TM 9-243
TYPES AND USES
Shears are used for cutting sheet metal and steel of
various thicknesses and shapes. Shears come in a vari-
ety of styles and sizes.
HAND SHEARS
Hand shears are made with straight or curved cutting
blades. Shears are made for right-handed operators so
the cutline is always in full view for accurate cutting.
Straight-bladed shears are used to cut straight lines or
to cut curves in locations that are easily reached.
that the operator will have a free hand to guide the work.
The bench shear makes a 6-inch cut and is approxi-
mately 36 inches long.
METAL SHEARING MACHINE
The metal shearing machine is foot-operated and is
used to cut original sheets into smaller, usable size
stock. The shear blade is 36 inches long and will cut all
sheet metal up to and including 1/16 inch of mild steel or
1/8 inch of iron.
NIPPERS
Shears with curved blades such as the hawk bill and the
curved blade hand shears are made especially for cut-
ting short straight lines or curves. They are also used for
cutting out small intricate designs in locations where it is
necessary to keep the handles and handle-operating
hand away from the metal stock.
TINNER’S BENCH SHEARS
Nippers are used to cut protruding metal flush with a
surface. They are also used to cut wire, bolts, nails, and
light metal bars to specified dimensions. Nippers come
in a variety of styles and sizes.
The tinner’s bench shear is largerthan a hand shear and
is used for cutting heavy sheet metal. The lower handle
has a hook which can be placed in a hole in the bench so
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