December 16, 2010: What I said below still applies. However, a little practice, the discovery of "pulling up" slightly while slicing, and knowing when enough is enough makes this the best tool that I've used for callous removal in 25 years. I've had trouble with my feet and shoes for years and years. I used to get blisters. Now I get callouses and, as anyone with deep callouses at the ball of the foot will tell you, they kill! Try walking with a pebble in each shoe and then add one to the little toe just in case you're a sadomasochist. That's what my lousy feet have been like, and this from a guy who played racquetball. squash, and tennis for over 45 years! (Throw in 5 years of marching including "extra duty" for those who know the old military.) Of all the doctors I don't mind going to, the podiatrist is the one that I mind the least. You come out feeling better than when you went in. But who wants to do that on a weekly or bi-weekly (or is it semi-weekly?) basis. That's how quickly my callouses recur. This Tweezerman Safety Glide with rasp is the best tool I've found. The fact that it's a combo and that the rasp when exposed covers the blade makes it a great tool, and for under 10 bucks! The rasp is almost as good as what my mom used to use. Her's was a 3" oval and remained sharp or I should say remains sharp to this day. Still, having one tool for cutting and one for smoothing is great. I want to disagree with those who say to do this when your feet or callouses are moist. I found that the blade binds because the skin around the callous IS moist. Best to have the blade glide over the raised callous bit by bit than to get caught at the base of the callous. Btw, nothing will ever make my feet smooth, and I don't really care. At my age, my feet get less exposure than my knees or double chin or anything else I no longer care to hide. (Besides, it's winter and Levis are the order of the day. That covers my knees. If I live to be 100, my belt will ride so high that my chin may well be covered, too - just like I used to see in Miami Beach. SO, one last tip. If you want your feet smooth so that your socks glide on over your feet, use a podiatrists "wax" daily. There's also one put out by Johnson and Johnson. But now this review is getting a little squirrely. I just hope that there are men who understand and perhaps empathize with my foot problems. Callouses are not just for women. We get 'em, too. Since, I'm about to erase my previous review, I'll reiterate what I said the first time. This uses a razor blade. Treat it as such. Don't cut too deep. Take your time, especially when doing the opposite foot, i.e. the one ON your dominant side (right foot for right handed people etc.). Do this in as much light as you can get on the bottom of your foot; not always easy especially when your - my - stomach casts a shadow. Leave a little callous because, if they're below skin level, in a weird way, they actually cushion the bone ... for a few days. My dad had perfect feet. I inherited his nose and ears and sense of humor. Thanks, Dad. My mom had perfect skin and beautiful eyes. I inherited her feet. But I also got her Tweezerman rasp. Thanks, Mom.
