Tallahassee, FL – 06/07/05 – For the first time ever, the unique cutting ability of a chainsaw blade is now being applied to dairy cow hoof trimming.  King Arthur's Tools, the worldwide leader in the development of chainsaw blades on angle grinders, introduces two new products, BORS and MERLIN. While BORS was developed with the experienced Trimmer in mind, MERLIN is a self contained trimming set that can be used by Dairymen, Herdsmen, Veterinarians, Novices and Professionals alike.  Chainsaw blade technology provides a smoother, safer and easier experience while providing increased blade longevity.

Extensive research and field testing on dairy operations in Florida, Georgia and Wisconsin led to the development of a chainsaw blade that delivers both blade longevity and ease of sharpening. The tungsten carbide chainsaw blade has an average blade life of 10,000 animals before the blade may need to be replaced. Jerry Bowman, a professional hoof trimmer in Wisconsin, has used the same Bors blade to trim over 4,000 cows over the past 5 months while having sharpened the blade only three times.  Bowman commented, "The blade is very easy to sharpen with the hand diamond file and it holds an edge for a long time."  Being able to self sharpen the chainsaw blade means that the operator won't be inconvenienced by having to send saw chain blades away to be sharpened when they become dull.

BORS is a 3 1⁄2" diameter, six tooth tungsten carbide chainsaw blade mounted between two discs that can be attached to any 4 1⁄2" angle grinder. It is designed for high volume production. The effectiveness of BORS is due to the location of the carbide saw chain teeth along the outside edge of the discs. This allows the blade to be held at an angle against the hoof and permits a smoother cutting motion across the hoof that doesn't pull away. By putting the arms and upper body to use, this cutting motion reduces strain and fatigue on the wrist by eliminating the chopping motion used with current cutting tools. With a retail cost of US $225, the superior longevity of BORS equates to an operational cost of less than a penny a hoof. (BORS Kits that include the KAT Diamond Sharpener retail for US $260.)

Weighing in at 1.5 pounds and 11" long, MERLIN is the first tool to be offered as a hoof trimming set. The set consists of a miniature long neck angle grinder, a patented 2" diameter, 4 tooth carbide chain saw mounted between two discs and two other specifically designed accessories for trimming, preparing and finishing hoofs. MERLIN comes in two models, a fixed speed (13,000rpm) favored by professional trimmers and a variable speed (6,500 – 13,000rpm) model utilized by occasional users. The variable speed model allows the operator to dial in the speed and aggressiveness that they're comfortable working with. MERLIN is the first power tool that can duplicate the actions of a hoof knife and is perfect for trimming between the toes or around a hoof abscess and other delicate areas. Both MERLIN models will retail for US $295.

King Arthur's Tools is a family owned, American company that has been the world leader in the development of chainsaw blades for various applications for the past 15 years.  Originally designed for wood carvers, chainsaw blade technology is now being used in a multitude of different industries world wide. www.katools.com & www.hooftrimmingtools.net

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