PSA: Ditch the hand file for a grinder on old shoes unless you like elbow pain

I used to spend 20 minutes hand filing every old shoe to get it clean before shaping. Then last spring I had a run of 8 horses in one day and my arm was shot for two days after. Now I just zip through with a 4.5 inch grinder and a 36 grit flap disc, takes me maybe 5 minutes per shoe. Has anyone else made the switch or am I just being lazy?

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oscarmurray6d ago

I switched to a 36 grit flap disc on a 4.5 inch grinder about two years ago after the same arm pain issue from hand filing. Did you find you had to adjust your pressure or speed at all for the steel to avoid gouging? I still catch myself pushing too hard when I'm in a hurry and end up with a wavy surface I gotta smooth out after.