These are pictures of the 12" Import shear that I converted to pneumatic. I got the used 2.5" air cylinder, connectors, hoses and the foot pedal valve for about $90.

It took one evening to do the conversion. The shear can handle 18 ga Stainless steel, 1/8" aluminum and 14 ga steel. To get it to cut stainless out to the end I had to shim the lower blade out by 0.030". It will also shear 3/8" round.

The shear cost $90 new from Enco.

I designed the length of stroke so the tips of the jaws don't quite meet. This way I can cut wide panels by simply sliding the shear along after each cut. Much like a pair of scissors.

For such a simple thing it works very well.

BTW the lower blade is 34" from the floor which matches all of my work tables.

With my air line set at 100 psi it works very well.