Reinforced shear components and methods of using same

A method of actuating a downhole tool, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) applying a first stimulus to a downhole tool causing movement of a core disposed in a cavity of a shear component to move from a first position to a second position, the core being disposed in alignment with a shear plane of the shear component when in the first position and the core being disposed out of alignment with the shear plane when in the second position;
• (b) compromising the shear component causing a first component of the downhole tool to be able to move relative to a second component of the downhole tool;
• (c) applying a second stimulus to the downhole tool to the first component causing the first component to move from an initial position to an actuated position to cause actuation of the downhole tool.