leow90•1mo ago

Hot take: I started using a small propane torch to warm up frozen shoes in the winter and it's a game changer

Last January in Boise, I had a draft horse with a thrown shoe and the new one just wouldn't seat right because the steel was so cold. I warmed the shoe for maybe 30 seconds with the torch before nailing it on, and it seated perfectly on the first try. Do you think this could cause any problems with the steel's temper over time?

3 comments

3 Comments

adam_robinson1mo agoProlific Poster

Ever worry about messing up the metal's temper? I used to think any heat was bad news for a horseshoe... but honestly, for a quick warm-up like that, you're not even getting it to a dull red. You're just taking the deep chill off. I've done the same thing to get a tight fitting wrench onto a frozen bolt without it cracking. As long as you're not holding the flame in one spot forever, the steel's fine.

blair6261mo ago

Yeah, that's a good point about the wrench trick.

evan2951d ago

Did you ever have a wrench that just wouldn't grab right no matter what you did? I've got an old Craftsman that the jaws are all boogered up from years of abuse. Tried the heat trick on it once and it just made the thing smoke and smell bad, didn't even help get the bolt loose. Wondering if maybe the metal was just too far gone to begin with or if I didn't warm it up even enough.