Charlie Lamb recently posted a video about sharpening a three blade broadhead. Great idea and thanks Charlie and Tom. I'm having trouble sourcing a file wide enough to do the job on my VPA heads. The only one I can find is double cut with fairly coarse teeth. Everything else is only one inch wide.  So a couple of questions

What kind of file would work best, single or double cut and coarse or not so coarse teeth.

Can anyone help me find such a critter.

Thanks

A double cut file would put a major rough serrated edge on those 3 blades. I prefer something smoother. Bastard cut is the most common file in most sizes and puts a nice smooth edge on... and I like that.  The next smoothest would be smooth cut. Harder to find but about anything is possible mail order.

The file in the video is a 12 or 14" file which is what you'll need to get the width.

I'll look around.

I just ordered a 12" single cut bastard Nicholson file off Amazon for this very reason. I'll let you know if it's wide enough when I get my hands on it.

The 12 and 14 inch were not wide enough for me so years ago I ordered a Nicholson 16" Bastard Cut American Pattern Mill File, Single Cut, 1-1/2" Diam x 9/32" Thick, with Tang... It's wide enough to accommodate even the big original Snuffer broadheads...

I use a 3 sided diamond jewel stick.  The bevel of the stick seems to follow the contours of the blades better so you don't have to remove so much metal. 

I use a 14" FLAT babbit file with curved teeth....7 teeth/ inch
It's 1 3/8" wide.

It's amazing how well it works.
Will take a rough beat up 3 blade and true it up to hunting sharp in seconds.
Just need to go super light on the last few passes....I mean almost lifting the blade off the file super light.

I do use a couple flat stones after the file...and some cardboard too...but the file itself will get it more than sharp enough on its own.
...and even though it looks (and is) really coarse, the single cut large teeth leave a smooth edge. Seems to shave the metal rather than "grind" it.

I liked it enough that I bought another and cut it down to about 5" to carry in my pack on longer hunts.

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I know you are thinking about a big file, but I have found that a big file is not really needed.

I use a 6" chain saw raker file and get shaving sharp 3-blades with it -- Oregon is my preferred brand of raker file. I do put a handle on it to protect my fingers. The file cuts fast enough to do a good job, and with light pressure it leaves a smooth finish. The real advantage to a raker file is that the edges of the file have no teeth, and can be used like a butcher's steel to hone/strop the broadhead at the end of the sharpening process. During the season just a little touch up with the edge of the file to "steel" the broad heads is all that is needed to keep the edge shaving sharp.

I frustrated in my online search for a big mill file. Finding one that stated how wide it was is the problem. I guess you'll have to a physical search at hardware stores, Home Depot and such.

The Babbet file would be a great choice. They are pricey but it is the preferred file of Ed Ashby. I guess they really make the filings fly.

I didn't realize Mr. Ashby liked the babbit too,
I tried one on the recommendation of Ron Swartz.

Here's a linky to mine Charlie:

https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tnpla/80755614?cid=ppc-google-New+-+Abrasives+-+PLA_sVAkydaGF___164110813434_c_S&mkwid=sVAkydaGF|dc&pcrid=164110813434&rd=k&product_id=80755614&gclid=CjwKCAjwuO3cBRAyEiwAzOxKsv94HNfEaZSbIkwjTlqhuHyi1fpohLrjoY1Tcb1IXsfmU7PWEj530xoCGJAQAvD_BwE

Nicholson 16" Bastard Cut American Pattern Mill File, Single Cut, 1-1/2" Diam x 9/32" Thick, with Tang

Part #:80755614
Mfr Part #:08925N
Big Book Page #1072
List Price
$39.37 ea.
Web Price
$33.46 ea.

I'm a  big fan of the Nicholson Handy File, it's about 8", and one side is coarser then the other.  I don't sharpen like the video but lay the file across two blades at the back and stroke toward the tip.  One stroke turn, one turn, etc. about 30 on the corse side and 30 on the fine side.  Finish up doing the same with a crock stick.  Works fast once you get in a rythm.  File is less then $10 at our Home Depot.

Thanks for that link Zbone!

Got my 12" Nicholson file in the mail and it is wide enough to sharpen my vpas. Got them to shave in short order with the file alone.

Charlie - Did you ever get your file? Was touching up my broadheads with my 16-incher and thought of this thread...

I'm in good shape in that department bud.

http://www.grobetusa.com/14-mill-smooth-cut-file-item-32-389/

What size you get?


Here's photo of my 16 and 14 inchers...

Notice the 14" wasn't wide enough to accommodate the full size Snuffer, although the 16" does...

I've got the 16 incher. I use it for a lot of stuff around the shop.