Joey Aczon wrote:Joey, I'm confused. If your cleaning and brushing the foot like you say. Why are you getting fewer and fewer horses done per rasp. You should be getting more done not fewer.:confused:

I am still using Save Edge. They seem to work ok for me. Haven't tried sharpening one, but might give it a go, see what happens.

I agree with Mikel.
I have tried other rasps over the last year, (with all the info on sharp verses dull).
I am still a Save Edge user.
I particularly like the "beast" but that is because of the large animals I work on.
The buffing wheel does really work and it does knock off the burrs and by cleaning out the hoof clippings, mud, debri and putting on a lite coat of oil you will increase the life of your rasps.

$14.00 for a "woods rasp" is a big savings. With most rasps selling for $18.00 to $28.00 each these days.
And if you go back over a number of posts, Woods rasps have gotten a pretty good approval from a large number of shoers.

With Mustad buying up so many companies, I wonder how long before there isn't a choice in material, quality, and assortment to chose from..
Does the word "monopoly" come to anyones mind ?
The advantage of a small company is they need good quality products to survive.
A large company needs production sales to keep exuberant bonus's going to the top people in charge.
Obviously I believe in small business. Good quality, good service and committment to a product and customer service.

Gary_Miller wrote:
No, I was saying that I'm not spening as much time cleaning the foot as much as I was. (trying to work a little faster without sacrificing end result / finish) I am also not trimming as close with the nippers anymore as I'm trying to rasp the foot to shape instead of nipping and just cleaning up. I'm just trying to get better, and it's costing me in rasp longevity.

This was kinda the point to me posting the thread, I wanted to see how many other guys out there are getting, as I know there are guys that are getting far more and far less than I am even with the same rasps. I'm just wondering if I'm wasting my time with all the foot cleaning to save my rasps or if I should just work quicker and eat the cost.

Joey, I see your using your rasp to do more of the work. I think thats Ok even though it causes more rasp wear. The plus side is you have more hoofwall to work with using the rasp so you can get a nicer end product. Its sounds like a give and take postion. Your spending a little more on rasps but getting a better job. Which in turn makes you a better farrier. In the end you will be the winner.

I've also started doing the samething I'm being a little more conservitive with the nipper use so I don't take that chance of over rasping a foot/sole to get it flat for the shoe.

Keep cleaning the foot as well as you are now doing. It will not only save on you rasps but will also save wear on your other tools as well. I also believe that you need a clean foot before you start trimming in order to see what you have and what you need to do.

I know one thing for sure. My free vallorbe rasp was free for a reason. Im mailing it back to ohio.

I really like the Hellers. I tried the Simonds red tang and thought they clogged up quickly. Save Edge seemed to get dull really fast. Tried the Hellers and haven't tried anything else since.

Kari

they all suck at one time or another. just depends on the "batch"

Gary_Miller wrote:Guys,
In addition to cleaning the hoof really well before touching it with a sharp tool it is very important to keep your sharp tools located separate in your box. The trim rasp lasts best if it is kept in a leather sheath so it never contacts the other tools in the box. This way the life of the rasp is extended almost indef.
John Blombach

Just got a new box of Simmonds red tangs from where ever they are coming for now and am really happy with them. Hope I didn't just get lucky and they stay this way.

Joey, I use a wire brush alot too. Shoeing in the shed rows at the race track they always seem to be wet. Get about 10-12 horses out of one before I switch it to my finish rasp.

Tony

I'll echo what Bo and Ron said about the Wood Miller rasps.... I've used them for a while now and they work well for me

Also, I have found that if I can get myself to slow down while using my nippers (which aint easy) my rasping time is less.... time well spent

Accurately nipping the feet as opposed to micro-reducing the foot 1/32" at a time with the rasp pays big dividends in time, rasp wear, and shoulder/elbow wear which is hard to put a price on ... easier said than done, huh ?

Derin

Derin Foor wrote:
Derin, I'm only nipping like an 1/8" less. So I'm not all too worried about excessive wear.

At one point I rarely used the coarse side, because my mentor called me sloppy with the nippers and I got to where I could almost cold set a shoe without a rasp. (absolutely could burn em on well enough though:D)

I've changed alot about my trimming since then though, and I'm actually having to work around the frog, instead of over it, thus more rasping overall.

Maybe I'm not using my rasp as much. First I use the wirebrush a lot which helps. When shoeing, I hot set most, so I don't worry initially about 100% flat. I use the first setting of the shoe to spot my high/low spots, then will do a little file work from there. Then will come back with a final hotset, which is good. Works for me.

Does anyone know if save edge have given any info about the rasps??

I have gone through a box of 6 .only 2 seem to be any good ..what is going on?????

Ray knightley farrier Germany.

beslagsmed wrote:
not good Mikel:eek: