Hand shearing

Hillman86

So I'm still using my Dad's handshears that is about 30 years old so looking for a back up.
Any recommendations on what brand to get or where to buy one? Don't have enough sheep to warrant buying an electric shears.

jobseek

Hello,
My first hand shears was drummer boy by burgon and ball, got this roughly 2002, have it sense, later down i too bought a second one but in my opinion the quality wasnt the same, but does the job, i would suggest your local co-op or the following is where i bought, bear in mind that the blades wont be pointed,

https://www.fanevalleystores.com/category/205/hand-sheep-clippers

if you dont mind me asking, how many have you to do, i bought an electric here and its just so much easier, less severe on the hands and faster, albeit slow to learn the basic technique,using the hand shears since age 12/13

Hillman86

jobseek wrote: »

Hello,
My first hand shears was drummer boy by burgon and ball, got this roughly 2002, have it sense, later down i too bought a second one but in my opinion the quality wasnt the same, but does the job, i would suggest your local co-op or the following is where i bought, bear in mind that the blades wont be pointed,

https://www.fanevalleystores.com/category/205/hand-sheep-clippers

if you dont mind me asking, how many have you to do, i bought an electric here and its just so much easier, less severe on the hands and faster, albeit slow to learn the basic technique,using the hand shears since age 12/13

Bought one in my local Co-op a couple of years ago but it was crap, cost about €25, they only had the one type. What would ya pay for a good one?
Only have 100 ish for doing and as ya said I've been using the hand shears for 20 years now nearly so I'll stick with it for the foreseeable future.

jobseek

Hillman86 wrote: »

Bought one in my local Co-op a couple of years ago but it was crap, cost about €25, they only had the one type. What would ya pay for a good one?
Only have 100 ish for doing and as ya said I've been using the hand shears for 20 years now nearly so I'll stick with it for the foreseeable future.

Was it one of the burgon and ball ones you bought, not sure what the price of a good one would be, or where to buy even.

This is a very sharp shears, and holds its edge too
https://handshears.co.uk/for-farmers/

The only thing i find with it is the handles are close together, and after a while i find it severe on the hand.

IH784man

100 is a right number,would you not get a shearing contractor to do it

Username John

IH784man wrote: »

100 is a right number,would you not get a shearing contractor to do it

+1

I only have 60 or so, and always get a shearer to do the job...

Even with only 60 AND getting a lad to come shear em, I don't like the job... Christ, if I had to shear em by hand, I'd nearly give up...

Hillman86

No I'd prefer to spend a few evening doing the 100 or so myself than paying a lad (I'd often just to 20 r so at a time) have to keep the costs down. It's mostly Connemara mountain ewes I have so theyre not the hardest to shear and the wool is almost worthless. So I'd be happy to find a decent hand shears!

jmrc

I remember an ould boy telling me that even back in the day a lad it was difficult to get a real good hand sheers. "you could go through a box of them before you found one that would keep an edge".