Electric metal shears/nibbler

[Lufbramatt]

Got a birthday coming up and to complement my new-found welding skills ;-) my dad has suggested he wanted to get me an electric sheet metal nibbler such as this:

https://www.stakesys.co.uk/shears-nibblers/electric-shears/sta160-sheet-metal-nibbler-230-volt

Has anyone got any experience of them? Will be cutting out repair panels for car bodywork then eventually once the car is sorted want to do some garden sculpture type stuff. Are they worth having? Would be nice to not have to use a noisy angle grinder all the time due to sleeping babies nearby. How loud are these?

Any recommended brands are all they much they same? Budget is up to £150.

 

[the snooper]

They are a nibbler not shears they leave lots of little bits of steel as they cut where as shears dont

 

[Lufbramatt]

corrected

 

[500e]

As Snooper says a lot of Sharp little bits that embed them selves in soles of shoes, designed to produce unhappiness in HID if you walk over the new Vinalay Don't ask how I know

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

For the price, they not to bad. I have seen more expensive ones.
Just don't force it in thicker steel.

The metal bits, see 500e post.
I will not ask, but I know.
Experience is what you gain from your mistakes.

 

[Chris Stevens]

Nibbler seems a real pain to me. Electric shear is much better, but think you might find a used Makita industrial type jig-saw is best of all?

 

[pedrobedro]

Proper metal shears are available but they are not cheap. I have a Turner nibbler drill attachment which I have had for years, does the job but the toenail clippings are a pain. Falcon do one for £30 which looks similar.

 

[chunkolini]

I have the Bosch equivalent of the shears linked to by Pedro above. Fabulous piece of kit, I've used them for years. I tried a nibbler and sold it on because of the chippings.

 

[Lufbramatt]

Thanks for the replies, with a 18 month old running around I don't really want the little bits of metal going everywhere (obviously he's not allowed in my garage/workshop). Not sure a nibbler is the right thing to get. Might be better off with a set of Gilbow shears! hehe

Actually I think I agree a decent jigsaw might work best, and certainly would be useful for cutting other materials too.

 

[Chris Stevens]

Thanks for the replies, with a 18 month old running around I don't really want the little bits of metal going everywhere (obviously he's not allowed in my garage/workshop). Not sure a nibbler is the right thing to get. Might be better off with a set of Gilbow shears! hehe

Actually I think I agree a decent jigsaw might work best, and certainly would be useful for cutting other materials too.

Jigsaw and a pair of good quality aviation snips will do just about everything, and JS can also be used for wood. If you can afford it new industrial standard jigsaw is good, but think thats going to set you back around £300. I paid £50 for a used one and it works perfectly. Got a Bosch electric shear, and to be honest hardly ever use it as wont cut tight radius very well, and takes longer than jigsaw.

 

[Lufbramatt]

At university we had Bosch GST-135 jigsaws which got abused by Industrial design students day in/day out and cut beautifully all the time, that was 10+ years ago now so it looks like the current equivalent (GST-150) is about £140. I think one of them would do me.

 

[Chris Stevens]

At university we had Bosch GST-135 jigsaws which got abused by Industrial design students day in/day out and cut beautifully all the time, that was 10+ years ago now so it looks like the current equivalent (GST-150) is about £140. I think one of them would do me.

You might find industrial type Makita used is a better buy? I have an already well used one and it works perfectly.

 

[the snooper]

Nibbler seems a real pain to me. Electric shear is much better, but think you might find a used Makita industrial type jig-saw is best of all?

A jigsaw best for cutting sheet steel around 1mm, not a chance, the electric shears go through it like a hot knife through butter and no mess at all

 

[tlovatt]

How about a cheap plasma cutter - particularly if you already have a compressor you can cut out whatever shapes you want

 

[Lufbramatt]

My compressor is only a little airbrush compressor with a 5 liter tank, great for airbrushing and will just about keep up with a little Iwata smart repair gun but I don't think it will come close to supplying enough air for a plasma cutter!

 

[Chris Stevens]

A jigsaw best for cutting sheet steel around 1mm, not a chance, the electric shears go through it like a hot knife through butter and no mess at all

Gladly my days of cutting sheet steel much are long gone! Electric shears are OK for thin sheet I guess, but I have something far better, which is an old tool made by Record, which consists of 2 hardened steel discs, with a handle on one, which draws the metal through as it cuts. Got mine for £40 unused and in original box still, from Ebay.
Machine Mart offer a ROC version of this, which is pretty much useless (had one and jaws spread first time it was used).

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@Chris Stevens
Can you post an image please?

 

[Chris Stevens]

That one can be used independently, but mine has a single handle and a piece which clamps into a vice. Very nicely made old tools, and bargain for anyone who does much sheet metal work as they often seem to turn up new for about £40.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

I got this from Lidl or Aldi for about £20, ok for thin steel, but most of the time I just use a 1mm cutting disc.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

My-Friend-Pete really doesn't like them though.