Most of your tools have a relatively long life. With proper care and periodic maintenance, sharpening and repair, many farrier tools can last for years.

But the rasp is one tool that has a much shorter, useful life than most of the others in your toolbox. Because of their relatively short life span and
constant use, rasps are a major expense for farriers.

No rasp will ever last as long as a hammer, but there are ways you can extend the lives of your rasps, cutting your expenses quite a bit over the course of a year.

Inspect That New Rasp

Manufacturers take great care to make sure new rasps are received in perfect condition by separating them in their box with cardboard dividers and wrapping them in special rust preventive paper. To maximize the life of your rasp, you need to take the same amount of care by using and storing it properly.

The first thing to do after you unwrap a new rasp is check it for excessive oil that may be trapped in the teeth. Oil left in the teeth as part of the manufacturing process will help prevent rust, but will also cause the rasp to clog prematurely if it’s not cleaned out before use. A stiff brush works very well for this.

A Note On Safety

Although some rasps come with rounded ends that are coated with soft rubberized grips for farrier comfort, most are furnished with the standard “rat tail” tang that is designed…