This rough bar is therefore, immediately it has passed through the rolls, and while it is still red hot, put between the jaws of a pair of shears, worked by the engine, and cut into lengths of about a foot each. A pair of shears for this purpose is represented in the engraving of the great hammer at page 772, by reference to which the reader will readily comprehend our explanation of them. That portion of the shears marked g g g, is one massive casting, and is fixed to the ground in the most solid and substantial manner. The cutting edge of the lower chap at h is formed out of a stout steel bar; it lies in a rebate, and is therein fastened by screw bolts. The chap of the upper shear i i is similarly provided; this shear is the movable one, and has its joint or centre of motion in the upright at g. By the revolution of the drum e, it carries round with it an eccentric or solid crank k, to which is jointed a stout iron bar f, which bar being jointed at its other end to the upper shear, communicates its own vibratory motion to the shear, and makes it cut at each alternation of the stroke or revolution of the drum.

To prevent the steel edges of the shears from being softened by the contact of the hot bars, a small stream of water is made to flow over them constantly, brought on by a small pipe, or other suitable channel, and regulated by a cock. The bars as they are cut, fall into an iron barrow or truck, in which they are wheeled away to the piler.