At the earliest stage, metal shearing was entirely manual, where metal operators used hand tools to shear metals. It was a labor-intensive, slow, and imprecise process because the clarity of cuts depended on the skilled operators.

Lever-operated shears were introduced in the 19th century and transformed metal shearing. These shears used mechanical leverage to multiply the force applied to the blades, enabling the cutting of thicker and larger metal sheets.

Hydraulic shearing machines received popularity in the 20th century. The power of pressurized hydraulic fluid generates force and cuts through thick and thin metal sheets. They are versatile, safe, and offer more control to the operator.