German Straight Shear Cutter

If you cut a lot of solder sheet, fine silver sheet, or any thin metal in the studio, a good pair of metal shears saves you a significant amount of time compared to a jewellers saw. These German straight shears cut cleanly through metal up to 0.8mm (20 gauge) thick without distorting or bending the edge, which matters when you're cutting pallions or trimming sheet to a precise shape.

The blades are 38mm long and made from hardened steel. They stay sharp through regular studio use and cut with a clean scissor action rather than the crushing action you get from cheaper metal snips. The PVC cushion grips are comfortable for extended cutting sessions and the overall length of 178mm gives you good leverage without the tool feeling unwieldy.

We use these in the studio for cutting solder sheet into pallions and for trimming the base sheet of silver away from bezel wire after soldering. Both are small repetitive tasks that are much easier when the tool is right. A clean cut means less cleanup work and more predictable results.

If you need to cut heavier gauges, tin snips are the better tool. These shears are specifically designed for thin sheet and solder work up to 0.8mm.

If you're looking for a lower cost option, the Pod Jewellery Straight Shears are also worth considering.

Worth knowing:

• Also included in the Essential Soldering Kit and the Complete Essential Soldering Kit