David Fagan, New Zealand’s 16-times world champion shearer, launched the Handypiece Pro at the Chelty Speed Shearing competition in Cheltenham earlier this year to demonstrate the power and versatility of the new model. To the crowd’s amazement Fagan defleeced a sheep in 23.9 seconds, leaving inventor and shearer alike delighted with the result. Fly-by-wire shearing is now a reality with the new Handypiece Pro. It’s 100g lighter than a standard handpiece and has power to burn. The purple unit uses powerful brushless motor technology so there is no more heat build-up than from a traditional wall-powered plant.
It also has the added feature of variable speed from 2400-3500rpm. Finally alpaca shearers will be able to use a traditional handpiece that is slim to hold but with speed that can be reduced to the same as a clipper.
The Handypiece Pro easily handles dagging, crutching and cows’ tails at a mid-speed of 2700rpm but anyone wanting to get a nice cut while shearing can wind it all the way up to 3500rpm. A new motor means the battery lasts even longer and it’s possible to crutch up to 350-400 sheep from a single charge.
A select group of loyal Handypiece customers were chosen to trial and compare the new Handypiece Pro for everyday use with crutching, dagging, flystrike and so on. The feedback was unanimous – they feel the power is as much as a mains-powered unit.
The Handypiece Pro kit comes with a lithium battery and battery charger along with a five-metre extension cord as well as a belt, holster and pouch made from heavy-duty leather, all contained within a purpose-made carry bag.
Purple power
The new purple Handypiece Pro launched this year represents several improvements over the green Handypiece released in 2008:
- Handypiece Pro uses the latest-technology brushless motor, resulting in continuous use with minimal heat build-up
- 1.4kg compared to 1.7kg so a better balanced, lighter-than-standard shearing handpiece
- Handypiece Pro has variable speed from 2400-3500rpm
- Battery lasts up to 50% longer when operating at a crutching-dagging speed of about 2700rpm – for continuous use a 240-12V inverter is available
- Auto shut-off on overload or lock-up – reset by turning off switch then back on, and
- Handypiece Pro 1.3 Nm off torque – Handypiece green 0.3 Nm.
More? For videos and further information go to www.handypiece.co.nz.
