Journey to AFA CJF

[Cyber Farrier]

Focus, people... focus. This can return to being a great thread again, or not. Get back on subject.

Baron Tayler

[Tom Stovall, CJF]

PerformanceHorseshoeing in gray

Because he can't cut them [roadster shoes] out with a plasma cutter.

If one is practicing for the AFA CJF, making a roadster shoe by any means - anything from forging it from bar stock to using a five-axis machine center to precision cut the shoe from a block of A-36 - is an exercise in futility because roadster shoes are not specific to the test.

Motor skills are specific to an activity. The CJF shoeing practical calls for the application of plain stamped, clipped and quarter clipped, fronts and hinds - and that requirement strongly suggests that daily practice in forging the required shoes to fit a variety of hooves is the best way to prepare for the CJF shoeing practical, simply because one uses the same motor skills, both in the field and while taking the test.

[chris bunting]

we all use ready made shoes but i believe that being able to forge correctly gives any man the ability to alter section of steel, build heels, move nailholes etc quickly and more efficientlly than fabricating odds and ends onto factory shoes which i also think looks pretty ugly.
chris

[Gary_Miller]

Originally Posted by chris bunting

we all use ready made shoes but i believe that being able to forge correctly gives any man the ability to alter section of steel, build heels, move nailholes etc quickly and more efficientlly than fabricating odds and ends onto factory shoes which i also think looks pretty ugly.
chris

Chris while I agree with you on having the ability to forge correctly helps in shoe modifications.

I disagree on the last part of your statement. I can make any shoe modification, quickly and efficiently, using only a OX/AC rig and have it just as pretty as any modification made using a forge.

[chris bunting]

one piece of advice i think that is of upmost importance is to find yourselve atop class mentor in all aspects of farriery even if you need several.basic forging itself takes many hours ,days,weeks,months in my case years but still trying.you must make sure you can master the basics correctly before taking on advanced forging tecniques because if you start practicing and the basics are not right it takes even longer to get out of a bad habit.a mentor will teach you correctly in the first place and believe me once you see this ,things will fall into place and frustrations disappear and everything becomes enjoyable again.the same applies for anatomy and theory reading is essential but it has to be the correct reading not all this theortical **** that is being shovelled onto us by people that know but dont do.
all the best in your future you have picked an excellent with many fine ambassadors ,embrace and enjoy
chris

[chris bunting]

i shoe full time and dont struggle with any aspect of work but this computer is harder than any thing i have come across before.i meant to say an excellent profession
chris

[Phil Armitage]

Will share what I am doing to prep. for the CJF test.

• Managing my time (practicing my plan with keg shoes) on my everyday work as if I were taking the test.

• Drawing my own clips..

• Make plain stamp shoes at least once a week

• Participating in local clinics and forging contests and AFA cert.

• Reading flash cards (Dusty Franklin's "Lets get Practical" Study guide") while driving between stops

• Study at home every night using Dusty Franklin's study guide and John Blombachs study guide. Along with my reference material and diagrams.

Ref. Material

Adam's Lameness
Dr. Rooney's the lame horse
Principles of horseshoeing II
and of course this excellent forum.


Hope this helps.

[chad rice]

Hey, Phil I got Dusty's study guide and flashcards for my CF test coming up, but isn't reading them while driving a little dangerous.



Good thread Phillip, I don't want to derail it, but I agree with you on taking care of tools cause this is one of my problems. Is there any videos of books on this subject that would help out a beginner?

Thanks, Chad

[Phil Armitage]

Originally Posted by chad rice

Hey, Phil I got Dusty's study guide and flashcards for my CF test coming up, but isn't reading them while driving a little dangerous.

LOL, maybe. I have gone through all of them with no problems.

[Phil Armitage]

Originally Posted by chad rice

Hey, Phil I got Dusty's study guide and flashcards for my CF test coming up, but isn't reading them while driving a little dangerous.



Good thread Phillip, I don't want to derail it, but I agree with you on taking care of tools cause this is one of my problems. Is there any videos of books on this subject that would help out a beginner?

Thanks, Chad

Hey Chad

Personally for me, I got it better and still learning after I tried to make shoes, messed up my tools ant then found help. This way someone can see what your doing and give you a better idea of what you need to do. AFA pre-cert clinics are good, someone close by that you can hang out with, blacksmith clinics or courses. You could post pictures of your tools and I'm sure we could also help out here.

[chad rice]

Thanks Phil, I kind of learned how to use them, now I need to know how to take care of them.


Chad

[Phil Armitage]

Originally Posted by chad rice

Thanks Phil, I kind of learned how to use them, now I need to know how to take care of them.


Chad

Hi Chad

Not suggesting that you do not know how to use them. Have someone take a look at your punch, pritchell and creaser. This will show how your using them and how to prevent damage and also how to fix or maintain them. Most tools are made of S7 or H13, do a search on here and you will find some great threads on the properties of both. I'm by far an expert in this area, but here are some tips I have received is to fix and maintain tools. Reshape Creaser and punch by grinding. Fix your pritchel by forging and air cooling. The amount of heat in your shoe when you use your tools effects the temper at the end of your tools. The sequence in which you do things usually will keep a tool in good shape. For example when you punch your nail holes at a red heat. Then hammer out the frog eyes, go around the edge of the foot and ground surface of the shoe then go over the foot surface of your punch marks you will be at a safe heat (grey) to use your pritchell. The maintenance is getting the right shape in your tools and maintaining the right hardness at the working end. A good tip I got from Roy Bloom on pritchells is to slightly mushroom the end. This will punch out a slightly larger hole and then when you hammer over the foot surface the hole will close up to what you need. This eliminates and extra step of having to back punch or go through your nail holes again. Hope this helps, keep at it. The more you mess up the more you learn.

[Box Forge]

Congratulations to ALL the candidates that showed up in North Carolina this weekend to have their skill sets tested to the AFA's standard. Several guys completed parts of their CF and CJF. Evan Mickle(Jay's son) and Chad Rice both completed portions of their CF and from what I saw are well on their way to becoming excellent farriers. Eric Fox also completed some parts of his CJF. I'll join Jay as he posted in some other threads in congratulating Travis Burns and Jeff Crane on completing the requirements of the CJF and wish them the best of luck as they continue their journey to be the best they can be. There may be a few others that I have left out, but I think I covered all the ones that participate in these forums. Danvers Childs did an excellent job as the examiner, keeping everything well organized and ensuring that the standards were upheld. I truly enjoyed getting to meet several people this weekend that I have only met on these forums before. It's great to have a face to put with all of these user names. Overall, it was a great weekend of camaraderie and continuing education. I look forward to meeting up with all of you again on down the road.

[smitty88]

any pics of the jobs that passed anybody

[Jeff Crane]

Phillip it was great to meet you as well. I also got to put faces with names. Smitty I had full intentions of taking some photos of my horse but When the scoreing was done the pizza arrived and the horse (who's name was "Easy") was gone to pasture. When I was practicing for this test, I was done with anywhere from 10-15 minutes to spare, I looked at the clock yesterday there was 35 seconds left. Talk about cutting it close. NC ran this certification so smoothly, I applaude their efforts through the years for putting on great events. Mr. Bob Davis was also there who was an examiner but was a tester yesterday. He tested me in the mid 90's when I did the certified. It sure was great to see Bob and visit with him again. He is truly a very talented man. I want to thank the people here for the advice and the sharing of ideas. It has surely helped me with not only this process but in my everday work as well.