Restoring horse shoe

KJ94

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I have my horses first pair of shoes I’m looking to try and clean up and hang on the wall, I’m not sure on the best way to clean them up/make shiny/what to put on them to stop rusting so I can hang them on the wall is 🤔

I’ve seen company’s that do it but is quite expensive so going to try myself.

They’re not in bad condition as fresh but do have a little rust and black bits on them.

Not sure if sanding is best or if there’s something I soak them in I have no idea has anyone successfully done this before? 🤔
 

MereChristmas

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For my daughter’s wedding we used old horseshoes to fasten to balloons which were part of the table decoration.
We cleaned them carefully with a wire brush on an electric drill, washed them , then dried them in an oven.
Then we sprayed them straight away with silver car paint.
I have some upstairs and nearly 20 years later they haven’t rusted.
I can’t help if you want to show the original metal of the shoe though.

adding… Guests at the wedding who had horses themselves spent a lot of time deciding which shoes had been worn by which of my horses. Some of the shoes were from horses long gone.
 

vhf

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Do you have access to a friendly farrier? I've seen a lot of rusty looking shoes (usually been retrieved from the mud:rolleyes:) go into the furnace and come out looking much more presentable! Then the polish and preserve part would be far easier...?
 

Mrs G

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Ive got my TB's last pair of front shoes (before he went barefoot - nothing sad!) outside on the brick wall either side of my front door. I wanted them to look used (as they had been!) but not rusty so cleaned the mud off, soaked them in white vinegar and gave them a scrub with wire wool. Then painted them with clear varnish, left them to dry and had them screwed to the wall. They haven't rusted yet (they've been out there about 5 years).
 

Cowpony

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Give them to your farrier to burn anything off in the furnace, a quick go with a wire brush and then spray with Hammerite
 

Bobthecob15

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My husband does it to ours all the time! He has an electric sander, he chops off the clips too so its flat against the wall. He also covers them in a layer of lacquer to stop the rust. They come out pretty well!!
 

Bellaboo18

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My dad does this for me with a wire brush and clear vanish.
He'd be more than happy to help but I'm sure it's not worth the cost of sending them 🤔
 

KJ94

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Thank you everyone I’ve got a drill and a variation of wire brush attachments from my dad… will see how I do if all fails the farrier will be here in a few weeks 😂
 
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