Jewelry Shear Tool Tutorial

The straight or slitting shear is a bench tool used to make manual straight cuts in sheet metal. It consists of two - blades that shear material when a lever is pulled and the blades come together.  

 The shearing capacity of this tool is 16 gauge sheet. 

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 Safety Precautions and Features 

 

 Keep guards in place and in working order 

 Keep all body parts away from moving parts 

 Do not exceed maximum capacity of the shear (16 gauge sheet) 

 Don’t force the machine. It will do the job better and more safely at the rate for which it was designed 

 Don’t over reach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times 

 Sheet metal has sharp edges. To prevent cuts, use caution when handling 

 Keep hands and fingers clear of the shear 

 

 Materials 

 

 Materials must be thinner than 16 gauge - sheet and wire are both fine 

 Materials must be soft - hard silver or softer 

 Precious metals as well as brass, copper, nickel, and titanium are permitted 

 All other metals are not permitted - specifically stainless and carbon steels and aluminum 

 Wood and plastics are prohibited 

 Use of cutting fluids is prohibited 

 

 Adjustments 

 The blade’s edges will dull over time. If you believe the blades have become dull please find a shop tech or staff member for assistance. 

 The workholding pressure foot can be used to support material while performing cutting operations. 

 Basic Operation 

 Cutting flat stock and sheet metal 

 

 Lift the handle to open blades. 

 Insert material and lower the workholding foot to support the material (this will prevent the material from pivoting from the force of the shearing action. 

 Hold material on one side to keep it in place. 

 Pull the handle downwards and follow all the way through with the cut. 

 When all cuts are finished, clean up scraps on the table and surrounding work area.