The Natural Angle: Equipping Your Rig to Help with Efficiency

Equipping Your Rig to Help with Efficiency

There are as many ways to set up a shoeing rig as there are farriers. The goal is to make certain that the rig is equipped and set up for maximum efficiency. Very few of your clients will pay you for time and energy wasted.

Setting up a rig shouldn't be complicated. It is much better to keep everything simple and easy to organize - from the work area to the storage of your supplies. There are many different types of rigs from the more specific farrier bodies like the Monetta Farrier Specialties and Stone Well Bodies to generic caps. No matter what you choose, do all you can do to set it up for maximum efficiency. Keep it neat and organized-after all your clients see your rig as an indication of your attention to detail.

The cost of buying a body and outfitting it is an investment in your business and your image. Going cheap does not always make good economic sense. The body is a long-term investment and should serve you well for quite a few years.

There are a lot of creative ideas out there and you shouldn't hesitate to use them. In addition to the forge and anvil don't under- estimate the value of having a belt sander and drill press on your rig. You need to be sure you buy power equipment that is durable and will stand up to the daily rigors of your work.

Our thanks to Monetta Farrier Specialties of South Carolina and Stone Well Bodies and Equipment of New York for the photos used in this article.


The back end of this rig is set up so that the forging area is free of any clutter and tools are close at hand.	This is another Monetta body with a swingout arm for the forge.	From the side of this rig you have access to (left to right) a pad cutter, a manual tapper and a combination belt sander/grinder. The pads are stored above the area.

The shoe rack should be easy to get to and give you enough holders to separate the different styles and sizes of shoes.	The shoe rack is even more critical if you use a topper or cap instead of a full body. You have to make it easy to get to the shoes.	You can never have too many storage bins. These protect your nails and other miscellaneous shoeing items.

This rig has all the good stuff. Drill presses, grinder, vise, belt sander and bandsaw. All lined up to allow for efficient access..	Slide outs can help make the access to the power equipment much easier.	While welders are not always needed these days, storage of one like this can conserve on floor space. Notice the reels in the upper right hand corner for power cords, etc
Keep it simple but put in the equipment that saves you time and makes you money.

Information, Practical Ideas and Solutions for the Farrier Industry
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