For those out there that make a lot of handmades, how do you go about cutting your bar stock at home/on road? Or are you able to buy it in precut lengths (though I have not seen it sold that way yet!)?

Amy

Bar stock shear is great for 1/4-3/8 stock for anything thicker or wider than 3/4 a chop saw works well. The shear is about 55$ and the chop saw about 225$.

Anvil devil or an angle grinder do just fine. :cool:

Except when the angel grinder skips out or the wheel breaks (the week is early and I have said "been there" three times). Bar stock sheers are the way to go in the truck. How I lived with out mine for so long I hardly know.
I got this idea from G.C. Haight, weld the unhandled piece to a piece of 2" tube steel and put it in your hitch receiver. It's more solid than welding it to a anvil stand. I'll try to remember to take pictures tommrow.

Amy you could pre cut them in work shop for handy sake
loads of saws out there to choose from

the saw also gives you the best cut so your heels on your shoes
wil turn out better for you

i also use a devil on the road if useing this little fella
there norm verry hard so i sit them on somthing hot

for a min

this works for me have the same one for five years or so
stil like new

it wil snap in two if you dont do this
also have your anvil stand and anvil level when working

this fella or it wil also snap on you

i cut them 12 , 12 1/4, 12 1/2 and so on

every body has there own different way

I purchase my stock in 6 foot lenghts and cut them with an angle grinder that I have specificly set up for cutting. I keep two (a/g) on my truck, one for "safeing" and such and one for cutting. The cutting wheels I buy are really good quality De-walt 4 1/2 inch cutting discs they are only about 3/32 of an inch thick and they work great. This setup is also very useful for doing modifications on keg shoes, fabriction work, etc... Everybody has thier own preferece according to situation. Just have to find your own.

The shear works great, I have had mine for 8 or nine years. I use an angle grinder with a cut off wheel for heavy stuff when on the road, but have a big chop saw at home (well, it is still in my ex wifes garage, but I do technically still own it, even if i have not used it in a year! ) Welding the shear to a tube to insert into your hitch receiver is a great idea. Mine is bolted to my stand, and i have to push down and pull up to shear stock...its a lot like patting my head and rubbing my belly with 50 lbs weights attached to my arms!
Jason Maki CJF

The bar shear, like everyone suggested is a great tool. I attached mine to the side of my bumper and it shears fine. I recently purchased a milwaukee band saw from Stonewell and I probably use it to cut stock also.

I made my own bar shear from a plowshear. Cut two slots out - one for 8mm, other for 10mm. One part fits in my hardy hole on my anvil, welded a good handle on the other one. Works great, cost almost nothing.

Mikel

you can heat treat a three cornered file lay it on the anvil put bar on top and wack it with a short handled slege it works thats how we use to cut at horseshoeing competitions you then have three sides to use

if your all cutting this iron lets see some shoes
dont be shy

Smitty,
I made a lateral support hind last night
have to figure out this new internet provider to get my pics on here.
hopefully tomorrow.
i think it turned out real nice

smitty88 wrote: smitty88,
Here is my homemade cutter:

And some results of the cutting. My fishtail is not all that good, but ok for this go-round. Practice makes perfect!

Mikel

Good stuff mike keep at it


love to see the shoe Donald

At the expence of great critisizm and possibly my ego, here is my first try at a wedge shoe made from 10 3/4 of 1/2 by 3/4 stock. I did this backwards as I opted to draw out the middle rather than upset the ends. I had trouble getting my clips right and I know my nail holes could be cleaner, but I think I could nail it on if I needed to...
http://s157.photobucket.com/albums/t59/wellshodhorses/First%20wedge%20shoe/