The Armour Archive

whats the thickest metal you can cut with a harbor frieght throatless shear. I am going tonight and was thinking about getting one and som hammers to start out.
Thanks

Handels 16g just fine. 14g is a stretch! Put a cheater bar over the handle, and as long as the bolts are tight, it ought to be okay. You might chip blades, though...

Yep, my first cut on my harbor freight thingy was a piece of 14 ga. Chipped it.

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Klaus Rother
Squire to Sir Angus O'Neill, KSCA

Per pale sable and vert, a boar passant or between three hands couped argent

On mine I've done 16 ga mild, 12 ga aluminum and 18 ga stainless.

I would go ahead a buy a set of replacement blades, I've heard the're better than the one that come with the shear.
If you're like me you'll chip the blades a lot learning what it will and won't do.

While we are at it - I am considering buying a HF shear. (I currently am borrowing a real beverly shear, but that won't last forever)

I've read that the HF is of far inferior quality. How bad is it exactly compared to the Beverly?

I searched around the forum for threads about it but couldn't find any - I apologize if this has already been covered extensively.

Mike

The difference between a HF shear and a Beverly is about equal to the difference between a beat up old bike with a rusty chain compared to a Harley.
Both work, both will get you where you want to go. But one is far superior to the other. When I first started I used a HF shear and thought it was the best thing ever. Now, I have a B2 and it is simply an amazing creation
If you can't afford a B2, the HF shear will get you through until you can. That is my experience and opinion anyway.
I second the idea of getting the spare set of blades. I had no trouble with 14 ga. mild. But any stainless over 20 ga. and I was pretty much guaranteed to chip the blades. Which is why I eventually bought the B2.

Sasuke


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www.oaksarmoury.com
How could they fire me?!? Putting "Ottoman
Empire expert" on my resume as a euphemism
for "couch potato" wasn't being dishonest! (J. Murphy)

[This message has been edited by Sasuke (edited 04-01-2003).]

i just ordered the shear online because my local store didn't have one in stock. I ordered it betweenreplies 3 and 4 so i didn't know to get extra set of blades. I will have to get some in the future. When i was at the store i also got a cross pein, two three pound sledges like in steves post, two triangle metal things that i will grind down and 5 ball peins. thanks for the help.

How exactly is the Bev superior? Cut quality? Ease of use? Everything?

Thanks much,

Mike

Keeping the blades adjusted properly can be a pain on the HF shear. You need to retighten the nuts and bolts constantly on the HF shear. It is smaller both in size and cutting capacity.
There is typically some modification needed to make the HF shear works its best. There was a great mods page. I think it may be in the essays section.

Sasuke

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www.oaksarmoury.com
How could they fire me?!? Putting "Ottoman
Empire expert" on my resume as a euphemism
for "couch potato" wasn't being dishonest! (J. Murphy)

Out of curiosity, where is the cheapest place to buy a new Beverly Shear?

m

While on this topic... Does anyone know anything about McMaster-Carr shears? Numbers 3796A2 through 3796A4.
Julian

I believe those are Beverlys.
You can get a better price
than McMaster-Carr.

m

i got a Beverly Shear (b2) about 2 month ago, and it steel don't like it, I pays close to a 1000 can$ for it.
I have an electric shears, DeWalt, (wich it pay about 600 can$) and it alwase sut my need, but I've been reading about evrybody telling that de B2 it the "perfect tool" for armouring, so I spare and finily bouth one. I still like more my electric shears for most my job, it cut with one inch radius in and out curve. but most of it, I just put the metal steet on a table and I can cut alone all the pices I need one shot, with the B2, I have to cut the sheet at least in two (yet, 4X4 it still a big pices to works with).

All to say, it might fit a lot of peopole but try fist as many obtion that you can before buying anyting.

Bert

Bert,
Electric shears are fine for blocking out large peices. I have have found that they are too difficult to control for more intricate cuts. The beverly is perfect for this.


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"CS
This above all else; to thine own self be true."

Hi CS,
Have been using my electric shear for about 4 years now, and I done evry thing I whated with it, I gess it mostly a question of practice and preference.
I must say that a find a very use full utilisation of the B2 when a have to cut in the making, I have a tendency to leave to much material on the pices thas im working with and cut it in the process of making them, most of the time my DeWalt shear wont fit in, so the B2 it great for that, but a the price there selling them an HF would have done the same reasulte, or again before I what cuting my excess materail with a angle grinder.

anyway, what good form someone it not nercerly good for evryone! make experience before you buy if you can, or you might end up with tool that you don't realy need. And GOD know that tool are expensifs (well i gest evryone here knew that also, héhé)

Bert