I was at a barn Thursday and another farrier was working in the same isle way, along with shooting the breeze etc. I noticed how he used his clenching tool . I use adjustables and grab the nail shank with a tooth and bend the shank over without scraping down the shank with the other teeth on the blade. I observed that he scraped down the shank with a # of the teeth and was using a fixed tool. Just wondering how others,if they have been aware, do that process. I realize that if you hammer clench this question might not apply, thanks Ray
This is my method... I invert my clenching tongs and use them to fold the wrung off nails to 90 degrees, then cut the excess length off with the nippers. I then run the rasp under the folded over nail to smooth the wall where it has burst through being careful not to take any metal out of the clench, I also run the rasp over the ends of the protruding nail to form square and even clenches. I take a nick out from underneath with my loop knife for the clench to sit in and then fold the clench into the nick with the clenching tongs, but don't drag the tongs over the clench. Finally a light rasp over to leave a smooth finish.
i undercut all clenches , all nails are cut with mustad nailcutters held flush to the wall ensuring they are all exactly the same size and then folded into the undercut with either hammer or clenching tongs
To clarify my question, when using the clencher/clenching tong , do you scrape over the nail , thereby using several teeth of the clencher or do you grab a nail by a single tooth? sorry for not being clear. thanks ray
i just fold the clench down with a single tooth , dont grag it down with several you pull the hoofwall down and roll/bend the nail inside the wall which leads to risen clenches and splits IMO
Gary, I posted a picture on here somewhere of adjustables, David was interested in a pair if he could get them for 30 pounds, if I can t find my picture of them, maybe David will let you use his when he gets them into the hand of the staff after he finds someplace to purchase them for 30 lbs! I ll see if I can that pix or try to post it again. Ray found it thread : Tools , post #26 is a pix of adjustables, fixed axel/pivot would be GE, Diamonds, Blurton etc. though Diamond did manufacture an adjustable at one time
they are the ones i have posted on Georges Gary , remind me to show you next time we meet . open to offers good condition
I just use one tooth. I have a new set of clinchers and if I scrape the clinches it will actually cut them.
I know a guy, long ago retired, who apprenticed at 14 years old. His Master would kick him in the ass, while he was under the horse, when ever we was doing something wrong. He told me that for twenty years after he was on his own, his ass would CLENCH up involuntarily when he was starting a nail crooked or something. As to clinching, I just use a hammer.
I try and use one tooth, till the jaw slips off and skids over the clench and crushes my fingers. Speaking of which I have had a few break at the bottom jaw and crush my fingers. I use a double SS grover now days its so small and precise the clench just falls in.