How to make a farrier tool box

The base of the box was created using scraps of 2x4s. One inch scrap was cut in half using a table saw, and created the front and back. Two other 8-inch 2x4s were used for the sides of the base. Sioux chose these dimensions because she wanted the base to be stout.

She says she may eventually seal the base with a roofing tar to better preserve the 2x4s, but says a coat of polyurethane would also work. Cochran says she wanted the bolts to go all the way through the box because she knew the box would be heavy with tools and would need to be sturdy enough to handle the weight. To finish the box, Cochran sealed the wood with Minwax, fast-drying, clear, semi-gloss polyurethane.

She completed the project after about 5 days of working on it off and on, but says it could be completed in a few hours. Subscribe Now. The "How-To" Horseshoeing Book. Farrier Blog Join 63 other followers. Sign me up. Already have a WordPress. Log in now. Loading Comments Email Required Name Required Website. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Shop for other straight pein hammers and cross pein hammers ». This type of hammer is also used to shape the horseshoes themselves. It has a convex face, and is used on a hot shoe when it comes out of the forge.

Rounding hammers draw out metal and are often used to make clips for horseshoes although there are lots of techniques for this that can be used with other types of hammers.

Farriers and blacksmiths tend to like this Nordic Forge rounding hammer because it finds a nice balance of cost and quality. The hammer is machined, so most people opt to round out and polish the edges of the hammer faces.

As an FYI, its handle seems to fit better for smaller hands. A Note on Hammers and Weight — weight is a key factor in deciding on a hammer. Farriers will choose hammer weights based on their own body size and strength and on the jobs they need to do. A heavy hammer will shape a larger amount of metal more quickly, while a lighter hammer allows a farrier to do more detailed work without their arms getting tired before the metal cools.

They can also help remove nails that have become embedded in the hoof wall. They can be used to widen the nail holes in a set of shoes when necessary. A good, basic tool to have on hand. The handle is slender, for better control and smooth swinging action.

This is a quality hammer at a reasonable price. The hammer comes in 10 oz. This tool, shaped like a smaller pair of nippers, can also be used to clip off excess nail once the shoe has been nailed onto the hoof. Not every farrier uses nail cutters. Nail cutters look like nippers, but should only be used to trim off nail ends. They have a flush face so you can block clenches.

Farm owners will appreciate that magnet, too. A clinch block can also be used to help unclinch a nail before a shoe is pulled. Made from solid steel and weighing in at It just has to last you, and Diamond Farrier products usually do. Once the shoe is nailed on, these plier-like tools bend the nail down over the hoof wall a bit to help keep the shoe in place. The clinchers press the nail lightly and flatten it against the hoof wall so it stays secure. There are a few types of clinchers with a curved jaw, or a gooseneck, for example , designed to work better on high or low nails, or on both.

These clinchers from Mustad have an alligator jaw style, which makes it easier to reach high nails. A bit like a small hatchet, this tool has a sharp edge that removes excess nail points once the nail has been clinched. It gets tapped lightly with the hammer, and the nail point is cut away so the remaining end is squared off. This model is dual purpose, featuring a clinch cutter on one end, and a pritchel on the other.

People who use it like its sturdiness and find it easy to sharpen when it gets dull. The horse rests its foot on the top of the stand so the farrier can have both hands free to clinch and rasp. There are a few different kinds of hoof stands.

The legs of tripod bases can also pose more of a risk of injury to horses if they are tipped over during a trim. This farrier stand from High Country Plastics features a disc base for greater stability. It comes with two interchangeable posts — the standard post and one with a cradle top, both with a rubber finish over steel. Magnets on each side of the post help keep tools and shoes close by. At The front pair might differ in angle from the rear pair, but each pair should be even.

Lots of farriers prefer to check by sight, but this little device will let a farrier objectively measure angles and balance. Farriers can check the length of a hoof as well as the angle.

Image credit : Pixabay.