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TOP TIPS FROM TOM RYAN
Do you have an interesting article you would like to see published? - Send it in to Forge Magazine!
Tom Ryan FWCF is one of the farriers on Forge's editorial committee, which strives to provide working farriers and blacksmiths with an ever better magazine. Tom suggested that Forge should include a series of top tips that could help make the working day a little easier or safer.
If any readers have their own top tips to share, please email them to editor@forgemagazine.co.uk.
Top Tips No 2 - Printed labels on hoof
Many farriers photograph their work but later it can be hard to remember when the photo was taken or which horse the foot belonged too. With digital photography your computer can hold thousands of photos in a very short time. A simple and effective solution it to stick a printed label from a labelling machine directly on the horses hoof, then you can rename them on your computer certain that you have the correct horse and date. This technique is particularly useful when you are taking a series of photos over a period of time. If you want to use them in a PowerPoint presentation you can place a white rectangle over the label to maintain client confidentiality or you can take one photo with the label and one without.
Top Tips No 1 - Magnet in hammer handle
Picking up a dropped nail can be dangerous while nailing on a shoe, so most farriers wait until they have finished the foot to pick it up, but it’s all too easy to forget and leave it on the ground. This is untidy at best, and at worst could represent a hazard to the horse. Having a magnet in your hammer handle allows you to easily pick up any dropped nails and nail tips while nailing on the shoe. The best magnets are small round ones which can be countersunk into the shaft with a small dollop of epoxy glue or hoof repair material. The magnet used was from Maplin Electronics. Then next time you drop a nail or want to pick up nail tips, you have the tool already in your hand.
Drill a hole the size of the magnet you are using
Glue magnet into the handle
Pick up dropped nails
Nail retrieved