back to article US chap sharpens paradigm-busting scissors

The list of what the Romans ever did for us is impressive indeed, and apparently includes taking time between building aqueducts and making wine to invent the pivoting scissors, in around 100AD. What the Romans unforgivably didn't ever do, though, was crack just how to cut wire mesh with scissors without doing yourself some …

  1. Hans Neeson-Bumpsadese Silver badge

    Phew...

    ...another first world problem solved

    1. Voland's right hand Silver badge

      Re: Phew...

      Looking at my hands... I would have gladly paid for this gadget this weekend.

      Wire mesh is a necessity in construction (especially in rural parts and third world) as it is the most effective anti-rodent measure. In fact, there is very little first-world to it.

      If you ever had to cut it (especially in place while nailing it to rafters) you would have appreciated this invention.

      1. Loyal Commenter Silver badge

        Re: Phew...

        Indeed. Wire mesh + cement = your hens are still in their enclosure in the morning, and not inside a fox or a weasel.

      2. phuzz Silver badge
        Thumb Up

        Re: Phew...

        If you need to cut wire mesh in the future, pick up a set of 'offset' or 'upright' snips. They basically do the same thing as this bloke's "invention", but they're built for cutting metal on a daily basis so they'll probably last longer.

  2. Scott 53

    Typical discrimination

    against left-handers. My wife will be really cross when she finds out.

    1. Cynical Observer

      Re: Typical discrimination

      Either you forgot the joke icon or didn't watch the video - the inventor is left handed as well. The shears are either handed

      1. Scott 53

        Re: Typical discrimination

        ...or both. Colour me chastised.

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Just like those shears for edging a lawn.

    1. Ralph the Wonder Llama
      Happy

      Now...

      ...if only someone had thought of a name for those ;)

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    History repeats

    Way back in the early 60s I had a pair of tin snips that had a 60 degree angle between blades and handle - just the thing for making long cuts on large sheets of metal.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: History repeats

      Got some in my garage right now :)

      1. Dazed and Confused

        Re: History repeats

        > Got some in my garage right now :)

        Well they're in the old man's garage, but...

        We had then in the metalwork room at school too, plus a larger version (guillotine) where the top arm started off a right angles to the work.

        Sorry neither the ones at my parent's or the ones at school would work for the left handers. I'm sure they predate the invention of the idea of discrimination.

      2. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        Re: History repeats

        "Got some in my garage right now :)"

        Ditto. And as someone else pointed out, very similar to lawn edging shears in operation/design.

        Pah! Kids today. I bet they think they invented sex too! Now git off my neatly manicured lawn.

        1. Dave 126 Silver badge

          Re: History repeats

          >I'm sure they predate the invention of the idea of discrimination.

          Haha, I doubt that! In some medieval countries, no left-handed (sinister) man could become a knight. This influenced the chirality of spiral stair cases in castles - defending knights, fending off ascending attackers, had an advantage because they had more room to swing a sword with their right hand.

          Or do you mean the idea of trying not to discriminate? : )

          1. Dazed and Confused

            Re: >I'm sure they predate the invention of the idea of discrimination.

            > Or do you mean the idea of trying not to discriminate? : )

            No I meant before the days when people expected not to be discriminated against.

            Though I'm not quite old enough to remember when "cack handers" expected to be beaten at school till they learned to write neatly with their right hand. I can remember teachers talking about it.

    2. Steve Davies 3 Silver badge

      Re: History repeats

      Yep. Got some in my workshop. Bought for £1 at a car boot. The poor guy selling them didn't know what use they were for.

      Cut some sheet copper with them only last week.

  5. Imsimil Berati-Lahn

    Really?

    I'm fairly sure that prior art exists for this idea. Oh yeah, in my garden shed. Edging shears. Okay, not for cutting metal sheet or wire mesh, but the principle is exactly the same.

  6. Dr. G. Freeman
    Coat

    Hope they're of good quality, and the full manufacturing process is followed.

    As in, no cutting corners.

    --> icon

    1. David Lewis 2

      No, no. These are only for cutting straight lines.

      There will be a separate round of funding for V2.0 for cutting corners!

      1. The_Idiot

        Does it really Apple-i?

        @David Lewis 2

        "There will be a separate round of funding for V2.0 for cutting corners!"

        So long as the 'round of funding' isn't for cutting 'rounded corners' - or can we stop going round the bend on that one after the recent (pending appeal) patent invalidation?

      2. PNGuinn
        Gimp

        " V2.0 for cutting corners!"

        Prior Art.

        Cue sueball in 1 2 3 ....

      3. Tom 13

        Re: funding for V2.0 for cutting corners!

        Only if the want to be sued by Apple. Apple own the patent on rounding corners.

    2. Cynical Observer
      Trollface

      And only a snip at $15

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Joke

        And it's funded on Kickstarter!!

        So you could say they've "cut out" the middleman!

        (Sorry, all I could come up with this early in the AM. I'll go away now...)

      2. Wommit

        @Cynical Observer

        "And only a snip at $15" And $60 shipping.

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Oh for fudge sake, just cut slower and more carefully you imbecile or better yet use gloves like any sane rational thinking person would do.

    Is this what the world is reduced to? Thinking up solutions to problems that don't exist and trying to sell them to the stupid? Oh wait I forgot about IoT...

  8. Lee D Silver badge

    Wear gloves.

    Wear gloves.

    Problem solved.

    1. Lester Haines (Written by Reg staff) Gold badge

      Re: Wear gloves.

      Right-handed or left-handed?

      1. TitterYeNot
        Coat

        Re: Wear gloves.

        "Right-handed or left-handed?"

        What a sinister question...

        And as to this 'invention', angled snips have been used for cutting sheet metal for donkeys' years - the proper name for them is 'offset snips'.

      2. Tom 13

        Re: Right-handed or left-handed?

        More importantly, European or African?

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Wear gloves.

      Wear gloves as well as using snips.

    3. Captain DaFt

      Re: Wear gloves.

      "Wear gloves.

      Problem solved."

      Well, not really. The wire keeps snagging the gloves and makes things go a lot slower. Plus you still get the malicious little bastard wires that still get you through the gloves.

  9. Rob Crawford

    and when the solution occurred to me

    Wear some gloves?

    No not idiot mittens, with the sting and made from wool

  10. Mage Silver badge

    Prior art?

    They are useful and very hard to find. But it's not new. There have been sheet metal shears like this for a very long while.

    1. Toltec

      Re: Prior art?

      "There have been sheet metal shears like this for a very long while."

      I have a set in the garage, the cheapest ones are available for a similar cost.

    2. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

      Re: Prior art?

      There have been sheet metal shears like this for a very long while."

      ....and any patents issued expired a few 100 years ago, although I doubt that will stop the USPO granting one or more for this "new" invention.

  11. This post has been deleted by its author

  12. Stevie

    Bah!

    I needs this. It is relevant to my interests.

    1. PNGuinn
      Facepalm

      Re: Bah!

      Yes, yes ...

      Enquiring minds etc ...

      Nearest thing we've got for an enquiring minds icon ... >>

  13. GrumpenKraut
    Thumb Up

    You can even cut COLORED things with it!

    Good bye to monochrome-only scissors, finally!

    1. ITS Retired
      Happy

      Re: You can even cut COLORED things with it!

      Now if only someone would invent some digital scissors.

      Hey, don't laugh. I have table top camera tripod that is digital ready. These scissors could be used to say... crop pictures.

      1. Thecowking

        Re: You can even cut COLORED things with it!

        All scissors I use are digital.

        I mean without fingers it gets really hard to use them.

  14. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Simpler solution - angle grinder

    Also works for cutting the wife's toe nails which I doubt those scissors could manage.

    1. Steve Davies 3 Silver badge

      Re: Simpler solution - angle grinder

      Pictures or we don't believe you!

      1. Lester Haines (Written by Reg staff) Gold badge

        Re: Re: Simpler solution - angle grinder

        Agreed.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Simpler solution - angle grinder

          No way, not going there again. Last time I tried that the flying shards of toe nail bust the camera.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Simpler solution - angle grinder

            @Chris W - Is your name really Mr Ogg?

    2. Captain DaFt

      Re: Simpler solution - angle grinder

      Well, if you've got one, a plasma cutter'll do the job even easier, But I'll bet the missus'll be livid if you try that on her!

      1. DropBear

        Re: Simpler solution - angle grinder

        Didn't plasma cutters require a grounded and conductive workpiece...?

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Simpler solution - angle grinder

          >grounded and conductive workpiece

          Nothing a bit of salt water won't fix.

          A plasma cutter is top of my wish list, can't justify it just yet. When I can I'll post the effectiveness.

      2. Pompous Git Silver badge

        Re: Simpler solution - angle grinder

        But I'll bet the missus'll be livid if you try that on her!

        And there'd be rather a lot of blood. Not to mention some unwanted attention from the constabulary!

    3. onefang

      Re: Simpler solution - angle grinder

      "Also works for cutting the wife's toe nails which I doubt those scissors could manage."

      I also use power tools to cut my toenails. Long story short, they where surgically mutilated long ago, now grow about a cm thick. On the plus side, only need to cut them once every few years.

  15. Anonymous Coward
    WTF?

    How inventive....

    ...take an existing product and just increase the angle a little more:

    http://www.emedco.com/media/catalog/product/Scissors-Kit-AA763-209-ba.jpg

  16. Unep Eurobats
    Coat

    Invented by the Romans?

    That'll be Julius Scissor.

    1. Lester Haines (Written by Reg staff) Gold badge

      Re: Invented by the Romans?

      In a moment of inspiration celebrated by the poet Cutullus.

      1. Scott 53
        Joke

        Re: Invented by the Romans?

        And popularised by Cicero.

        Try saying it out loud.

      2. Hero Protagonist

        Re: Invented by the Romans?

        What a bunch of cut-ups on this forum

    2. Commswonk

      Re: Invented by the Romans?

      "That'll be Julius Scissor."

      Made my day that. Sorry I only have one upvote available.

  17. Commswonk

    A New Example of...

    ...cutting - edge technology. Shear brilliance.

    With apologies for the adjacent posts.

  18. cortland

    Hmm

    https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.M8426b71591f26ca5828c540c9a0146b6o0&pid=15.1

  19. Sureo

    $28US ($15 + $13 shipping) = $37 Canadian just doesn't cut it for me.

  20. Anonymous Coward
    IT Angle

    IT angle?

    Can't believe no one added the usual "IT angle?" complaint. I was waiting for the inevitable response of "90 degrees".

  21. Alistair
    Windows

    wow.

    Good to see others have sheet metal tools about.

    My granpappy's toolbox has em in it. (offset shears, 60 and 80 degree pairs) <stowed in mom's basement at the moment> and it dates back to the 1890's, since it was *his* da's. And it has a pair of leather shears with the same feature.

    (I periodically raid that toolbox, if only for the wood planes. Best damn planer I've ever used, and ... its *made* out of wood, what type I do not know)

    1. Pompous Git Silver badge

      Re: wow.

      Best damn planer I've ever used, and ... its *made* out of wood, what type I do not know)

      Platanus Presumably P. occidentalis × P. orientalis (syn. P. × hispanica, P. × hybrida) if made in London.

    2. ITS Retired

      Re: wow.

      "And it has a pair of leather shears with the same feature."

      But how well do they cut?

  22. ShellShockeD
    WTF?

    tin snips

    As a sheet metal worker if i found anyone using my tin snips to cut wire things would get quite heated .

  23. Fink-Nottle

    Can you run with them?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      They do look to be quite withrunable, perhaps even unusually so.

    2. Pompous Git Silver badge

      Can you run with them?

      You can, but best not tell Clippy; you might upset him. Or her. Or it.

    3. onefang

      "Can you run with them?"

      Yes, but only around corners.

  24. M7S
    Coat

    Alternative to the usual billing model

    of pay-per cuts

  25. Bonez

    Romans?

    The Romans did nothing for us. They did it all for themselves. Selfish b*stards!

  26. Ed_UK

    Ah, offset snips

    Like these: http://www.toolstation.com/search?searchstr=20727%2072862

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