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09-11-2021, 06:45 PM | #1 |
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Sharpening Speartips
Question: I have been down south hunting Cabrilla. Problem is I am constantly shooting into the rocks dulling my tri and quad sided tips. What is the correct way to sharpen without altering accuracy? Looking for ideas.
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09-11-2021, 11:37 PM | #2 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
Buy a bench grinder and some protective gear and practise on sharpening some rods to provide a point. At first your flats will not meet in a centralised point, but with experience you will get the hang of it. Oil stones can sharpen minor damage but often you have knocked the tip clean off so have to grind the tip right back. Cool the tip in water to stop softening the metal too much. If there is a workshop course available consider doing that. A grinding wheel can whip the tip out of your hand before you know it and send it flying so you need someone to show you the ropes. Grinding wheels are dangerous so you need to set your stance at the bench and keep a firm control of the job, in this case the item being sharpened. My Dad was a toolmaker so sharpening metal such as drill bits and lathe cutting tools was all part of the job. Buy a decent grinder, not one from China.
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09-12-2021, 11:55 AM | #3 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
Try pencil points around rocks.
When sharpening angle cut tips, maintain the same angle already on the point. You don’t need to remove all the imperfections, just sharpen the point. You can do small touch ups on the edges if they’re bad but if you keep the same angle they should disappear relatively quick. |
09-12-2021, 02:57 PM | #4 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
It isn't rocket science...any type of grinding wheel works for badly damaged tips...keep a rough and a fine tooth file in your dive bag for minor damage and to finish smoothing out rough grinding work...eyeball the balancing on each side and close is good enough...a little practice and you will be an expert...
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09-15-2021, 12:51 PM | #5 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
a newer concrete sidewalk/curb/ or an unfinished basement/garage floor does wonders too.... i find it easier to maintain the angle too than when using a grinder.
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10-15-2021, 01:22 PM | #6 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
Stupid question and yes it's not rocket science. It's hardly even science. I can't believe you couldn't figure that out on your own. Anything that grinds metal will be just fine but like all forum discussions, the simplicity of sharpening a spear tip will get bled for every last drop of minutiae.
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10-23-2021, 10:52 PM | #7 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
There are no stupid questions..there are, however, stupid comments by immature people with arrogant attitudes...a constant problem on the internet..
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10-28-2021, 12:00 PM | #8 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
Not at all. The question was akin to asking how to sharpen a filet knife. I am certain the OP very well knows it's a single internet search away and the answer to his question would have been attained much faster, with various sharpening methods to choose from. It was and is a stupid post topic that didn't provide a benefit to anyone on the board, including the OP.
www.google.com www.youtube.com https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...a+speargun+tip |
10-28-2021, 09:24 PM | #9 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
Its ARROGANT and NEGATIVE responses like yours that has made this site only a fraction of what it once was !! If you don't like people's questions, just STFU! I Learned most of what I now know from others who were willing to answer my dumb questions and share what they already knew!
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10-28-2021, 09:29 PM | #10 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
...Well, over 1600 divers read the post...not a stupid topic to them, apparently...you inferred that the posting person was stupid for asking the question....not a good way to start with only 15 posts to date...Differing opinions are fine...However, some of us took offense at the way you chose to differ...Try positive input and you will get positive attitudes in return...Choose to stir the pot and you have to expect some heat...
Tip: I bought a cheap grinder ($16 at Harbor Freight) and it works fine to do a quick rework on spearpoints... |
10-31-2021, 11:24 AM | #11 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
Sorry for the confusion. The issue is I am on a boat in LA Bay 28 miles from Guillermos with no grinder, only a file. I think after reading this post that a pencil tip is the way to go. Here is why: When you get a new Tri-tip or Quad cutter tip, you will dull it pretty quickly by shooting into the rocks. But, when you sharpen it, you are not going to get a true point-it is going to be angled. And, I have a feeling it is effecting the ability to shoot straight. Maybe my imagination after being in the water 5 hours a day. Thanks for all of the input.
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11-02-2021, 04:55 PM | #12 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
Good question! I was wondering how other divers do it myself and got some good pointers. And yeah...too bad Spearboard is a fraction of what it use to be.
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11-05-2021, 08:11 PM | #13 | |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
Quote:
I will use files or a rough sharpening stone in the wild or on the boat. Instead of a pencil taper, use a much shorter taper, akin to a low angle rounded grind with a decently sharp tip. (Think Chinaman's Hat) It may blunt a bit when hitting rocks, but it stays pretty concentric and doesn't bend wildly like a long pencil taper will. Buy a rough cheap stone, like from Harbor Freight or Home depot. And a couple decent files to start the cleanup of the tip. There is no need to overthink it; if it's got a decent point on it, you will be fine.
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11-08-2021, 07:05 PM | #14 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
I have always used a file. It works!
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11-08-2021, 07:35 PM | #15 |
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Re: Sharpening Speartips
In the old days you sometimes got case hardened tips which shrugged off any attempts with a file. They had to be ground back on a grinder which got rid of the case hardening if you had to re-establish a tapered point on the tip. When these tips broke eventually, they could take some punishment before doing so, you usually lost quite a chunk as the front sheared off. The Italians used to be fond of making these, but totally abandoned them when speartips needed to be churned out in large numbers. These speartips were usually cadmium plated which gradually wore off as the cadmium was used up much like zinc coating to minimise rusting.
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