Hand geared shearing machine, for cutting rods or plates, and priced below the line of bench shears it replaces. Cutting blades are fashioned from high temper carbon steel. Long handles provide leverage for easy cutting. Available in 9 sizes. Shearing length is 80-85% of blade length. Ideal Machine for shearing sheet, steel, bars and rods. Hardened and Tempered replaceable blades. Long handles provides plenty of shearing torque. Comes with predrilled holes to bolt down to work bench. Spare blades are also available. Available in different colors INSTRUCTIONS : Prepare the sheet to be cut by marking a visible line with a marker or scriber. Position the sheet in the bench shear so that the marked line is positioned where the upper and lower blades meet. Pull down on the handle, making certain your fingers are clear of the blades. When the handle is pulled down, the material locking bar will keep the sheet from moving as it is cut. For cutting rods or plates up to 8 gauge (0.160”) (Varies with selected models). CAUTION : This bench shear should be bolted to a sturdy surface before using. As with any cutting tool, caution should be used at all times when operating this shear. Make certain that fingers are clear of the cutting blades before pulling down on the handle. This is especially important when cutting small pieces that require holding the material close to the blades.