My 20 year old board shear finally gave out last Tuesday

I was trimming some 80lb cover stock for a custom order when the blade just stopped moving, like it was jammed solid. I took it apart and found the main pivot pin had worn down to almost nothing, which is wild because my old boss said it would outlive me. Has anyone had to replace the pivot on a vintage Challenge shear, or is it time to start looking for a new machine?

2 comments

2 Comments

gavin_burns4920d ago

Remember that old saying about machines outliving their owners? My dad's drill press seized up last year, and the repair guy said the same exact thing. Guess they just don't make the metal like they used to.

joseph_lewis9220d ago

Oh man, @gavin_burns49, that hits home. My grandpa's old table saw from the 70s is still running smooth in my garage, but the brand new miter saw I bought last winter already has a wobbly hinge. It's all plastic gears and thin metal now, nothing like the solid cast iron beasts they used to build.