Tin Snips

[Shox Dr]

Yes, and if it's hot weather and you're wearing shorts while using a nibbler to carve a section off a larger sheet, they get down the sides of your shoes as well. And at that point, they're very hot.

Not funny getting them out your knees either. They go in like a fishing hook, the end that sticks out is [obviuosly] tapered, not easy to get hold with pliers, so you end up having to push it further into get enough grip to pull it out. Not forgetting to ad a slight twist, otherwise the pliers just slide off the end

 

[MetalMonkey]

Did someboy mention Gilbow?
Not sure what the Irwin ones are like now, but can't beat the old Sheffield made ones.

 

[500e]

Giilbow's Another fetish
Ruined a new vinal floor with those little perishes @Shox Dr beloved was not impressed

 

[brightspark]

Another fetish

they look hardly used

 

[indy4x]

I've always had trouble with tin snips, cutting up to 1.2mm, until I watched a video showing how to use them properly. I think my decent ones are Stanley, though my green pair are some cheap brand that came in a set of three for hardly any money. The Stanley ones are noticeably better.

This is the video, though there are quite a few others on YT:

Using Tin Snips - YouTube

I think my problem was that I was trying to cut too much off. I've certainly had a lot more success since I did more trimming down using other methods and just used the snips for the last bit. And I also used to use the yellow / straight ones for everything, partly because they were my best set. Now I mainly use the red ones as I'm usually cutting along the left-hand edge of the workpiece, partly because I'm left-handed and it's the comfortable side to cut for me.

That YT vid was really useful, been using snips for years but I learned some useful stuff watching that

 

[indy4x]

Forum search delivers again

Had a pair of red and green Bluepoint offset snips for must be 30 years, red have been MIA for a while and I'm now starting to do bodywork again so I need a replacement.

Just found a pair of Wiss on eBay, new old stock at a bargain price

 

[Ross365]

View attachment 277593

Ah..Re picture in Post#22, aren't most of the tools on the bottom row shears rather than snips and does the correct method for snips also apply to shears? I have three pairs of shears; one pair cuts really well and the others are poor but I have no idea why that is so.

 

[ronan]

I got a load of footprint (i think) shears when a tool shop in town was having a clear out. Very handy, but Lidl have the air operated nibblers for not much money too.

 

[SierraV6]

That YT vid was really useful, been using snips for years but I learned some useful stuff watching that

I’ve just watched it and I agree it’s a good video.

This is also worth a watch (all of his videos are good especially if you’re new to sheet metal work):