Board shear
Images and text by Garry
Harrison,
Head, Circulating Collections Conservation,
Indiana
University Libraries Preservation Department
Board shear
As per its name, the board shear is the tool used to cut the
various types of board used in conservation work. Its cutting action is that of scissors, as it cuts by
means of two blades sliding against each other. The stationary cutting edge is the corner of its table
(or bed). The moveable blade is the cutting arm. The blade of the cutting arm is sharpened to an angle
only about 20 degrees acute of square, and of course the cutting edge of the table top is
square, so the risk of cutting oneself by merely touching either blade is minimal. The board shear has
a built-in ruler along the edge of the bed nearest the operator, a pedal-operated hold-down, and an
outside fence which can occasionally prove handy for cutting certain materials to narrow widths. The
board shear is also used to cut materials other than board, such as cloth, and paper.
The table fence of our board shear has a bare metal face,
and under the heavy use to which our shear is subjected, the fence began to erode away at the enamel
surface of the table. Aside from the concern of wear to the table, this problem resulted in the
presence of a messy residue of green dust. This was naturally not acceptable, especially when working
with bright white paper. Our solution was to give the table a good cleaning and then cover it with 5
mil mylar, affixed with double-sided tape. This solution has proven to have been a good one, as it has
worn very well and has altogether eliminated the problem of work being stained by the colored enamel
dust. A teflon-faced aluminum replacement fence was also available at one time and may still be. These
were made by an individual, not the company that makes the shear.
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