# Hoof rasp - yet another tool

**URL:** <https://forum.clcboats.com/t/hoof-rasp-yet-another-tool/72360>\
**Category:** Builder's Forum\
**Created:** [September 8, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/hoof-rasp-yet-another-tool/72360 "2026-09-08T22:54:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve\_Sawtelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/edb3f5/32.png) [@Steve\_Sawtelle](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Steve_Sawtelle)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/hoof-rasp-yet-another-tool/72360/1 "2026-09-08T22:54:04Z")

</div>

I needed to shape the inner stems on my kayak project. I used my trusty Shinto rasp on one end, then remembered I had bought a horse hoof rasp. I follow Engel’s Coach Shop on YouTube. He restores old horse drawn carriages. It’s very similar to boat building. He uses a horse hoof rasp to shape board edges. I bought one, but had not used it. It’s big and very sharp and looks pretty rough. I tried it on the other inner stem and it worked great. I was surprised at how well I could finesse it, even without practice. Got mine at Tractor Supply.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Matt\_Adam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Matt\_Adam](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Matt_Adam)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 10:46pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/hoof-rasp-yet-another-tool/72360/2 "2026-09-13T22:46:31Z")

</div>

Never thought to try a hoof rasp on a stem. I’ve had good luck following it up with a cabinet scraper, it leaves a cleaner surface on end grain than sandpaper without the gouge risk of a rasp. How’s the rest of the kayak coming along?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve\_Sawtelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/edb3f5/32.png) [@Steve\_Sawtelle](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Steve_Sawtelle)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/hoof-rasp-yet-another-tool/72360/3 "2026-09-14T00:23:11Z")

</div>

One thing I didn’t mention was I made my end forms out of Baltic birch plywood which is 7 layers with no voids. I decided to just to use the inner stem cut off from that, so may be different from using solid lumber.  
The rasp is not going to give you a smooth finish by any means -I did sand it after.

Kayak is off to a great start. I decided to take the time to drill a bunch of 1” holes near the edges of the forms. I recommend it. Gives you lots of handy places to place small clamps.

I’m still trying to decide on how to do the deck. On the hull I’m using Lowe’s cedar boards cut into 1/4” strips with no bead and cove. It’s working well. I did use a 1/2” wide oak strip at the sheer. We will see how it looks in the end. Got up to the waterline this weekend.

Another kayak is underway in Canada…