Metal shears

[rjt70]

Have any of you tried out one of the bench top metal shears found on Ebay? The seller claims that the 12" shear will cut 1/4". Here is a link to what I'm talking about.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...832021355&rd=1

[James D. Clark]

I don't have any experience with a bench top shear like on E-bay, at least not one that would shear 1/4" material, but the one shown in your link doesn't look like it would cut a 12" width of 1/4" steel or anything else. Shearing 1/4" steel takes more shear than that. And it wouldn't be on a bench top.

[myplace46]

I wouldn’t expect it to cut ¼” stock very efficiently, it will chop off a piece of ¼” strap steel, but it twists the stock slightly in doing so. It would depend on what you want to use it for as to weather or not it would be worth it to have one. In a sheet metal shop they work great.

[asad]

1/4" on a benchtop shear? I highly doubt that.

The shop here at school has a humongous hydraulic shear that's 'only' rated to 1/4" mild steel.

Asad

[timw]

I've got one rated 1/4" X 8" I bought it from Enco, www.use-enco.com $89. plus shipping. Enco rates the 12" at 1/8" and has it for $119. It works OK for cutting flat bar. I have cut 1/4" X 6" with it but I have it mounted 16" off the floor to a 6" x 6" Roof support beam in my shop. With the 4' handle it will cut 1/4". If you have a place to mount it and cut a lot of flat bar it's handy.

[Rocky D]

They need to be mounted solid, and it is difficult to get a precision cut with them.
Like Tim says, they're OK for flat bar.

[JMcKeone]

When they say 12", does it mean it will only cut 12" total, or can you cut 12" then move the metal forward, and cut another 12", kinda like scissors. Im looking for a shear like this to cut alot of 16ga stainless. The beverly shear is way out of my price range, ive got an air nibbler, but it doesnt cut well, and my Jet H/V sucks in the vertical position.

Thanks,
Jim

[Rocky D]

When they say 12", does it mean it will only cut 12" total, or can you cut 12" then move the metal forward, and cut another 12", kinda like scissors. Im looking for a shear like this to cut alot of 16ga stainless. The beverly shear is way out of my price range, ive got an air nibbler, but it doesnt cut well, and my Jet H/V sucks in the vertical position.

Thanks,
Jim

No, it only cuts 12" total. Great for flatbar. I have a Milwaukee 6815 power hand shear/nibbler that has a 14ga capacity. Cut real quick!

[gde]

I wouldn't even mess with cutting anything that thick with that type of shear. Chances are, you'll end up destroying the blades and have to get them re-ground. It looks ideal for sheetmetal type material and maybe up to 1/8" without causing too much wear and tear on the blades. Looks like an oversized Beverly shear. For the money, it will probably serve a good purpose. I would just stay away from the thicker stuff. JMO

[evaporator]

Maybe you should consider a cold saw blade. Another poster claims he is successfully running one in a worm drive skilsaw. The blade'll set you back between $50-100.00, the worm drive saws are on ebay, and seem to go just under a hundered with shipping figured in. Anyone else out there tried this?