What is the term for the distance between the upper and lower knives of a shear?

• A. Blade Gap
• B. Shear Gap
• C. Knife Clearance
• D. Gap Between Knives

Answer: (C)

Knife clearance is the distance between the upper and lower knives of a shear. This gap controls how the material is torn and sheared, letting the cut form cleanly with a minimal burr while the blades avoid binding and excessive wear. If the clearance is too tight, you’ll get high cutting pressure, more burr, and quicker blade wear; if it’s too loose, the edge can be ragged or deformed and the material may not reset properly for the next cut. While terms like blade gap, shear gap, or gap between knives describe the idea, the standard shop term used for this specific distance is knife clearance.