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Thread: Shears - Looking for recommendation for table top model

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    South Elgin, IL
    Posts
    217

    Shears - Looking for recommendation for table top model

    I'm just getting a few orders for metal nameplates and so far have ordered them cut to size from a supplier. This adds time and slight expense but not unreasonable.

    I was thinking about getting a shear to cut my own nameplates from .020 aluminum and brass
    and since the sheets will be finished I don't want a shear that will mar the surface finish.
    Not knowing anything about shears, this may be a non-issue...

    I'm not against spending money on a good one that will last.

    I'm guessing most sheet sizes I will work with would be 12x24.
    I'm not sure what maximum thickness I may eventually need to cut.
    What's your most commonly used nameplate thickness? I realize different applications might require different thicknesses but in general what's your most often used thickness?

    Any recommendations for a shear would be greatly appreciated.
    Materials Conversion Specialist
    I take perfectly good large pieces of stuff & turn them into smaller pieces having dubious value

    LASER: Trotec Speedy 300 30 Watt, CNC: Shopbot PRT, Vinyl Cutter: Summa Sign Pro T750
    Old School: a tool box full of brand new sign painting brushes from the 60's


  2. #2
    Any 12" guillotine shear you can buy from Marco or Johnsons will work great. Search the internet for the best price.

    However, be aware that you can get them with metal blades, or plastic blades, and one won't cut the other. Well, they will, but not for long

    I've had one of each for several years, plus a 24" safety saw. Couldn't live without any of them, each one gets used every day...
    ========================================
    ELEVEN - rotary cutter tool machines
    FOUR - CO2 lasers
    THREE- make that FOUR now - fiber lasers
    ONE - vinyl cutter
    CASmate, Corel, Gravostyle


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Christchurch, New Zealand (shakey town)
    Posts
    133
    Hi Mayo, I bought the 12'' Shear from JDS 2 years ago, I cut engravers brass and even steel .025 and aluminum up to .05
    haven't had the blades resharpened yet. well worth the money. IMHO
    Epilog Helix 50W, Epilog Fusion 40 75W, Tekcel Router, Taylor Hobson Model D & K
    Dalgren 2516i, Epilog Fusion Pro 120W

  4. #4
    One word....Accucutter....

    http://www.accucutter.com

    You can buy direct or through dealers. Great, high quality product, and great customer service. They have various ones, depending on how deep your pockets are and what you need.
    Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
    Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
    Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers

    Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Maple, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    1,010
    Mayo, here is a ebay listing for one.............262243610838
    Trotec Speedy 300 - 60w, with Quatro CSA-626 fume extraction
    Xenetech 1625 x2,
    New Hermes TX pantograph, CG4 cutter grinder
    Brady Globalmark2 label printer,
    Assortment of custom tooling , shears & punches, heat bender.
    Software: Xenetech XOT, Corel X3, Bartender label software

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Grand Junction, Co
    Posts
    87
    I agree with Scott. Accucutter makes a great cutter.
    ULS 50 Watt
    Sublimation
    Sandblasting
    Diamond Drag/Rotary Engraver

  7. #7
    I've had the 3001/13 for several years. It's a lifetime tool. http://www.accucutter.com/Shear%20Comparison.htm
    Mike Null

    St. Louis Laser, Inc.

    Trotec Speedy 300, 80 watt
    Gravograph IS400
    Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
    Dye Sublimation
    CorelDraw X5, X7

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Hayes, Virginia
    Posts
    14,760
    Another option, the Varga Safety Saw will cut metal and plastics. It won't damage or roll the edge of metal and leaves a perfect edge with no effort.

    https://www.johnsonplastics.biz/detail/M37/1/1/VA10

  9. #9
    I'm going to play devil's advocate here, and just say this: If you can find a used shear that's still in use, save yourself hundreds and buy it. It's hard to wear these things out:

    This shear is pre-WWII I believe, my dad bought it from Hill Air Force Base in the early '70's, along with a 1941 Gorton 3-U pantograph. Operated by eccentric cam, it has a lot of grunt, still cuts 1/16 brass and 20 gauge stainless nicely.
    DSC04618.jpg

    This New Hermes shear we bought circa 1976--
    DSC04619.jpg

    - it was our plastic shear for 4 or 5 years, until we needed a metal shear too, so
    we got another one just like it, and bought a metal blade for the first one.
    Also in the pic is our safety saw, it's an early 80's unit we bought used from my NH rep
    when it was a few years old..
    DSC04620.jpg

    There's not a whole lot to wear out on these things, a decent used one will work as well as any new one. Both upper & lower blades can be sharpened for around $60, new blades aren't too terrible either...
    ========================================
    ELEVEN - rotary cutter tool machines
    FOUR - CO2 lasers
    THREE- make that FOUR now - fiber lasers
    ONE - vinyl cutter
    CASmate, Corel, Gravostyle


  10. #10
    Nice one's Kev! It's hard to find old iron like those these days, isn't it? We just picked up an old Pexto 36" sheer last week. Probably 50 or more years old. I always keep my eyes open for that sort of stuff. You are proof that they last forever.
    Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
    Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
    Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers

    Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.

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