[TheForge] Manual shears and punches

[PlumDon at aol.com]

I was browsing some early 20th c. catalogs recently and noticed there were  
many manual shears and punches that cut some pretty heavy material. eg:"shear  
will cut 4-inch by 1/2-inch flat iron and 1-inch round or square", or  "punch 
capacity 5/8-inch hole in 3/8-inch material". 
 
Does anyone make heavy duty manual shears and punches like that anymore?  Are 
there good manual shears and punches available that would even do 1/4-inch?  
Has it all gone electric or hydraulic? 
 
Along that line Jim Sorber was telling me an interesting story about the  
time he was working with Don Streeter. Don Streeter and his brother Guy were  
both very big men. They had a large floor sheer that they had to both jump on  
together to cut some stock. Guy had quit because of some arm problems and Jim  
somewhat took his place. But when Jim jumped with Don there wasnt enough weight 
 to cut the heavy stock. Don suggested he start eating more. My mind imagines 
it  as a quite amusing scene. 
 
Don  Plummer
Plummer Design Works
392 Hallman Mill Road
Phoenixville, PA  19460
610-495-5058