That's how I do mine also. I made a small rack with a groove for the arrow shaft piece. I like that because it holds the head more steady and it's easier on my hand.
The nice thing about 3 blades is that the blade angles are a no-brainer!
I sharpen them on sandpaper on a round surface. I hate how blunt the angles are. If I was shooting them today I would never get any that weren't single bevels. Once I saw that red feather design it was a head slap. That just solves all the problems. I have to give my snuffers a look see as to whether they can be converted.
Yes, sometimes. I did not in this video. My other scrap piece of leather is covered with it. I figured it may 'cloud the water' with some guys attempting to just get a good edge.
A good friend of mine just uses the file and then a ceramic rod to finish off. His are hair shaving sharp as well. He works the ceramic rod just as he does the file with lighter strokes of course.
I use the file, then a fluted butcher's steel. I also have an old Gerber folding pocket steel that has a flat smooth surface as well as a fluted one and that smooth surface really polishes the edges.
The best thing I've found is the triangle chock sticks in the spyderco sharpsmaker...gets them popping sharp. If the head is super dull I run it on a long flat fine diamond stone first.
I think the files take off too much material and leave bad burrs.
When I shot 3 blades I liked to get a quality file (think Grobet, Nicholson) that was wider than the blades, usually a 16-18". Then lay the head flat and simply push the head held (between thumb and index fingers of both hands)point first into the teeth. You can make use of the full length of the file this way and minimize any tendency you may have to "rock" the pressure on the file by not keep your wrist straight. So much of this step is actually "truing" up the edge that may have drawn slightly from brazing. If it's needed, you can also put a lot more downward pressure this way and remove more metal, shortening the process. After that, excessive pressure is counterproductive and I simply followed the procedure in the video with progressively finer stones. I just free-handed several of the stones from a Lansky set all the way down to 1000 grit. I still think 3's are the easiest to sharpen by far as the angle is predetermined.
Muddy when Roger invented em was before everyone went to files after the traditional revival. He used large stones. They're large enough to just lay the snuffer on. Put some oil on the stone, lay the snuffer on it n move it back and forth or in circles, then finish the same way with black Arkansas stone till you get a scalpel edge. That's your fool proof way,lol, but it's slow as heck. This gentlemen's showing you alot faster way which is also the way Roger went to doing it after a while.
I tried it with the stones but was so slow I used a small grinding wheel and hollow ground mine to speed it up. then eventually went to the same way he just showed ya , only with a crock stick to finish it.
I too have gone to crock stick after some feedback here on the finishing. I keep one in the daypack and its much easier to travel with than a piece of leather. So, I file then crock stick.
Thanks for this timely post. I'm getting ready to return to Lanai to try again for Axis deer. I've been wanting to go with a 3 blade as these deer can travel a great distance in a short time and last year dry conditions made blood trails disappear. I've been a two blade shooter for a long time, but I think a good hit with a 3 blade is going to produce a better blood trail than a 2. Axis deer aren't that big so penetration is not a concern as it would be with moose or caribou. Your post inspired me to order 6 Woodsman BH's. I've tried 3 blades in the past that had a convex edge and just could never get them as sharp as my 2 blades. I followed your video and got excellent results on the Woodsmans. I used a ceramic rod and cardboard for the final edge. Thanks again for taking the time to create and post your video.
Awesome Okiak! Glad to hear it. I'm leaving in two days to chase hogs and will be using 3-blades this year. I used both Magnus and Woodsman in the past but going with a non- vented VPA this time at 175 grains. I've also started using the ceramic rod and then a couple of finishing strokes on the leather. Got little arm hair left on my left forearm. ;)
