Here is a link to an article about it.
If I knew you better I'd think you are playing a great joke on me! But likely not.
Every once in a while I read some article that makes me feel as dumb as a two toed sloth. This was one of them. I had to read the whole thing three times before it finally dawned on me that they are NOT describing the same thing as what I normally call a shear tool.
I'd love to hear what you and
@Dabbler and
@PeterT understand from reading this, but here is my take:
What they are describing might be better called a "phased form tool" (my words simply thrown out there to help discern the difference). Think of it like a wide shear tool where the width contains the desired form but cut on a steep angle so the form only cuts where the edge is tangent to the part. You raise the tool from top to bottom (bottom to top on the part) so that the entire form is not cut at once but instead only cuts that portion of the form dependent on the height of the tool.
They do describe the actual cutting as a shear process. And they also claim the finish benefits of shearing, but I think the main advantage has little to do with shearing and much to do with using a very wide form tool without the heavy cutting forces that would normally result from such a wide edge being plunged into the part all at once.
Why would I like to know what you and others think? Well, simply put, I'm still not sure...... I wish the form they chose to describe wasn't so linear. Some of the examples are great but they don't show a corresponding form edge. So I was left to speculate about the meaning and intent. That's a very dangerous instigation. Left unguided, my brain can turn an eyeball inside out. Maybe I've made a mountain out of a mole hill.
Anyway, at least I can point out that I don't think they are describing the shear tool I normally think of. At least that way you guys don't get dragged down a maneating rabbit hole like I was. Or maybe they are but I just don't see it!
Finally, if they are describing what I think they are describing, I wanna watch someone sharpen that form tool!
