GLUING ON ALUMINUM HORSESHOES

by Andy Juell
Photos by Rob Edwards
© Anvil Magazine

Published in Anvil Magazine, November 1998

1. The hoof is trimmed in a normal fashion.
2. The outside of the wall is rasped all the way around, wherever the glue will come in contact with the hoof wall. Special attention is paid to rasping the heel area clean.
3. The size and type of the aluminum shoe to be used is determined. Care must be taken not to touch the hoof wall with the hands anywhere the glue will be applied to prevent any oil from the hands from getting onto the hoof.
4. The hoof is wrapped in Saran Wrap before it is placed on the ground.
5. The shoe is shaped.
6. The shoe can be easily fitted to the hoof over the Saran Wrap.
7. The Saran Wrap is removed from the hoof. The hoof is wrapped in cotton fiber material to insure cleanliness and to prevent the foot from sweating underneath the Saran Wrap.
8. The foot and fiber material are wrapped with Saran Wrap.
9. The hoof-bearing surface of the aluminum shoe is ground down to bare metal, using a zirconian sanding disc.
10. The hoof-bearing surface of the shoes inside the clips and heel areas are all ground down to bare metal to insure adhesion. Care should be taken not to touch the shoes with the bare hands. Even the slightest oil from the fingers will prevent good adhesion.
11. For the first shoe, we used the TECHKIT from Thoro'Bred, where the mixing process is done inside the mixing tube.
12. The glue is applied to the hoof-bearing surface of the shoe using a caulking gun.
13. Play-Doh is applied to the bottom of the hoof anywhere the glue is not desired.
14. The shoe is applied to the foot.
15. Glue is applied to the heel area which will create a smooth contour between the heel of the shoe and the heel of the hoof.
16. The shoe and hoof are once again wrapped in Saran Wrap during the curing process.
17. The second shoe will be applied using a more conventional two-part acrylic adhesive system.
18. The glue is dispensed into a plastic mixing container.
19. It is mixed thoroughly.
20. The glue is applied to the shoe using a tongue depressor.
21. The adhesive material is then applied to the bottom of the foot.
22. The shoe is applied to the hoof.
23. The glue is applied to the heel area.
24. The glue in the heel area forms a smooth contour between the hoof heel and the heel of the shoe, allowing the shoe to be set wide for heel support.
25. Excess glue is removed from the bottom of the foot. The hoof is re-wrapped in Saran Wrap, allowing time for the glue to cure.
26. The Saran Wrap is removed and the hoof and glue are rasped smooth.
27. And there you have a completed pair of glue-on shoes.

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