Grabber Construction Products Revolutionizes Steel-Framing Cutting with TrueShear™
Decades of Innovation
Since 1967, Grabber Construction Products has followed one guiding principle: introduce professional-grade solutions that serve contractors, simplify their work and boost productivity. Grabber proudly continues that tradition in 2025, first with the Fastener Solutions catalog, and now with the release of TrueShear™: the long-awaited answer to the hazards, inefficiencies and frustrations of cutting steel framing.
An Ear to the Ground
Contractors know all too well the downsides of cutting steel. While tools like chop saws, miter saws and grinders make it possible to trim framing members on-site, the process generates showers of sparks, requiring hot work permits and costly fire watch measures. It also leaves jagged edges that need deburring and creates high-decibel noise that can harm workers’ hearing and disrupt the jobsite.
Despite the safety and compliance burdens, these methods were the standard for years. Keyword: were.
When contractors told us there had to be a better way, we listened. More importantly, our innovation team got to work researching, prototyping, and testing. The moment technology caught up to our vision, we were ready.
Research and Development
At Grabber, we’ve always known that real solutions must be both smart and accessible to improve contractor experiences and jobsite productivity. We call this intentional innovation. A solution isn’t a solution if it creates more problems than it solves.
Designing a new way to cut steel posed a unique challenge: it had to be as portable as a power saw yet deliver more power and greater efficiency. After all, sparks and noise are signs of abrasive cutting’s built-in inefficiencies.
We first studied how CNC shops and mass producers cut steel. Laser and plasma cutting work well for intricate or thicker materials, but even heavy-gauge steel studs are relatively light. Plus, plasma doesn’t eliminate the hot work issue. Then we looked to manufacturing. How do manufacturers cut steel studs? With a shearing press. The problem? Shearing presses are stationary.
From Challenge to Breakthrough: TrueShear™
That’s when Grabber’s commitment to intentional innovation paid off. Our team succeeded in engineering a first-of-its-kind, portable, battery-powered shearing press that delivers 12 tons of shearing force to cut 16-gauge (54 mil) to 20-gauge (33 mil) steel framing members, without sparks, burrs or high-decibel noise.
True Power, True Precision
TrueShear’s unmatched force does more than eliminate hazards, it delivers true precision. Every cut is clean, consistent and free from the flaws caused by abrasive blades or uneven pressure.
Contractors simply align the stud in the die and activate TrueShear with a trigger pull, gaining full control over a crisp, accurate cut with a factory-quality finish. No deburring necessary.
Through multiple prototyping sessions and rounds of feedback from experienced framing contractors, Grabber fine-tuned the design to prioritize safety, ease of use and efficiency. Unlike the notorious “screamer saws,” TrueShear’s precise application of force produces significantly less noise and minimal vibration. Combined with its stable base and fully internal mechanism, this translates to less physical strain on the jobsite.
Compared to traditional powered saws, TrueShear is smarter, safer and stronger.
True Efficiency, True Productivity
“We have been asking for someone to come up with a solution to this problem—and you’ve done it,” says one steel framer who asked to remain anonymous.
TrueShear lives up to Grabber’s core mission. Faster cuts mean less downtime. Minimal debris means quicker cleanup. No abrasive blades to replace means fewer supply headaches. Eliminating hot work requirements gives you back a full crew member’s productivity. And the intuitive design means less training and faster adoption.
And that’s not all. Its effortlessly consistent factory edges mean there’s no need to deburr. That’s time saved, job after job.
By Contractors, For Contractors
Grabber is proud to be redefining what’s possible on commercial jobsites, but we didn’t do it alone. Contractor feedback was integral to the development of TrueShear. This tool is the result of real-world insights and field testing, a cutting-edge solution by contractors, for contractors.
Whether you’re cutting 16-gauge (54 mil) or 20-gauge (33 mil) steel framing members, TrueShear eliminates hot work, fire watch, and the costly distractions they bring. And the team member who once stood by with a fire extinguisher? Now they can get back to what really matters: getting the job done.
Steel Cutting, Reframed
TrueShear is more than a new way to cut steel, it’s a revolution in jobsite productivity. By putting the power of a shear press into a portable tool, TrueShear marks a major leap forward. It’s the force multiplier contractors have long been waiting for.
TrueShear™ Steel Cutting, Reframed.
Another solution from Grabber. Your Partners in Productivity.
Request a product demo at trueshear.grabberpro.com
Lee Tedesco is a seasoned sales and marketing executive in building materials, specializing in wall and ceiling systems. He works to drive profitable growth, expand market share and build brands that resonate with contractors and distributors. He employs strategic vision with industry insight to solve challenges and elevate business performance.
