Decent tin snips for stainless

[GraemeVW]

We use tin snips at work, only for cutting lightweight tin angle and stainless steel flue liners.
I'd be amazed if they do more than 1 hours actual cutting a week, I tend to use them 5 mins at a time, a couple of times a day.

The stainless liners absolutely hammer them though. Cutting very thin 904 and 316.

They are great when new, and after a fortnight are showing signs of ring a big rubbish, and after a month or so are annoying enough to throw away.

4 hours work from a pair of snips seems a little silly.

My boss just buys from builders mech as we are there often so we have been using Irwin or Milwaukee.
They are much of a much.

Is there anything decent we could be buying that will actually last?
I don't know if they can be sharpened, but it would be me doing it in my spare time, so I'd rather the company just bought decent ones to start with!

 

[Shox Dr]

Wiss, were a good make. dont know what they are like now

 

[500e]

Don't know about new but Gilbo were the dogs d. 6/8 cut ok easy to keep sharp run a diamond over them before they get blunt
Wiss and Blue Point were good. Have a set L R &S 40 years fair use still cut well
The trouble is you dont know who makes them or were from day to day
Irwin Gilbo

 

[500e]

 

[GraemeVW]

View attachment 391061

That's handy!

 

[GraemeVW]

I thi k the problem for us is we are cutting very thin metal, wound in two layers. It's always awkward positioning too. So as soon as they loose their edge, rather than cutting, the metal just slips sideways in the jaws. When brand new they cut lovely.
Maybe deeper serations would help.

 

[James1979]

Another vote for gilbow

What about these? (Never used them)

Makita CP100DZ 12V Li-Ion CXT Cordless Multi-Cutter - Bare - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Part of the 12v CXT range of products from Makita, suitable for cutting a wide range of materials. Features auto self-sharpening function and ergonomic rubber-coated soft grip. Compact design. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

Or handheld shear. Like this.

I’ve got a set somewhere.

There’s a powered version

Milwaukee M18BMS12-0 M18 Compact 1.2mm Metal Shears

Milwaukee M18BMS12. Accurate cuts with maximum cutting depth of 1.2 mm in steel. Unique 360° tool-free rotating head with 12 locking positions.

www.googleadservices.com

Both would be good for things that move because you’ve 2 stationary fingers and one that cuts so it doesn’t try and tip it over like gilbows if you follow.

Out of interest I googled “stainless flue cutting tool” and the approved tool came back as a large bread knife type thing??

Few ideas anyway.

 

[MetalMonkey]

@500e I think there have been a few swaps and changes since that was updated. More info here:

https://www.protoolreviews.com/power-tool-manufacturers-who-owns-them/

https://toolguyd.com/tool-brands-corporate-affiliations/

 

[GraemeVW]

Another vote for gilbow

What about these? (Never used them)

Makita CP100DZ 12V Li-Ion CXT Cordless Multi-Cutter - Bare - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Part of the 12v CXT range of products from Makita, suitable for cutting a wide range of materials. Features auto self-sharpening function and ergonomic rubber-coated soft grip. Compact design. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

Or handheld shear. Like this.

View attachment 391065
I’ve got a set somewhere.

There’s a powered version

Milwaukee M18BMS12-0 M18 Compact 1.2mm Metal Shears

Milwaukee M18BMS12. Accurate cuts with maximum cutting depth of 1.2 mm in steel. Unique 360° tool-free rotating head with 12 locking positions.

www.googleadservices.com

Both would be good for things that move because you’ve 2 stationary fingers and one that cuts so it doesn’t try and tip it over like gilbows if you follow.

Out of interest I googled “stainless flue cutting tool” and the approved tool came back as a large bread knife type thing??

Few ideas anyway.

None of those would work in our situation.
We pull a stainless steel chimney liner down the chimney then cut it flush with the lintle. Means I have very little access to cut. I cut the front 1/3rd with a knife then cut the rear 2/3rds with snips.
Anything large, or powered, would just add awkwardness and complication.

Good call though, put in the open there would be loads more options.

 

[GraemeVW]

@James1979
I just looked up the bread knife type thing. I think that's what the suppliers use to cut it to length.
It looks like they have used a trained beaver to chew it in half!
We need quite a neat cut in order to then get the adapter on the end. The merrier the cut, the more hassle it is getting the next pieces to fit.

 

[James1979]

None of those would work in our situation.
We pull a stainless steel chimney liner down the chimney then cut it flush with the lintle. Means I have very little access to cut. I cut the front 1/3rd with a knife then cut the rear 2/3rds with snips.
Anything large, or powered, would just add awkwardness and complication.

Good call though, put in the open there would be loads more options.

Fair enough.

There is the daddy of all bread knives though…

Dura Flue Cutting Knife

flue-ducting.co.uk

At £150 I’d hope it was a bit heavy duty

 

[James1979]

@James1979
I just looked up the bread knife type thing. I think that's what the suppliers use to cut it to length.
It looks like they have used a trained beaver to chew it in half!
We need quite a neat cut in order to then get the adapter on the end. The merrier the cut, the more hassle it is getting the next pieces to fit.

Lol cross posted.

Yeah the angry beaver look doesn’t do well in someone’s lounge!!!

 

[GraemeVW]

Fair enough.

There is the daddy of all bread knives though…

Dura Flue Cutting Knife

flue-ducting.co.uk

At £150 I’d hope it was a bit heavy duty

£150!!!!!!!

 

[GraemeVW]

I've brought a knackered 2 week old pair of Milwaukee ones home, see if I can improve the jaw design.
For any other job other than cutting paper thin stainless, they would still be good as new!

 

[Maker]

To be clear, are we talking about proper tin snips:

Or "Aviation shears":

 

[brightspark]

gilbow shears ive used them for years i sharpen the mating surfaces up on the disk sander if i get them second hand for peanuts sharpening the cutting edge up only ruins them . the gilbow tin snips dont cut much it needs to be the shears with cranked handles

 

[500e]

There will also be a new 13″ lightweight tinner snips, which features 3-1/3″ blades that provide “best-in-class” cutting length, and an aluminum-bodied handle. User-replaceable blades will also be available. Blade are $10 may not be man enough to cut the joint on that type of rolled pipe, have used Wiss ones like them on alloy sheet 22 swg
Or would this get close enough

 

[GraemeVW]

To be clear, are we talking about proper tin snips:
View attachment 391107

Or "Aviation shears":

View attachment 391108

Aviation shears. I don't think proper snips would get it. It's awkward enough using the aviation type.

 

[GraemeVW]

There will also be a new 13″ lightweight tinner snips, which features 3-1/3″ blades that provide “best-in-class” cutting length, and an aluminum-bodied handle. User-replaceable blades will also be available. Blade are $10 may not be man enough to cut the joint on that type of rolled pipe, have used Wiss ones like them on alloy sheet 22 swg
Or would this get close enough
View attachment 391109

The scissor type is interesting.

The other type wouldn't fit where I need it to.


I think I probably really need to stay with aviation shears, just need good ones!

 

[Maker]

Aviation shears. I don't think proper snips would get it. It's awkward enough using the aviation type.

Wiss then, as Shox says. I don't think anyone makes a better pair.