Can anyone recommend a particular brand of metal shears for cutting silver sheet? I've pretty much sliced into my fingers with the jeweler's saw for the last time.

I've already used some metal shears to make a pair of square earrings with a drop bead (which came out just beautiful) but I know there are better shears out there. Even though I was successful, the shears I used are a little crude.

Any recommendations?

Betsy

The shear depends on what gauge metal you are cutting.

Do you mean that you are cutting your fingers when cutting metal on your bench pin? Do you know the correct way to cut metal? Billie

Billie Ann,

I'm cutting 21 to 24 ga. fine silver sheet. I know the correct way to cut metal on a bench pin with a jeweler's saw, and there are still some instances in which I have to use one, but I like to keep it to a minimum. Do you have any recommendations for metal shears?

Go to your local kitchen supply shop and buy a pair of Joyce Chen kitchen sissors.

I have these narrow blade shears that will cut up to 20 gauge SHR558.00

http://www.metalliferous.com/pdf/tools/TV1Shears.pdf

Don't give up on using your saw. Billie

 Thanks, John...I've heard of them before. I think I'll look for them on Ebay. There aren't any kitchen supply stores in my town. I remember some buzz about them on Orchid.

 No, Billie, I won't give up on my saw...there's some times when I really need it. But when I saw my finger, it hurts like a mother#%@&*!.

Thanks for the heads-up on those metalliferrous shears...they look like they might be what I need. I'll send pics of a couple pairs of earrings I made using shears as soon as I figure out how to do it.

Betsy

I guess I find it incredulous that you would prefer shears to a saw. I have cut myself more often with shears then a saw but I guess that's why I never got to use scissors much in grade school. I have two pair of nice French patter shears, straight and curved, made in Germany(go figure) but I only use them for the very thinest of gauges and if sawing the very thinest of gauges I switch to a very fine saw blade. I much prefer sawing as it doesn't distort the metal. In forty years of sawing I have cut deep enough to bleed only once and that required four stitches to close.

Normal 0 21

I think it is easier to saw metal sheets than to cut it with  shears if you follow some rules.

1)      Clamp the saw blade so strong into the jewellers saw frame, that it gives a little “clink” if you snip with your fingernail against the blade.

2)      Always 3 teeth should be within the sheet metals strength. If the blade is finer, you need more time, if the blade is coarser, the blade stall.

3)      Wax the blade from time to with a candle stump. A waxed saw run much easier.

4)      Saw with long equal strokes and with a lose hand. Don’t cant the saw sideward.

5)      Let run the saw by itself. Exert no pressure on the saw blade.

If you have to saw a very thin metal sheet, lay the metal sheet on a thin piece of plywood and saw both parts together. You can, if necessary the metal and the wood glue together with adhesive tape on one or two edges.

Edmund

www.emailkunst.de 

 Just bought some Joyce Chen shears yesterday...can't wait to try them out after work today! I already love the way they fit in my hand.

" align="texttop">" align="texttop"> Billie, Here's the pics I promised. I cut the textured pairs of earrings using really coarse and old metal shears. Then I filed the edges and hammered them on a concrete block. Domed them on a wooden dapping block, and added lime jade beads to the square ones. The untextured ones were cut with Joyce Chen shears and filed using nail files from Sephora Cosmetics...the ones that are used from number 1 to 4 in succession to get the ridges out of your nails.

Thank you for all of your replies. But please understand, since some of you are incredulous that I would dare to cut silver with metal shears, that there are more ways than the conventional route to express ourselves artistically. I happen to work in a microbiology lab where a small slice in my finger has more ramifications than if I worked in, lets say, an office. So with that in mind, I come home to my studio and pursue my artistic (right brain) side through the jewelry arts. I'm not about to give it up because I'm afraid I'll cut myself with a saw...I use whatever tool I can to express myself.  Each to his/her own.

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Betsy, Nice design. What gauge metal will the shears cut?

I had gone online to see what gauge metal the Joyce Chen shears cut and couldn't find anything about metal gauge. I did find a blog that talks about how the scissors cut her finger. Thought that was funny (not that she cut her finger) since you're looking for ways to not cut your fingers. So beware and be careful! LOL! Billie

 Hi Billie,

Thanks...That hasn't been my experience with these shears yet. I think you have to try pretty hard to cut yourself with them, since the operating hand is at the other end and the guiding hand is holding the metal. If anything is going to cut fingers, it's the sharpe edge of the metal. I'm very careful with that, and thick finger cots from an office supply store really help (and grip the metal better).

The rectangular and square is 23 gauge sterling, and the round is 25 gauge fine. I feel like 25 is a little too thin and "wimpy": I like my earrings with a little more substance...but not so they're dragging your earlobes down.  

I have a 19 gauge sheet of SS, but I'm going to cut that with a saw. I put the shears up to it, was about to cut, and said nah...too thick!  I'll ruin the metal and my scissors.  So, you see, I'm not completely averse to sawing.

Betsy, Where did you find all the odd gauge metals? Most sheet metal in the US is 18, 20, 22, 24 not 19, 21, 25. There are some wholesalers selling custom gauges or are you rolling this yourself. Billie

 The 19 g is from Rio...from about 13 years ago! I kinda forgot I had it. The 25 is fine silver from Rio. But it's a tight 25...slips easily into the 24 slot. I just felt obliged to call it a 25.

Nope...can't afford to roll my own! 

 Since I'm now in the market for shears or snips... what makes the Joyce Chen ones better than brands I find in jeweler's suppy places?  Are these the basic kitchen scissors Amazon.com stocks?

They are probably not much different from the variety available today.  They are comfortable, small, cut nicely, and you didn't have to order them several years ago.  Yes, I believe they are the same as the ones on Amazon.com.  Their was only the one model a couple of years ago, so I don't know what the difference between todays models are.