Overheard a farrier at a clinic say he's been using the same rasp for 8 years without sharpening it

That thing had to be tearing up more hoof wall than it was shaping, and it made me wonder how many of us are using dull tools and just not noticing until we grab a fresh one, has anyone else actually timed how long a sharp rasp really lasts?

2 comments

2 Comments

henry_palmer2425d ago

Man I feel personally attacked here, I've been using the same hoof knife since 2015 and just thought I was getting really good at finessing instead of cutting. How often do you actually swap yours out?

caseys3025d ago

Right, but here's the thing nobody's talking about (@henry_palmer24) - it's not just about sharpness, it's about the steel composition changing over time from repeated sharpening. See, when you take a knife down on a stone year after year, you're actually thinning out the blade and changing its temper, especially on cheaper steel. That 2015 knife of yours might be a different tool now than when you bought it, way more flexible and prone to chipping, even if it feels "finessed." I swap mine when I start noticing the edge rolling over on horn instead of just dulling, which for me is like 18 months max if I'm doing a couple horses a week. You might be getting away with it if you're mostly on soft feet, but on a tough draft or a neglected hoof, that old steel is working against you.