Punch/shear

[banaari]

I have the opportunity to get my paws on a heavy-duty hand-operated punch/shear. (70 kilos worth of iron.) People with machining/shop experience: Is this something that could be employed to fabricate, say, the shock plate?

TIA,
John

[KDOG]

Hand operated? I admit I don't know about hand-operated shear cutters. You want it to cut the metal, not tear it. However, I don't see a reason why you coudn't use it to cut any of the plates.... I just am concerned about the power of the hand operated cutter...

[banaari]

If it helps, here's a photo of the beast.
J.

[KDOG]

Is that just for the holes? If so, then it looks good to me. May want to wait for some other opinions however.

[Doug Riley]

Punched holes work fine as long as the diameter is accurate. Bensen used to supply sheet-metal parts with punched holes.

Try one hole to see how it works with an AN bolt. The fit must neither require a hammer for assembly nor have any play.

[Jazzenjohn]

A device like that is unlikely to be of much use for building. You'll have a very limited number of punches available for it, the holes won't be nearly as accurate as drilling and will distort the metal around the hole to a greater or lesser extent depending on the material and the quality of the punches used. It's has limited usefulness for much other that flat stock and angle too. It's best for quickly shearing off pieces of flat steel or punching a series of holes in light steel that don't need great accuracy.

[scottessex]

I think you would have more use for a machine like this......

[Brian Jackson]

I think you would have more use for a machine like this......
Love the "Skull & Cross-bones" sticker! Lookin' for some Grateful Dead stickers for the drill press :D

[banaari]

Due to the utter lack of lurid warnings, shiny spinning bits, dancing girls and coffee-making facilities, I bid low... presumably the new owner of the Green Thing has his own dancing girls. :)