You want to make your knife as sharp as a razor in the shortest amount of time possible? But how is it best done?

I’ve found that using a light abrasive Scotch Brite wheel along with a cloth muslin wheel works best. While no buffing compound is used with the Scotch Brite wheel, you need to apply a buffing compound to the muslin wheel while it is spinning.

The whole sharpening procedure takes a whopping 10 to 20 seconds and your knife is so sharp that it makes hoof trimming seem like cutting through butter.

1. Buffing Motor

Get a buffing unit with a 1/2 to 3/4 horsepower motor and a 1/2 to 5/8 shaft that operates on 100 volts. You can build one from a cheap grinder or buy one for under $200. The cost isn’t really that significant because the sharpening unit will last for your entire shoeing career. The compounds and buffing wheels usually last for a year.

2. Scotch Brite Wheel

Hold the knife cutting edge down with the back of the knife tilted out 15 or 20 degrees. Work the knife edge back and forth from side to side (hook to wood) in two or three passes. Work the knife just below the centerline on both wheels. Be sure to hold on tight to…