I am looking into some new types of impression material. There are already about a dozen brands on the market that all seem very similar in design and price.

What do you currently use, and why do you use it?

Also, if you could design a new impression material, what would you change?

thanks!

They are all so similar I use the EDSS not only because the supply house is convenient but because it is also the best price.I believe it is running about 7 to 10 bucks a pound less then the other brands. Of course that may depend on shipping, too. I prefer their 'medium' hardness,(the pink), its about the only one I use. If you need a harder one, they do have the yellow and from what I have found it is harder than most other brands.

One of the things I have been looking into is the ability to change the hardness of the IM. Would you find it useful to be carry one product that you can adjust?

Adjustability in IM is necessary in dealing with "lameness". You and I have talked about the "sinkers" we deal with.

One of the things I have learned is that IM shrinks after it sets by as much as 5%. I can't say I have ever noticed this, has anyone else?

One thing I would like to know:

If IM is under a pad, ambient temp is -20F, and the ground is frozen, does the IM get harder?

That's a good question. I don't know the answer, but I will put a sample in the freezer overnight and measure the hardness in the morning.

One thing to keep in mind is that the horses is bearing weight on the IM. Does this keep it more supple than as if you had just pulled it out of the freezer? What about the heat exchange from the foot to the IM? Would this affect the IM and make it different than when you had pull;ed it out of the freezer by itself???

I once worked with IM in the conditions similarly described (0 degrees and wind blowing like a banshee) Not the best that I like but you do what needs to be done. What I pulled out of the foot was not "frozen." It still had a rubber like consistancy. This was the EDSS Product.

Tony

How about some i.m. that changes color with temp, Like say blue for cold with a red shift for hot, that would be pretty nifty,

Well how about that, the IM sample changed in hardness at the freezing point when compared to room temperature. The initial hardness of the sample was 40 on the A Shore scale, went to 50 when frozen and returned to 40 when brought back to room temperature. I don't know if this can be "fixed", other than starting with a softer material in the cold months.

Thanks Patrick. I will ask for the softer stuff when mine are reset in Oct.
I've been struggling for years trying to figure out this 'cold weather laminitis'. I'm sure it's multi-factorial like everything else, but I do believe that the frozen ground and lack of cushioning is a big part. One year at Patty Stillers suggestion, I made soiled bedding pathways and they did go out of their way to walk on them. Last spring as soon as I got some afternoon mud on a field road that had been snow plowed, I started hand walking the sore mare, or letting her follow her dam loose. She improved a lot within a few minutes of walking in mud, and often went from careful walking to some canter of her own choice when she followed loose.
My preliminary study with a laser temp gun last winter showed that the tip of the toe was nearly freezing while mid toe was 60F. So it seems possible that the pad and IM might be near freezing. Perhaps someone with a temperature probe can shove one in under a pad next winter to see?
Katy

reillyshoe in gray

I am looking into some new types of impression material. There are already about a dozen brands on the market that all seem very similar in design and price.

What do you currently use, and why do you use it?

Also, if you could design a new impression material, what would you change?

Pat,

This is old technology, but I still occasionally use clear silicone caulk catalyzed with benzoyl peroxide (Bondo Body Putty Cream Hardener). Ordinarily, I prepare the foot, fit the shoe and pad, fill the solar surface with caulk, scrápe off any excess with a tongue depressor, squirt a small ribbon of red hardener atop the caulk, mix it with a tongue depressor until it's uniform in color, then nail on the package. Setup usually takes 60-90 seconds, longer when it's cold.

The amount is of hardener is not critical to the reaction, but I've gotten different readings on the Shore scale when measuring old filler, so the possibility of varying the hardness of the filler at different points of the solar surface by varying the amount of catalyst might be something worth your investigating. Because of the color change, it'd be fairly easy to do the initial testing.

As an aside, I do side-by-side sole hardness tests with a Type A-2 Shore Durometer patented in 1948 - I even have the original leather case.

What would the hardness be of dirt packed in a foot? I wonder if the importance of hardness is not overstated. In that a foot without pathologies limiting its ability to bear weight on the sole, can handle a really hard package.

What about this Equibuild Vettec produces. The black pour in. I always felt that was way to hard, but now I wonder if it is. Anyone with experience using that product?


Ronald Aalders

Noting that 'some' Equithane products tend/and continue to cure even "to" the end of a shoeing cycle; I use less and less of these product(s).

Jaye Perry wrote:
I have to agree with this statement.