Abstract: A machine is described for shearing a block of wood into a plurality of individual sheets in a single pass through a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced, stationary shearing knives. The knives are rigidly supported, one after the other, in vertically spaced relationship. Means are provided to force the wood block past the knives. A pressure applicator is provided for positively holding the wood block down against a horizontal supporting surface as it passes through the shearing knives. The wood block contacting surface of the pressure applicator is made up of a plurality of small diameter rod-like roller elements, each supported so that it can individually rotate with respect to adjacent roller elements. The roller elements contact each other and each is individually pressed against the wood block by a block-like mass of polyurethane elastomer of a durometer such that high unit pressure is maintained between each of the roller elements and the wood block.