New Work

[archiphile]

These are my second and third pieces respectivly

Item 1:

a Hoof Pick for my wife;



Item 2:

A leaf Drawer Pull;



Critique Please


Best:

Archiphile

[Doug C]

Good work. keep going. I have never made / used a hoofpick nor seen one used so can't comment. For the leaf, the point should be more well formed by putting a good sharp point on the end of the stock before you neck it and shape the leaf. To form a more symetrical leaf I would put the stock on edge and hit on the edge facing up. Work the center first, then if needed spread the metal on the far half then complete on the near half using your hammers peen..

If you haven already I would pick up a good book on smithing either at the local library or from amazon. This site and others have some good reviews. Here is the forum on IFI.

[orgtwister]

nice work the hoof pick would need a final sharping on the point the crude that gets stuck in the hoofs gets preaty hard and you'll need to getthe hook through it to pull it out atleast where i'm at it it gets really packed in there again nice work

[Gary]

Nice job on the hoofpick. I was making one at a demo where a stagecoach was being run and the driver came by to watch. He said a good hoof pick was flat not pointed, the better to scrape and not gouge the hoof. That's how I make them now.

[easilyconfused]

Ditto on the flatter hoofpick rather than pointed. Just as easy to push into the stuff and easier to pry it out rather than just cutting a line. Think flat headed screwdriver.

[archiphile]

So I took the hoof pick out this morning to test it on my to horses. One is shod the other is barefoot. On both of my horses this style of pick allowed me to have more leverage. The point of the pick itself, I feel, as a horse owner and daily user, that this pick works well for me. I like that the point is a little blunted. I noticed that this pick allowed me to scrape under the inside rim of the shoe to remove the crud.

I will also take all of the suggestion in to account,because I plan on selling this item to a local tack shop up the road from me. I do have a smith made pick in my grooming bucket, Love it and it does have a chiseled point. It works great. and will continue to use it as well.

What I am trying to say is that I think that both of these picks works really well for me. I will most make each and see what sells. Thank you all for your crits and suggestions.

Best,

Archiphile

[orgtwister]

i see what you guys are saying what i ment by a point should have been the ones dad used as a farrier had like a 45deg edge on them but it really just maters if it works for you