The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: SingingShearer on February 27, 2011, 08:29:18 pm

Title: Videos of me shearing
Post by: SingingShearer on February 27, 2011, 08:29:18 pm

I have finally worked out how to use You Tube so I have uploaded a couple of videos of me shearing, don't know if its of any interest but here they are:

Sheep shearing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn08bomh9Ko#)

Machine shearing a Zwartbles ewe at Sherwood Forest Farm Park.

Blade shearing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAzFCYU-Ma0#)

Me blade shearing a big tup that was difficult with the machine the previous year.

Any comments gratefully received,
Thanks,
Philip :sheep:

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: andywalt on February 27, 2011, 08:56:37 pm

Love your videos, dont come to Kent do you? its nice to see the shearing done with the hand sheers too

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: SingingShearer on February 27, 2011, 09:07:02 pm

Thanks. I travel almost anywhere so long as I can get enough jobs in the area to make travelling worthwhile.

I had always wanted to learn to hand shear and last year at a demonstration I was doing, I got a few tips from a retired shepherd who often used to shear with blades. I enjoyed getting to do a few that way and I can now shear in places where there is no electricity, without using a genarator.

Philip :sheep:

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: bigchicken on February 28, 2011, 12:00:55 am

Good films, My back is not up to shearing like that anymore, I lie mine down and do them on my knees. Where do you get the strap you were using when hand shearing looks a very handy thing. 

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: Joe11 on February 28, 2011, 04:25:46 am

Interesting videos m8, love at about 7:45 how the big ram is just chillin checkin out the scenery lol  ;D

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: SingingShearer on February 28, 2011, 08:44:15 am

Thanks, the strap is a driving strap which is attached to the bottom of one handle and then tied to the top of the other handle or the middle of the bows/spring, it is to stop your hand slipping down onto the blades whilst shearing and gives you extra control of the shears. It is just a leather strap and I also bind the handle with leather or string as they get very slippery with lanolin and it cushions your hand against the metal.

It is part of the experting process for getting shears ready for shearing, I will try to get a photo of my shears later to show a fully rigged set.

Joe11, yeah he is (as the sheep show would say) totally relaxed ;D.

Thanks,
Philip :sheep:

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: SingingShearer on February 28, 2011, 09:24:56 am

Here they are:

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5059/5484687709_b543fffc8b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60032746@N05/5484687709/)
Rigged Blade Shears (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60032746@N05/5484687709/#) by Singingshearer (http://www.flickr.com/people/60032746@N05/), on Flickr

Hope I've done this uploading properly!

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: spikey_fridge on February 28, 2011, 09:44:57 am

really hope you are down gloucester way again this year :)

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: SingingShearer on February 28, 2011, 09:56:08 am

Of course, I think we made about 3 trips down last year and I am getting more customers down your way, will arrange a day closer to the time.

Thanks,
Philip :sheep:

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: Tilly on February 28, 2011, 06:16:40 pm

---Thankyou Philip for sharing your videos .
I have never seen blade shearing before --- you make it look soooooo easy!

I had to shear out a large number of our flock last year as the shearer let us down --- good job no body was filming me!!!!!! :o :sheep:

Tilly :wave:

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: SingingShearer on February 28, 2011, 06:58:37 pm

Hi Tilly,

I have heard a lot of people saying their shearer let them down, although I shouldn't complain as it gets me a lot of work.

I have found that people are very interested in blade shearing at demonstrations as only a few people dare to try in public, so it's not often seen.

Thanks,
Philip :sheep:

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: NLL on March 01, 2011, 09:21:50 pm

 :wave: dont forget us to start your season off.

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: SingingShearer on March 02, 2011, 09:52:21 am

Of course, I wouldn't forget you ;D, how many :sheep: do you have this year?

Also I think I have got a customer for one of your Wensleydale fleeces, if you can spare one.

Thanks,
Philip :sheep:

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: andywalt on March 02, 2011, 04:22:06 pm

Do you come to Kent?

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: Sandy on March 02, 2011, 04:28:01 pm

Very impressed, was waiting on you starting to sing!!!

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: SingingShearer on March 02, 2011, 08:08:25 pm

Hi Andy,

Yes I can come to Kent, I would have to try and find some more jobs down there to make travel cost realistic, how many sheep have you got?

Sandy,

Thanks, I might try to do a video with a shearing song in the background, will have to have a think ;D.

Philip :sheep:

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: andywalt on March 02, 2011, 10:16:53 pm

I only have 29, and might be 27 if these two are not in lamb !!  I think I am sorted with the shearing just wondered if you came down this way and it would have been a back up for me lol, how many sheep would you call a days work?

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: SingingShearer on March 03, 2011, 07:32:23 am

Hi Andy,

Glad you're sorted, if you do get stuck then let me know.
A full days work depending on the travel between jobs would be four to five small flocks or a single flock of a hundred plus.

Thanks,
Philip :sheep:

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: andywalt on March 03, 2011, 06:34:40 pm

wow a hundred plus...you must have a back of steel, thanks very much its nice to know our around

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: SingingShearer on March 03, 2011, 09:08:16 pm

Hi Andy,

My back has got used to being in a strange position all day it is only bad at the start of the season.
As for a hundred I should get to two hundred this year quite easily ;D, that's if I get enough jobs of that size.

Thanks,
Philip :sheep:

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: NLL on March 04, 2011, 02:14:13 pm

sorry for the late reply, the internet has been broken.
we will have about 35.
no problem with the fleece.I am feeding linseed to make the wool even better.I will try to make them nice and clean before you arrive.

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: SingingShearer on March 04, 2011, 02:27:39 pm

We will try to find time in April if that suits you, I know last year we came on the 25th, as that will be close to Easter is earlier better? Or otherwise after Easter, we are in no rush as April isn't too busy, email might be better.

Thanks,
Philip :sheep: 

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: dixie on April 08, 2011, 04:21:02 pm

Hi Philip, we would like you to do ours again this year please1 I have pm'd you but will email too, I have 10, friends have 8 and 7 I think, i can ask around for anyone else too, we are near Maldon Essex, thank you

Title: Re: Videos of me shearing
Post by: SingingShearer on April 08, 2011, 04:24:49 pm

Will pm you :sheep: