Powerful Mechanical Shears Converted To Hydraulic FARM SHOP Miscellaneous Roger Gutschmidt converted a 100-year-old mechanical shears to hydraulic power so he could use it to cut steel into pieces sold as prepared scrap iron Edwards Shears were widely used in blacksmith shops and factories he explains It works like a giant scissors to cut heavy flats shafts and plates Gutschmidt built some heavy brackets on which to mount a 3-in dia by 8-in stroke hydraulic cylinder The unit is capable of shearing a piece of steel that s 5 in wide by 1/2 in thick It s quite impressive how effortless it cuts this steel he says I plan to mount it on a trailer and haul it to sites where I ll chop up old equipment Prepared scrap iron consists of 18 by 36-in pieces and usually sells for about $50/ton more than unprepared stuff Gutschmidt notes that cutting up scrap with an oxy-acetylene torch works great too but says the gas costs a fortune at today s gas prices He also points out that cutting with shears eliminates the dangers of sparks and hot iron Edwards Manufacturing Co of Albert Lea Minn is still in the shear making business but nowadays they re called Ironworkers Gutschmidt says I own a 55-ton Edwards Ironworker They make models up to 100 tons he says I also have another antique unit that s in its original condition Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gutschmidt Manufacturing LLC Roger Gutschmidt 6651 Hwy 56 Gackle N Dak 58442 ph 701 698-2310; shopdoc@drtel net

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