coping files

[Midge]

My wee male HH needs his talons sharpened up , what should I use ...needle files ?????what grades ?

[FlameHairedFalconer]

For coping etc I just use a set of metal files that you can get from any DIY store.

Emma Fords book has some good diagrams on coping and sharpening. But my best advice in this instance is to ask a woman show you how she files her nails. Its basically the same principle for talons!!

FHF

[StormRider]

I started using a set of small engineering needle files for a long time and they worked brilliantly for me and my birds.
I then got a dremmel for a present. This bit of kit is excellent and quick. I always cope the birds when hooded and cast and find that the time spent using a dremel is not hard on them at all. Although I know when to stop when coping I guess that the slight heat build up will corturise and slight over coping.
I have spoken to other falconers also who use this method and cant fault it.
STU

[Kentish Falconry]

If you get stuck let me know I have 2 types of copeing files in stock at under £5 plus £2 post and packing
Terry:yawinkle:

[James_Falconry1]

I started using a set of small engineering needle files for a long time and they worked brilliantly for me and my birds.
I then got a dremmel for a present. This bit of kit is excellent and quick. I always cope the birds when hooded and cast and find that the time spent using a dremel is not hard on them at all. Although I know when to stop when coping I guess that the slight heat build up will corturise and slight over coping.
I have spoken to other falconers also who use this method and cant fault it.
STU

Do u mean the mini electric sanders/engravers. I would have thought one slip and it coul mean the whole beak off. I know of one very true story of somebody using a dentists drill on a gos beak and cut nearly the whole thing off because he slipped.That was that for the bird.

[Kentish Falconry]

Do u mean the mini electric sanders/engravers. I would have thought one slip and it coul mean the whole beak off. I know of one very true story of somebody using a dentists drill on a gos beak and cut nearly the whole thing off because he slipped.That was that for the bird.

No what Stu is talking about is a drimmel made by Bosche it's a nice piece of kit actually I have 2 of them one mains and the other portable/battery I use them sometimes and I know 2 avian vets that use them as well. The heads are interchangeable and are great on bigger birds but I normally just use files and clippers most of the time.
Terry:yawinkle:

[James_Falconry1]

Oh i see. As that story has stuck in my head for the last 5 years i always think of it when i read about coping with anything apart from files.

[Hawkmaster]

MOVED FROM GENERAL FALCONRY TO THE CORRECT SECTION

[StormRider]

I bet those dentist drills are a bit cheap. NOT!
I wouldnt let a dentist near my gob, never mind my birds.
The dremel I use is mains rechargable. Dont get me wrong, I did find the needle file kit did just the job, but the dremel just does it a lot quicker. I think my wife paid about £30 for it from BnQ.

[Falconry Equipment International]

Hi James, terry & stormrider, I have used trad files that like terry I sell as coping files, however my specialist avian vet uses one of thes( I have seen it charging on his wall :yawinkle: however of course he has never used it in my prescence ... no need to <VBG> lookis a good bit of kit , but would still like to see it used before venturing into this myself.. ssorry for me the ahwks welfare comes before any thoughts of time/ energy/ ease of use saving etc etc HH & makes sense

[Kentish Falconry]

Hi James, terry & stormrider, I have used trad files that like terry I sell as coping files, however my specialist avian vet uses one of thes( I have seen it charging on his wall :yawinkle: however of course he has never used it in my prescence ... no need to <VBG> lookis a good bit of kit , but would still like to see it used before venturing into this myself.. ssorry for me the ahwks welfare comes before any thoughts of time/ energy/ ease of use saving etc etc HH & makes sense

To tell the truth Julian I have only used it on an Eagle and a Red Tail both came in with very overgrown beaks. I have also used it on Macaws where the quicker it's done the safer your fingers are. I have also seen my vet use one on a Red Tail and thats what made me give them a try.
On Falcons I always use clippers and file to finnish
Terry:)

[ScotsFalconer]

if your really experienced and have a very steady hand you could use and small hobby eletric sanded like i use. But i can tell you the hand files work just the same maybe even safer