MFC tools any good?

[Douglas Pani]

Hi all, is it as windy and cold in other parts of the world as it is in Missouri today? My whole bed room shook last night (because of the wind!) Anyway with the sample shoes MFC sent they sent a brochure with all there tools in it. Has anyone tried there tools? nippers? Knife? I take it noone uses the shoes yet due to lack of respose to my eairler thread. Or maybe no one likes me Anyway let me know, as soon as this wind lets up ill untie myself from my anvil!

Doug

[Bill Adams]

Hi Doug,
As to the weather, It was not sunny here on the north coast for the whole day, only partly sunny, barey got into the low sixtys. May be a little rain tonite. Sorry, but you asked.
I have heard negitive report on the MFC knifes, but I know a guy who likes the driving hammer. The tools are made by the folks who run Ok. Horseshoeing School.
Bill

[calshoer]

I got a chance to try a pair of MFC nippers (someone elses almost brand new ones they let me borrow to try out ) That pair sucked. I don't know if they are all alike, but it convincced me to not buy any just to try. Patty

[Ronald Aalders]

I bought the foal nipper a while back and I also use a nailnipper by MFC. The foal nipper is a kind of special shaped tool, but not too handy. I guess they should get rid of the hook and stick to just that handle where your fingers fit in. The nailnipper is ok but could have been a little bigger especially for bigger nails.

Quality is as far as I can tell so far (been using the nailnipper daily for about a year now) appears pretty good. For some reason the shine stays on too!

I was thinking of ordering 15" nippers by them, but Patty's post made me wonder if I shouldn't just stay with GE. What didn't you like about the nippers Patty?



Ronald Aalders

[Dave Purves]

I bought one of thier knives a couple years ago, and it sucked! You could not sharpen the thing, I ran into Jack Roth at the AFA convention and he told me to straighten the blade a little or something, I forgot, I just ordered a different knife. I personally wouldn't buy any of those tools, they are made in Tiawan, or someplace like that. I guess Jack married a little asian girl and has the factory over there somewhere. Although the driving hammer doesn't look too bad, but I'm partial to wooden handles for some reason. I guess it's the "nuance" of it all.
Dave Purves CF

[Dances with Hooves]

Jack's wife is a from the phillipines and so are the tools. MFC stands for mindinao forge corporation. I have not used any of them so I can't give a first hand report. On the Heartland Horseshoeing school website chris gregory lists the tools that he likes and asks that students report having purchased them from a local farrier store. I bought the list when I started and pretty much stick to that list now and have never been dissapointed by the following.

GE nippers (Got a lopez and a st croix and like them as well)
St croix nail pullers
Mustad pulloffs
The Knife by anvil brand
I buy simonds rasps I forget what chris recommends
GE clinchers
I love my Jim Poor rounding hammer
I use 3 driving hammers from Jim Poor, NC and Anvil Brand and they all work well 10,12 and 14oz.


George

[Ronald Aalders]

Funny I thought I was the only one using the Knife!

I got GE pull offs but they already got a lot of play after two years use.



Ronald Aalders

[calshoer]

Ronald, the MFC nippers I got to try just didn't have that nice easy sharp 'click' that my GE's or Alamo rebuilds always do. Instead they felt like a pair of 79 dollar Diamonds. Patty

[Dave Whitaker]

I have been using a pair of MFC crease nail pullers for about 2 years now, and I have to say the tips have stayed crisp and resist rounding like no others I have tried, (sold my GE's, keep an old Diamond pair as a back-up). I also have switched to their clincher and like it better than my GE curved jaw. I,too like Patty, didn't like their nippers..... can't put my finger on it...nicely made... I think they just didn't "hang" right in my hands. So..stay with my GE's there.

Oh ya... the crease pullers were a tad wide to fit well in the St croix eventers, but a quick narrowing and they were fine.

Wanted to try the foal nips...but had the same reservations that Ron feels about his above...so a little reluctant to buy a set 'till I can try one.....

ever gets back above 10 degrees, wind under 35MPH,snowing less than the 2 feet we are getting now, I'm going shoeing..... Dave

[mikes_horseshoeing]

Hi Doug I am a graduate of Oklahoma Horseshoeing School most of the tools suck they are made in the phillipines they were drove down our throat Hoof knifes too flat and rust easily. Nippers corners break off nothing I have used holds up and are cheap.They just came out with the hammers and foal nippers never tried them but foal nippers was a good idea.

[Shockn&Gucci_rule]

Well....I'm glad this thread came up as I had been going to buy a MFC hoof knife (hey, they claim to hold an edge for 100 trims and I really do bad at trying to sharpen hoof knives -- have like totally ruined the edge on three <sigh> and I'm gonna' go broke buying replacement hoof knives ).

So, does any one have suggestions on a brand of hoof knife that holds an edge really well for a SUPER long time? I prefer a relatively short blade.
TIA!

[Bill Adams]

Tia,
I like the "the knife" that Ron mentioned above and I use the Delta knife, too. I think the Delta is a bit better but it's more fun to write about the "the knife".
Welcome to the can't sharpen anything club. I use a cordless dremmel tool with a conical stone, then a diamond honeing tool. I'm getting better since I started sharpening as though I was trying to make the blade thinner.
My $0.02
Bill

[Ronald Aalders]

Hi Bill,

The guy that used to own Anvil Brand showed me the easiest way to sharpen the knife. Just a benchgrinder with a flapdisc on one side and a buffing wheel on the other. You can buy a set at anvil brand for like $30.00 or so.

It works great you just need to get the hang of holding the knife at the right angle against the wheel without it being caught by it and ripped from your hands..........



Ronald Aalders

[Shockn&Gucci_rule]

Originally Posted by Bill Adams

Tia,

Actually, my name is Patience. TIA is internet-short-hand for Thanks In Advance.

I like the "the knife" that Ron mentioned above and I use the Delta knife, too. I think the Delta is a bit better but it's more fun to write about the "the knife".

Cool -- I'll try the Delta. I really like the looks of the Delta's blades.

Welcome to the can't sharpen anything club.

.
Oh golly, that's so nice to know I'm not the only one that can't sharpen anything!! Nice to join the club.

Thanks for the suggestions Bill! Maybe there is still hope for me to some day leave the "Can't sharpen anything club".

[Bill Adams]

Patience,
That is a nice name, we gave it to one of my daughters. At least I didn't call you Lol.
Ron, I have that set up too, just havent used it enough to get the hang of it.
Bill