Does anyone recommend electric shears for merinos?

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Fri, 12/23/2011 - 11:42 #1

Member for

12 years 11 months
Pisces530
Last seen: 12/23/2011 - 11:46
Joined: 12/23/2011 - 11:37

Does anyone recommend electric shears for merinos?

 

hello we have two merinos and it is increasingly difficult to find anyone to come and shear them.

i see there are some electric shears that the sellers say are for sheep, but has anyone any experience in using them on Merinos?

i have shorn sheep before, (what child growing up on a farm in NZ hasn't?) but dont want to buy the gear if it isn't strong enough to deal with our two 'woolies'.

any comment gratefully received.

Cheryl

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Mon, 01/02/2012 - 22:24 #2
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Dear Cheryl,

I had a cashmere goat herd for a number of years and used electric hand shears for shearing them. Also, from time to time I used to shear sheep for the agricultural department at the local school. The electric shears were quite effective but they are much heavier to use than the hand peices used by shearers using  conventional stands in the shearing shed because unlike those, the hand piece on  electric shears contains the motor. The combs used are the same as those used on the conventional shears. As you have only two Merinos to shear, if using electric shears, you should have the job done in no time. I would suggest however, that before you begin to shear them you go over the sheep and cut out any dags and vegetable fault in the fleece because these can jamb up in the comb.

Hope this has been of some help to you.

regards,

Barb Vincent

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Thu, 01/05/2012 - 12:28 #3
charlie
Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

Hi Cheryl,

There are a few options that I have seen when it comes to electric shears. For small flocks there is the Beiyuan 240 v or 12 v slim grip handpiece which comes with two combs and four cutters for $450.

The other option is the Heiniger 240V or 12V electric handpiece designed for professional shearing of small flocks, dagging and wigging or professional clipping, for $699. Both electric hand pieces come with a three month warranty. 

There is also a small shearing plant called a junior that is suitable for larger flocks of sheep (100-200). It has a longer 12 month warranty and sells for $880.

If you just have the two woolies to shear I would suggest that the Beiyuan or Heiniger brand would do the job.

Regards,

Charlie

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Sat, 01/14/2012 - 15:12 #4
princemyheart
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 12/06/2011 - 16:08

Electric shears will work fine. With the fine wool of merinos, and their extra skin folds, you will need to work carefully. You may need to oil up your shears if you can't keep them in the wool consistently enough for lubrication.

Here's a suggestion though. Buy a pair of old fashioned hand shears. Often called crutching shears nowadays. It's amazing how well they work. You will need to get the knack of how to use them, but for two sheep and enough time.... they'll do the job.

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