Unsure if my private Bob message replys are actually sending...
 

Mel Ristau
9704207421
8001 Country Farms Court, Fort Collins, 89528

Follow up on this shear. Neat little machine. Each blade had 4 cutting edges and they had never been flipped or rotated so we did that. The machine was designed to cut a maximum thickness of .060", 1.5mm so clearance from the factory was set at .008". We found a shim behind the top blade which set that clearance. Most of Mel's work is in aluminum less than half that thickness so we added a layer of clear packing tape behind the bottom blade to decrease the clearance another frog hair, give or take. Tested with a .012 thick piece of 6061 and both machine and Mel were happy. Cool design, if it can't be adjusted it come out of adjustment.

It is a pleasure to read good reports from such a distance about the correct approach to machine repair. Now it's for 2 more lives.
And other edges will be dulled in 200 years. Then it will be necessary to grind.
Maybe in 200 years there will be other animals here...:)

If there are animals, remember to always sharpen your tools. Otherwise we will never be able to get out of the cage.

As Bob said, the Model 4 is now well tuned
 

Great guy that Bob!
Monday I tried to edit/update post #11 above but it has not been revised. However, Bob’s description of what we found is best.
One question though…. Years ago, might Di-acro have offered a range of shim thicknesses appropriate for various material thicknesses?

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/4bd98...o4jiqpzh0&dl=0