broadhhead maintaining it's edge quality throughout penetration. The way I look at it is the first thing the broadhead encounters is elk hide which thick hair full of mud, then meat and ribs before the arrow reaches inside chest cavity. The sharper it is upon reaching the chest cavity the quicker the recovery is my goal.

 

[TaperPin]

I always prided myself in being able to sharpen knives or tools, until seeing microscope images of knife edges. This video or others like it take the mystery out of a good durable edge that’s ridiculously sharp.

There’s no way around a strop or ultra fine stone for the final edge. Every auto parts store will have 2000 or 3000 grit wet/dry sandpaper in the painting section. When attached to a backer like plexiglas or even a piece of smooth wood or aluminum with spray adhesive it starts out overly aggressive until used a bit, and smooths out enough to be a simple strop that brings out a mirror smooth edge. Small micron diamond powder on a leather strop is definitely better.