Sharpening those blunt hoof rasps

Clarissa · Sharpening those blunt hoof rasps

Here's a Great Tip to Keep your Hoof Rasps Sharp

Only this last week I have been realising I had to bite the bullet & buy a new rasp. Such a pity as I still have 4 perfectly good, but blunt rasps in my tool box!

Then this turned up in my email inbox.................very timely indeed!

Cut a 400m length of PVC Pipe (just a fraction shorter than your rasps) x 90m around so that it balances well). Get a fitting for the bottom, put some sealant around just to make sure it didn’t leak -then empty the contents of a 2.5 litre bottle of Hydrocloric Acid (from your hardware store) into the PVC pipe – (it takes about 2 litres). Insert your rasps and leave them for between 4-6 hours – no longer. It bubbles away like a witches brew – after 4-6 hours, remove the rasps and wash in warm soapy water or water and bi-carb – anything to nuetralise the acid.
Apparently they will be sharper than when bought new!!!

This can be done 6-10 times before you have to toss the rasps away.
Read the label on the bottle of Hydrocloric Acid for methods of disposing of the acid after use. (I’m not sure if you can poor the contents back into the container and use it again – something I will research.)
There is nothing worse than working with blunt tools – it makes the job of trimming and rasping so hard!! A wonderful tip that I felt worth sharing with as many people as possible, particularly considering how expensive a good rasp is.

Happy rasping!!

Pyrgirl

Thanks a ton!!!!

And if anyone can come up with a use for the "dead" rasps, that would be great, too.

ElaineC

Very timely! I have half a dozen rasps lying around that are frustratingly blunt, and only one sharp one left. I will try this for sure.

ForgeNHammer

A cotton wheel on a grinder works good. Much safer than hy. acid don't get that stuff on your hands

Pyrgirl

Autumn

ForgeNHammer

Yep they sell them at most hardware stores and in Lowes with polishing compound. Here's a short little instructional video. You can do this with your rasps as well and bring some life back to them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXjr4RCFmhI

Newfman

Too bad I can't sharpen my loop knives like that. Ijust use the Diamond Mustad from Meaders supply.

karmikacres

If you can find a low speed grinder, it helps keep the heat buildup down while sharpening.

centaurforge.com sells sharpening wheels designed for hoof knives.

Mike

PasoBaby_CarolU

If you want to do this, wear chemical protective gloves and a face shield. Do in a well-ventilated area. There is no reason you can't use the same HCL again and again, and the original container is probably the best place to store it, since it is tested and approved to hold HCL, and is properly labeled. I'd probably do it all in a big steel bucket or pan large enough to hold all the liquid, since I might not trust my sealant. I'd also be VERY careful, but HCL isn't as dangerous as many other acids.

You might want to read this page on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrochloric_acid

From reading this, the HCL will degrade over time with iron in the blades.

A dilute form is muriatic acid, used to clean bricks and grout. Not sure if it will work as well, but you might feel safer with it.

When it is time to dispose of it, most cities or counties have hazardous waste recycling days. I would turn it in then. If you can't do it that way, then adding it SLOWLY to a large quantity of water will gradually dilute it and it will be safe. HCL is actually very common.

Clarissa

Thanks for that info Carol. I'll even pass it back to the person who sent me the original email.

You mention using a steel bucket. Wouldn't the HCL affect that?

When I was a kid my parents collected sea shells & cleaned them in HCL so I've grown up with it. We always used those big heavy red gloves although my father just dipped his hands right into the bucket to get the shells out

He was a boat builder & always had some chemical on his hands or oakum from making caulking or red lead from painting the bottoms.

Interestingly he didn't die of lead poisoning but of old age!!

appellativo

you can send your rasps off, and they will do this for you. course then you have to pay shipping and whatnot. yeah you could just throw 'em away...but that's so wasteful! reduce reuse recycle, save the earth and all that rot...

Sunny

Clarissa, I was due for a new rasp so I printed off your post for my husband and he went crazy! It worked great. Thanks so much for sharing this!

In one day he soaked my 3 hoof rasps as well as all of his woodworking ones in the garage. He just bought Muratic acid at the Ace hardware store and some pvc pipe and a cap, glued it, and set it up in a bench vice so it wouldn't spill.

It worked so well that I think he's going to add this as a "new service" he offers in his repair/maintanence business. If it takes off I'll have to send you a nice gift!

appellativo

Oh good, so muriatic acid works just as good?? because I can't find hydrochloric acid around here. did your husband save the acid to use again later? I wonder how many times you can reuse the acid...anybody know?

Also, the 'muslin wheel' shown in the video above, my local hardware store (home depot) didn't have, either. Neither did harbor freight. I can't believe it. Is this link showing exactly what I need?

http://www.google.com/products/ca...725987534618043543&sa=title#p

Sunny

My husband deals in chemicals and got this for you:

appellativo

ha ha I suspected as much but definitely needed that confirmation, thank you!

Now if only I can find that wheel.....it seems when I type in muslin wheel on froogle.com it came up with the above. which they call a cotton wheel....I suppose it's the right thing, now I just have to try another hardware store to see if they have one.

appellativo

CLIPPER BLADES...! Can they be sharpened using the muriatic acid method? What method do the clipper sharpening companies use when they sharpen clipper blades??

Clarissa

I tried out the rasp sharpening today but not sure it has worked very well. I finally got Hydrochloric Acid.

I used a 3lt milk bottle with the spout cut out of it so the rasps would fit. After I took the photos I remembered to take the handles off! It frothed, sizzled & spat, so not a good idea to lean right over it. I only left them in 30mins because I couldn't remember how long the instructions said. Then I hosed them off with the strong spray nozzle & left them in the sun a few minutes to drain. After that I sprayed them with CRC as they were rusting again already.

I tested them all on Cassie’s front hoof but none were much sharper than before. Tomorrow I will put them in for a few hours to see if that will make it sharper.

I will decant the used acid into another 3lt milk bottle to keep the used acid safe for next time.

appellativo

It's four to six hours, so give it a try again, and make sure you submerge the entire rasp (except the very very end). I got a pvc tube and capped it, and filled it up (I used a bucket to hold the pvc upright). It seemed to make them nice and sharp again for me. I'd say it was worth it.....

havingfun

Muriatic Acid can be bought in pool supply stores. It's strong stuff. Don't breath in the fumes.

My good farrier I miss so very, very much that I'm heading to Kansas to bring back to Arizona (not really but want to), used to make rattlesnakes out of used rasps. He heated them in his forge and hammered them into shape. He gave them away as presents.

appellativo

What's CRC? I did notice they were nice and clean when I took mine out of the acid, but then they began to rust! I'd like to put something on there to protect them...

misstux

Clarissa

appellativo

next dumb question. is the rust superficial or does it affect the performance of the rasp?

sebocat

Clarissa

Well 2days ago I finally got around to putting 1rasp back in the acid for 4hrs & promptly forgot it

7hrs later near midnight I dragged it out & it was fine. I hosed it off, sprayed some CRC on it & left it standing up to drain off & dry properly.

Yesterday I used it for a little toe touch up on Jude & Cassie. Yes it was definately much sharper than it was before, but not as sharp as a new rasp. However buying the acid was much cheaper than a new rasp so that's a bonus.

I'll do the other 2 rasps soon at a time when I won't forget them!

appellativo

LOL well I'm glad it worked out for you! It's a good trick to know so you can save a few bucks or at least have a sharp rasp till you get the shipment in! I always order my rasps online, once or twice a year....

Clarissa

And it went from bad to worse !

I then decided to put the other 2 rasps in the acid for a few hours & promptly forgot them again FOR 36HRS

I dragged them out late this afternoon, hosed them off & yes indeed THEY ARE DEFINATELY SHARP NOW.

So I think 24hrs at least in this type of acid is required to bring them back to new condition. How long they stay like that is another thing.

TrustMeNaturally

Well, today my dad is home all day, so we're going to try to put my rasps in the muriatic acid. I think that's the kind he bought... But hopefully that will make my rusty one as good as new.

Clarissa, do you think it was ok to leave your rasps in there for 24 hours or more? I was wondering how long to soak them.

Any tips as to how long to put them in for??

Thanks!

Lea

Clarissa

Yes Lea, I'd say they need to stay in that sort of acid at least 24hrs particularly if they are a bit bluntor very rusty.

I have done some for friends since I posted those pics here & it has been necessary to leave them in more than a day. If you can remember the feel of new rasp cutting you, you will know when it is sharp enough again!

I used the milk bottle which meant I had to turn mine up the other way to get them all done which meant over 48hrs all up. Also when I turned them over, the done end went a bit rusty again so I put that end back in for an hour at the completion, then hosed it off really well & sprayed the rasp with WD40 or in my case it's called CRC. I made sure I sprayed right up under the course teeth as the rasp will go rusty under them if you don't. Then stand the rasp up against something so the course teeth are facing down so the water can run off.

And Bob's your uncle! a new rasp!

Have fun

TrustMeNaturally

Thanks Clarissa! My dad put my mini rasp in for 10 minutes and it's like brand new. But I'll probably have him put my old, really rusty rasp in again until it's sharper. This is kinda fun!

Although it was a little creepy that when my dad was holding the plastic carton and walking around with it, it was leaving a misty trail behind it.

Ew!

Thanks again, hopefully it will be like new again!

Lea

cokey

This is fantastic! I don't know whether I can get the chemicals over here, but I'll give it a go if I can!

Thanks!!

cokey

Hmm - it seems I can get HcL but there are lots of different strengths..

Do I go for 3.5%, 7%, 10% or 17%? Or are none of those strong enough?

Blue Flame

Haven't read the whole thread but I hope someone has touched on the hazards of handling acids and how adding water to acid can cause splashes etc.

I don't want to read about anyone getting a face full of acid.

learningthedance

becdubie

Hey thought I'd resurrect this thread for anyone who has not seen this tip yet. We tried this yesteday with Muratic acid we got at the hardware store. Soaked the blunt rasps overnight, this morning we have 4 brand new sharp rasps.... This is a great way to give more life to your old rasps.
A gallon of the acid cost us $5.00. We used about 1/2 of it with this round of cleaning/shrpening. Used rubber gloves, pvc pipe as directed by Clarissa. Set the pipe in a bucket...just incase it leaked...no leak. Didn't notice a lot of fumes, of course we were careful not to breathe above the container.

This does work pretty good with the muratic if anyone is a little nervous about HCL Misting into the air some bubbling.