UNIVERSAL
SHEAR
SHARPENER

figure # 2

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

For best results, read the following instructions and tips
 before using your "Universal Shear Sharpener"

Mount the base to the left end of a work bench,
utilizing the two provided mounting holes in the
base or to a board about 1" x 6" x 14".
 (This will leave room for the shear blades to open completely)
Center the base to leave enough space for clamping
to a table or bench.

Unlock the vise and position crosswise of the base,
and reclamp the vise. (Reference figure # 2)

Set the shear blade in the vice and clamp firmly by hand,
( DO NOT USE PLIERS! This will damage the vise.)
with about 1/8" of shear blade above and parallel
to the top edge of the solid vise jaw. Adjust the sliding
supports to touch the bottom of the shear blade and lock
in place with wing nuts. Screw tailrod into end of handle
assembly. Insert tailrod into ballpost and rest handle across
shear blade. Now adjust the face of the stone to correspond
to the angle of the shear cutting edge by raising or lowering
the vise or ballpost in the base. Apply a light oil to the stone
before use to prevent "loading up" of the stone. 
(Use a black permanent marker to "shade" shear surface
 being sharpened. This will provide a visual reference to the
original blade angle. Adjust and retry untill the marker is
removed in just a couple of light strokes.)

figure # 1

Helpful tips for using your Universal Shear Sharpener

1. Safety is a " # 1 concern "! ALWAYS secure the base of the sharpener to ensure rigidity and to prevent it from moving. A "C" clamp works well for situations when a permanent set up is not possible.

2. Flood the stone with oil. This will prevent the stone from loading up as it cuts the blade to a keen edge. It serves to float the minute chips of steel away and lets the stone work faster.
Always wipe the blade clean after sharpening so the grit produced during sharpening won't scratch the blade.

3. Heavy oils have a tendency to gum up the stones. Use a light mineral based oil for flooding the stones. E-Z Tool Corporation offers oil for this purpose on the products page.

4. For kitchen shears use a solution of dish soap and water as the honing oil. Be sure to thoroughly dry the shears to prevent rusting.

5. If a stone becomes loaded up, it may be cleaned by making a figure "8" pattern on a piece of coarse sand paper to remove the glazed surface.

6. Adjust the angle of the machine to match the blade. Changing the original angle of the blade wears the stones unnecessarily.

7. Shears used to cut paper need very little angle, about 5 degrees works fine. The shear is held open and the paper cut in a long sweeping motion.

8. Shears used to cut sheer fabrics generally require a greater angle.

9. If similar sized shears are used at a location, you will save time sharpening them all at the same setting the first time. After that it's merely a matter of setting them in the vise and honing them with the desired stone.

10. You may find rotating the vise to point the tip of the shear ahead of the vise shank an inch or more will enable you to sharpen the end of the shear blade at a better angle for snipping. Not all shears are ground alike, experience will help you determine what is best for the shear at hand.

11. Loose hinge or pivot screws hinder use of even the sharpest shears.

UNIVERSAL HI-RISE ATTACHMENT for sharpening Knife Edge Shears and similar blades with your UNIVERSAL SHEAR SHARPENER.

INSTRUCTIONS

Loosen clamp holding the vise assembly and lift the vise free of the base. Place Hi-Rise attachment shank in the base and secure clamp with angled hole pointing toward ball post. Slide vise into angled hole and clamp with locksleeve.

Place knife edge shear in vise with approximately 5/16" above the solid jaw,
this will let the stones clear the moveable jaw. Now adjust the ball post so the stones correspond to the angle on the shear and sharpen the blade using the same motion as before.

CAUTION

Be certian the base is secured to a solid surface. Steady the shear loop with your left hand while lightly stroking the stone over the shear blade. DO NOT press down - let the stone hone the edge smoothly. REMEMBER you will sharpen the edge to razor sharpness.
BE CAREFUL - Use the stop collar provided, set it so the stone cannot pass over the blade when in the full forward position.