[QUOTE=Brian Purrington;4302881]
Do you use power tools on a regular basis?[/QUOTE]
I do. I have 9 grinders but do not use them on horses feet. I can’t see how you would have good control over the grinder, holding it in one hand and using your other hand to steady the foot?? A little too much pressure in one spot would cause the grinder to bit right in.
I too use my nippers, knife and file.
[QUOTE=pusher;4303783]
I do. I have 9 grinders but do not use them on horses feet. I can’t see how you would have good control over the grinder, holding it in one hand and using your other hand to steady the foot?? A little too much pressure in one spot would cause the grinder to bit right in.
I too use my nippers, knife and file.[/QUOTE]
It’s actually quite handy, especially when the feet are rock hard…
And you do need to be careful, but with a little care and a light touch, you can make very minor changes easily without overdoing it… I sometimes hold the foot with one hand and grind with the other, sometimes hold the grinder with both…
I’m really paranoid, so I go slow and easy…
It’s not for everyone, it’s not for horses that won’t stand quietly and I don’t use them when feet are soft, but I confess, I love them this time of year…
OK LMH, this is THE TOOL
I used to drive one 8 hours a day. Quiet, no fatigue, no vibration. The tool does all the work. Only need one hand to hold it.
You will need a 3 horse power air compressor to run it. But it is the absolute best orbital sander ever made. It is powerful enough to grind through fiberglass and also can be powered down to create a fine gloss finish. Uses peel n’stick abrasives in any grit from 26 to 1200.
If you want to try one check out your local body shops - the ones that work on Mercedes and Rolls Royce.
Caution. Once you use one of these, no other orbital sander will ever be anything but garbage. There’s the Hutchins 4500, and then there’s everything else. And everything else ain’t even close.
If you are talking about a “random orbit sander”, simple answer-No. Would be too slow but would probably leave a nice finish.
I use the little Porter Cable one handed belt sander but recommend it only for someone very used to using power tools. I don’t feel comfortable using a side grinder on a hoof but others do.
My farrier who had been using nippers for 5 months asked me in if he could use the orbital sander and I let him. BIG MISTAKE… and immediately she went sore in her front feet. There was nothing wrong with her feet before this but after this she stayed sore and ended up with white line. I suppose it was a combination of things, but if someone asked me if they should allow it, I’d say don’t ever let your farrier use an orbital sander…this just seems ridiculous I should have known better, to me how would we like one on our nails, it would burn immediately.
Nothing like reviving an ancient thread.
FWIW: I have been trimming with a 4" Makita hand grinder for five years. Excellent results. Easier on my back, easier on the horse.
I guess it all depends on who is operating it!
Bovine trimmers and goat/ sheep trimmers routinely use sanders/ grinders in the process of trimming their hooves( feet) with excellent results.
I’ve never needed a pair of nippers. Yes, it replaces the rasp and, most times, the hoof knife too.
Regardless of the size of hoof or how much growth there its, the angle grinder gets it done. Sometimes it takes 2 grinding pads per horse tho.
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