How to Make Iron Broadheads

Making your own iron broadhead arrowheads is a great way to revive a lost art. Making broadhead tips was once a very common request for blacksmiths. Nowadays, machine-made tips are far more common, but making your own is a unique and creative way to practice your blacksmithing skills, as well as providing cost-effective tips for your arrows. With a little practice, you can develop your skills and produce effective arrowheads.

Things You'll Need

  • Iron rod
  • Forge
  • Anvil
  • Cutting chisel
  • Tongs
  • Sledgehammer
  • File
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Instructions

    • 1

      Light your forge and insert the end of your iron rod into the center of it.

    • 2

      Remove the iron rod when the tip has become red to yellow-hot.

    • 3

      Flatten the end of the hot iron rod into a fishtail shape by pounding it with your hammer against an anvil. This is the end that will become a cone to fit snugly over the shaft of your arrow.

    • 4

      Create a cone shape from the fishtail by tapping the sides of the fishtail with your hammer. This will take a little practice and is easiest while the metal is red-hot. Put the rod back into the forge whenever the color cools to a dark red or black. Try not to overlap the sides of the fishtail. They do not need to be snug, but you should monitor the size of the cone depending on the gauge of the arrow to which you plan to attach it.

    • 5

      Use the cutting chisel on your anvil to cut 2 inches from the tip of the cone. Put the arrowhead back into the forge with your tongs.

    • 6

      Insert the tongs into the cone shape to hold it, while pounding the 2-inch end of the rod flat with your hammer. Once flat, use the cutting chisel to shape the tip into a triangle. Cool by submersing it in water.

    • 7

      Create a sharp edge on your broadhead by filing the leading sides of the triangle.

    • 8

      Place the cone onto the tip of the arrow and secure it in place by squeezing and tapping the head onto the shaft with your hammer.