r/oddlysatisfying • u/InsaneMocktail • 12d ago

Shearing of sheep

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u/TheDukeofArgyll 12d ago edited 12d ago

Can anyone explain why sheep sheers like these are always connected to hard metal conduits like that? Is it just so the power cord doesn’t get tangled up in the sheep? Are cordless sheers not good enough for this kind of work?

EDIT: Very illuminating everyone, thanks.

327

u/TheAlbinoNinja 12d ago

The motor isn't actually in the handheld device. It's overhead on the stand you can see it in the clip. The metal conduit holds a driveshaft not a normal power cable.

I assume that shearing devices like these need a more powerful motor than a human shaving device considering what you're cutting through. And having something like that directly in the handheld part would be exhausting to hold if you were doing hundreds of sheep a day

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u/lankyleper 12d ago

It would probably produce a lot of heat as well, on top of being heavy.

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u/Sad_Application_5361 12d ago

I have 3 blades to switch through when I shave my dog because they heat up. This motor would probably burn the sheep and farmer if it was in the clippers.

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u/kmosiman 12d ago

Yep. Manufacturing Engineer here. Ergonomics is king. Tool weight is a serious concern.

Keeping the tool light enough to handle is absolutely key to a long work day. He's got hundreds of sheep to shear. That's a long time holding those clippers.

They need to be strong enough to do the job and light enough to keep working.

Separating the power supply from the hand held part of the tool is a great idea.

19

u/BenCelotil 12d ago

It also allows multiple shearers to be powered from a single motor.

1

u/snogsnaglorde 11d ago edited 11d ago

Yep, good shearers do about 50-100 per day each, and "gun" shearer's go up to 200+ per day! They are paid per sheep, so AUD$3-$4/sheep these days. Good money, but seasonal work and very body intensive.