its a wonder you can get under a horse with all that stiffness Jaye
im not far behind ya as far as stiffness goes

Thanks Guys,

I really never pay attention how I hold my block, but the handle really only serves the purpose of hooking over my index finger. The remainder of it almost tends to get in the way from time to time but makes it easier to grab off of the magnet on my roll around box.

I noticed some of the Knipex Nail Nippers have a block feature on the side of the jaws now. That wouldn't be a bad deal.

Trevor

smitty88 wrote:
You as well as I, a couple hundred thousand feet(conservative estimate); it takes it toll:)

Always use my pull offs, don't know many farriers this side of the pond who use blocks.

Jaye Perry wrote:
more like double that

peter026 wrote:
"pain is a good instructor!":cool:

smitty88 wrote:

Just being humble for a change:eek:

Trevor, I have a clinch block similar to yours, but I used a couple of peices of bar stock, and welded them together, then put a hook on it like yours. I think though that I am going to cut the handle down on it, as it seems to get in the way more than anything. it goes all the way down my hand, and think I will cut it to where I can grab it with two fingers. I branded my initials on my knife pocket of my apron, but need to redo, didn't brand deep enough and it is hard to see now. May invest in a set of chaps like yours, they are nice looking.

smitty88 wrote:


No really I never ever used a cinch block, I tried it once but my hands are not suited to hande those I guess.

Just make sure the nail heads fits well into the crease and hole of you shoe and you don't have to worry about nails being pushed down when clinching.

And here we like a straight line of clinches, enough to pull a shoe for if need be...... Well, my generation that is......


Ronald Aalders

Here is a clinch block that I use sometimes, I made from a Save Edge rasp. Doesn't look real great, but does the job.

Another view

I do a similar clinch block, but the lazy man's way of cutting the rasp into pieces and welding them together into a block like that.

Man, I must be really lazy. I just ground the side of my clinch cutter square and use that, or my rasp. I do have an old diamond somewhere sliding around the bottom of my trailer, but it's just extra weight to lug around. (again with the lazy thing)

The fewer tools I have to tote around the better. My mentor used his pull-offs, but it was 3 years before I had a pair of pulls offs with a crisp enough edge to block on.

I use a block just like smitty's or my pulling nippers, whichever hasnt fallen out of the box I dont find much a difference. I dont hit the nail many times, ussually just once or twice. I ussually hit the nail pretty firmly without the clinch block to seat the head better, just before I hit it once with the block.

My clinch block is made from a save edge also. Works great and made it just for my hand.