Often when using aluminum plates or combo shoes, excess length and width need to be removed with a band saw. However, sometimes it’s easier said than done.

“When you’re cutting the plates or shoes, a lot of times the blade will bind up,” explains Blasdell, N.Y., farrier Tim Cable.

There is a rather simple solution to making the fitting process move quicker and smoother. Cable suggests making short, horizontal relief cuts (Figure 1 Above.) in the shoe or plate before trimming off the material.

“After making those little relief cuts,” he says, “they will pop off instead of binding my saw.”

Do you have a helpful tip you would like to share with other farriers? Send them to Jeff Cota at jcota@lesspub.com.