Everyone continues to rave about the results they are having with EasyCare’s glue on products. The EasyShoes are rocking everything from rehab to flat track racing and virtually everything in between. The Easyboot Glue-Ons continue to work outstanding for rehab as well as established as the hoof protection of choice for the toughest of endurance races. However when it comes to their applications the biggest learning curve seems to lie with the adhesives. I know some of you are rolling your eyes and saying, “Duhhh, tell us something we don’t already know!”. After meticulously prepping the hoof and shoe applied the last thing you need is for your glue bond to fail. An often overlooked element of any glue-on application is managing these sometimes fussy adhesives. Managing temperature extremes in the summer and winter can prove to be very challenging yet essential, but what can you do?
Most jockey adhesives in the summer with some sort of soft side cooler or ice chest. In the winter, on the truck dash, setting it in the sun, bundled up in a heating pad or bathed in heat from a heat gun. All these can work but what about the temp of your application tips, your shoes or shells? Is your glue truly warm or cool or does it just feel that way from the outside of the cartridge?
EasyCare dealer, Dick Teachout owner of Preventive Hoof Care Services shares with us his secret weapon to help aid in perfect applications no matter what Mother Nature throws at you. Dick resides in Leonardtown, MD where the summers are hot and humid and the winters can be bitter cold. Dick manages the temperature extremes with ease with his amazing little tool. Behold, its beauty!
Here are the details. The unit will either heat or cool depending on how you have it programmed. The cost is around $120 dollars and you can keep your adhesives, other gluing products and shoes all at a stable temperature as you determine. Dick likes to keep his temp at 80 degrees in the winter and runs it in the house overnight before moving to the truck for his workday. He keeps it running all day ensuring that everything that he is using is at a known temperature and is warmed all the way through. The unit will not run down your vehicle’s battery as it cycles on only when the temperature drops. In Dick’s case about 78 degrees and turns off when it reaches 80 degrees. He keeps his shoes, mixing tips, adhesive and super glue etc. in the unit so that all materials are the same temperature. Genius!
How you say? Dick selected the cooler based on the capacity. This unit can hold 4 pair of shoes (size 0 through 2), 2 tubes of adhere and 2 tubes of Vettec CS and a handful of mixing tips in it. The exterior size fits easily behind the seat of a truck. It is also the correct size to hold a large tube (420cc) of EasyShoe Bond. He also says that you could use any cooler/heater that runs on 12vdc. The only thing that needs to be done is to drill a hole into the interior of the cooler/heater to insert the temperature sensor probe and then plug the hole after the sensor is passed through it. You can plug the hole with anything that is pliable – chewing gum, caulking, adhere etc. A wiring diagram is included when you purchase the controller as are the programing instructions. The first one Dick made he used Velcro to attach the controller to the outside of the cooler/heater case. His current unit he found a place in the case to cut a hole and mounted it in the case of the unit. He said the Velcro worked just fine and easier to install.
Dick stresses that it is very important to load the cooler/heater the night before and let it run in the house overnight so that everything is heated or cooled all the way through. He uses this power converter to run the system from a 115VAC household outlet. He knows that every time he does a glue on application everything will be the same temperature and takes that often frustrating factor completely out of the equation. He further expressed that in his experience the unit has been essential for quality work especially when the temps are below freezing. He likes the results so well he has resolved to use the unit all the time regardless of temperature. Taking this additional step has been a game changer for Dick and makes the process consistent resulting in consistently excellent results!
Ready to roll at the job site.
Want one too? Here’s were you can get the goods.
1. Cooler – http://www.amazon.com/RoadPro-RPSF5235-SnackMaster-Deluxe-Family/dp/B004H4ALIQ
2. Temperature controler – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4TEEF2/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
3. Power Converter – http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-AC-DC-Power-Converter/dp/B000FIY08U/ref=pd_sim_auto_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0YCHNJDG694N3ZC2NPXA
Debbie Schwiebert
Vet Dealer & Hoof Care Practitioner Accounts
I manage the hoof care practitioner and veterinarian dealer accounts at EasyCare. An integral part of my job is to stay current in all areas of barefoot hoof care, which enables me to serve this vital group of EasyCare dealers at the next level.
