Traditional Archery Discussions on the Leatherwall


Sharpness test

Messages posted to thread:
Bearman 14-Sep-23
Jarhead 14-Sep-23
PEARL DRUMS 14-Sep-23
Sean Bleakley 14-Sep-23
Corax_latrans 14-Sep-23
two4hooking 14-Sep-23
Bearman 14-Sep-23
Red Beastmaster 14-Sep-23
deerhunt51 14-Sep-23
Live2Hunt 14-Sep-23
Will tell 14-Sep-23
Bearfootin 14-Sep-23
smrobertson 14-Sep-23
Jimmyjumpup 14-Sep-23
Andy Man 14-Sep-23
CoyoteJohn 14-Sep-23
2 bears 14-Sep-23
Arrowbuster 14-Sep-23
LongbowOM 14-Sep-23
Jeff Durnell 14-Sep-23
longbowguy 15-Sep-23
Wapiti - - M. S. 16-Sep-23
tradmt 16-Sep-23
austin 16-Sep-23
cvarcher 16-Sep-23
dnovo 16-Sep-23
Dutch oven 17-Sep-23
Dutch oven 17-Sep-23
buster v davenport 17-Sep-23
Dutch oven 17-Sep-23
2 bears 17-Sep-23
2 bears 17-Sep-23
Bearman 17-Sep-23
Red Beastmaster 17-Sep-23
Vanhethof 18-Sep-23
scndwfstlhntng 18-Sep-23
Andy Man 18-Sep-23
Wudstix 18-Sep-23
From: Bearman Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 14-Sep-23

Bearman 's embedded Photo



Just curious how everyone tests their sharpness on their heads? Usually this time of year I have no hair left on my arms and legs from testing broadheads lol. If I can shave hair on my arm and shave paper I consider mine sharp. My single bevels on a KME can get a tad sharper, but I prefer a rougher edge, they seem to bleed better for me. A file edge on a razorhead is my favorite.

From: Jarhead
Date: 14-Sep-23




I'm a shaver... the left side of my body looks like patchy mess when I'm in hunt prep mode!!!

From: PEARL DRUMS
Date: 14-Sep-23




I just lightly drag my finger tips over the edge to check. If I have one I may be skeptical about I will shave some hair off my hand or forearm to confirm.

From: Sean Bleakley Professional Bowhunters Society - Qualified Member Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 14-Sep-23




I just run my finger over it. I’ve been doing this long enough to where I know what’s sharp and what isn’t.

From: Corax_latrans
Date: 14-Sep-23




Bald forearm club here. I’ll start in on my shins if I run out of arm.

But yeah, they’re either sticky-sharp or they’re not. Rubber band test is good, too.

From: two4hooking
Date: 14-Sep-23




I’m a file guy and go by feel or drag on my finger nail. Sometimes I’ll play with rubber bands but i want to kill them not shave them. I don’t stress. Touch them up often and move on.

From: Bearman Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 14-Sep-23




Bald forearm club LOL that’s definitely me too

From: Red Beastmaster
Date: 14-Sep-23




I'm a rubber band man.

Two4hooking X 2. I want to kill a deer, not shave them. Hand file and strop.

From: deerhunt51
Date: 14-Sep-23




Yep shaving sharp.

From: Live2Hunt
Date: 14-Sep-23




Shave my arm guy here. Sometimes I inadvertently bump a finger on a blade to test, Duph!

From: Will tell
Date: 14-Sep-23




M last name is Shaver so I guess I’m a Shaver to.

From: Bearfootin
Date: 14-Sep-23




Ok,…. My last name is keene…so Iike to have a keen edge on mine.

I like to use the KME on my 2 Blade heads

From: smrobertson
Date: 14-Sep-23

smrobertson's embedded Photo



I use the S24 files Tru Angle came out with a good while back. One I'm done on the file I run across the Tru Angle hard stone with oil, then strop on leather.

From: Jimmyjumpup Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member
Date: 14-Sep-23




Lots of time wasted on sharpening heads. I’m for less is more. I worry more about where I hunt

From: Andy Man
Date: 14-Sep-23




two4hooking x3

From: CoyoteJohn
Date: 14-Sep-23




File then hone on a fine stone. Strop to polish.

Broadheads only get duller the deeper they penetrate. Want mine to start as sharp as I can get em.

From: 2 bears
Date: 14-Sep-23




My wife is always telling me you look like you have the mange. I won't shoot a head that won't shave easily. >>>----> Ken

From: Arrowbuster
Date: 14-Sep-23




I drag it across a fingernail, if it won't bite its not ready. I then of course shave the hair off my arms.

From: LongbowOM
Date: 14-Sep-23




I’ve been using Simmons BH for over 14 years and I get them shaving sharp. Doesn’t take very long to sharpen. Good luck Youall

From: Jeff Durnell
Date: 14-Sep-23




What Pearly said. Finger feel. They can tell the difference.

From: longbowguy
Date: 15-Sep-23




I hone my kitchen knives on a steel sharpener about every other time I use them. My test is to slide them down my thumbnail. If they do not catch I use the steel.

Now, files and stones and sandpaper and other abrasives remove steel and can eventually wear an edge out, requiring major attention or replacement. Light strokes from the steel just shove the molecules back into line and may remove nothing.

A knife treated this way may last a lifetime without regrinding.

Another good test I enjoy almost every day is whether the knife will slice crusty bread in a single stroke. Mine will. - lbg

From: Wapiti - - M. S. Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 16-Sep-23




What Red said !

From: tradmt
Date: 16-Sep-23




I use to shave off my arm, now I just go by feel. I know what sharp feels like on my thumb.

I have never had a rougher edge produce a more desirable outcome, in fact, it’s just the opposite. Since running single bevels I have seen more blood, they are considerably sharper than double, which stands to reason.

From: austin
Date: 16-Sep-23




Yeah, I’m in the bare forearm club too :)

From: cvarcher
Date: 16-Sep-23




John Shultz showed me how Howard Hill sharpened his broadheads and thats how i do mine. A daily touchup with a 6 inch mill file along the bevel both sides and then a hard drag of the corner edge of the narrow part of the file right across the top of the edge you just made sharp. This puts a serration on it. You wouldnt want to shave with my broadhead as it will start tearing .

From: dnovo Professional Bowhunters Society - Qualified Member Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 16-Sep-23




What Pearl and Sean said. I've been doing it so long I can just feel it.

From: Dutch oven
Date: 17-Sep-23

Dutch oven's embedded Photo



I've grown tired of looking like a Naked Mole-Rat, so here's my solution for a consistent, repeatable way to test sharpness that I've used for years. I use a fresh, size #32 rubber band. I lightly hold the arrow by only the nock, place the broadhead on the rubber band, and push or pull the arrow just 1 inch. My rule is that the broadhead must cut completely through the rubber band, with just the weight of the arrow, for it to go into my quiver. I think it's a good simulation of a blood vessel.

From: Dutch oven
Date: 17-Sep-23

Dutch oven's embedded Photo



Another photo of my sharpness tester

From: buster v davenport
Date: 17-Sep-23




If you think they are not sharp enough, just accidentally touch your bow string with one. bvd

From: Dutch oven
Date: 17-Sep-23

Dutch oven's embedded Photo



final picture

From: 2 bears
Date: 17-Sep-23




Explain how a dull one just slides over the band without cutting it. Kind of like veins & arteries. You can't get them too sharp. >>>-----> Ken

From: 2 bears
Date: 17-Sep-23




Explain how a dull one just slides over the band without cutting it. Kind of like veins & arteries. You can't get them too sharp. >>>-----> Ken

From: Bearman Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 17-Sep-23




Dutch oven I like that set up. Nice consistency to it

From: Red Beastmaster
Date: 17-Sep-23




Dutch Oven, that's how I do it.

From: Vanhethof
Date: 18-Sep-23




Dutch Oven x 3.

From: scndwfstlhntng Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member
Date: 18-Sep-23




I am a rubber band guy. A big bag of very thin rubber bands can last for YEARS. After sharpening and gently checking the edge with a finger, I will touch lightly to a rubber band. It easily cuts or back to the sharpener we go.

From: Andy Man
Date: 18-Sep-23




those ACE are a great head too

From: Wudstix Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member
Date: 18-Sep-23




Dutch Oven x 4





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