Electric Nibblers and Shears

[malcolm]

I've messed up and ordered an electric nibbler when I think I actually wanted to buy electric shears. Before I mess around the poor vendor too much, what are the differences and what are they useful for? Do I need a nibbler after all?

My intention was to find an easier way to cut metal to replace bits of old Renault. I have been using tin snips and angle grinder cutting discs but that's hard work and messy. Tried some shears at a friend's place and thought they were great.

For the nibbler. It's coming anyway could it be useful maybe? Anyone got one and what do you use them for?

 

[vpug]

Hi
I have one of each, I never use the nibbler, I hate all the little bits of metal that fall all over the place .
Thanks Vpug

 

[Engineer1964]

Hi Malcolm,

A Nibbler uses a die that runs up and down punching holes thus removing metal. No limit to the direction you can travel. If you were running a straight line and wanted to turn left, you would be able to do so without backing up or removing the tool from the work surface. You may have a hard time finding replacement parts for the die. You can run straight lines but not free hand. Would need to use a straight edge.

Shears acts like scissors. Great for straight cuts and also has a degree of flexibility in the turn. Probably be able to run a 10" hole not sure if you could get down to a 6". Knibbler excells at the radius. Hard to find replacement parts or takes more time than your willing to wait for replacement cutters. If you are after straight cuts shear would do well. No need for a straight edge just a layout line

I have one of each and tend to use the nibbler more than the shear, What was you looking at doing??

 

[chunkolini]

I had a drill powered nibbler.
Worked a treat, But oh good grief the swarf from it.
Tiny little needle tipped crescent moon shaped shards of steel, they get everywhere.
Even found some in bed. That did not go down very well.
I bought some Bosch shears, fantastic things, will cut a curve about 100mm in diameter in 1.6mm steel.
If you keep in front of sweeping up a nibbler is probably fine. But as I said the swarf. Almost lapsed into profanity there.
Nibbler might be better on vehicles, drill a hole and you are in, with shears you need a large hole to get into the middle of a panel.
For the swarf I found it easiest to get a big magnet in a crisp packet to pick it up.

 

[malcolm]

This is the sort of thing I might cut out from sheet:

Hadn't thought about cutting bits out from a vehicle - though I normally angle grind for that as there are lots of skins and rust involved. Not looking good for the nibbler as I do tend to do straight cuts.

PS - picture from http://www.renault4.co.uk/r5-rear-suspension-repair.htm which is a quick and dirty restoration but I love the way that bit turned out.

 

[vpug]

Hi
It also looks like a rat has nibbled the metal away so you then have to clean all the cuts up.
Vpug

 

[roofman]

I had a drill powered nibbler.
Worked a treat, But oh good grief the swarf from it.
Tiny little needle tipped crescent moon shaped shards of steel, they get everywhere.Even found some in bed. That did not go down very well.
I bought some Bosch shears, fantastic things, will cut a curve about 100mm in diameter in 1.6mm steel.
If you keep in front of sweeping up a nibbler is probably fine. But as I said the swarf. Almost lapsed into profanity there.
Nibbler might be better on vehicles, drill a hole and you are in, with shears you need a large hole to get into the middle of a panel.
For the swarf I found it easiest to get a big magnet in a crisp packet to pick it up.

ime suprised you have not found a use for them on some strange reptilien looking creation

 

[awemawson]

A proper commercial nibbler will give you an undistorted edge, but I find it quite hard to follow an edge with them and usually clamp something down as a guide. I do agree the the smaller nibblers give hideous crescent shaped swarf that gets EVERYWHERE!

As well as sensibly sized nibblers I also have one that will cut 6mm plate ! It is hand held (just) with I think a 3/4hp motor, and produces 6mm cubes as swarf. Quite a racket when cutting!!!!!

 

[KemppiFrog]

I would get the shear if it was a choice. I use one that was designed to go on the front of a Peugeot drill (try finding one of those) and it has a non-standard diameter. Now fitted to a cheap drill and does wonders. Rated up to 1.5mm mild steel, but I limit it to 1.2 and 1mm SS. Cuts down to about 30mm radius in curves(but only to the left). Also have a Clarke air nibbler. Very good for certain jobs, but as Chucko says, the swarf gets everywhere. Quite handy for windvanes. But the air nibbler is very cheap compared to a decent electric shear. KF

 

[eil]

Like the others I found the swarf they produce a right pain, only use mine on metal thats too thick to cut with a pair of snips, with you working on Renaults tinsnips are overkill aren't they

 

[Windy Miller]

Yeah the swarf can be a REAL problem. It will get embedded in your shoes, and then you will take it indoors and ruin the vinyl floor coverings. Not got vinyl? No problems it will knacker your laminate floors too, and the carpets!

But apart from that, they're pretty good once you get the hang of em!

 

[Angusdog]

I like my nibbler and having read the warnings about the swarf, I make sure it falls into the bin or I pick 'em up with a magnet. The shears I have are the double-blade kind, that cut a strip 5mm wide out off the sheet - it's air powered but struggles on 1mm steel even though it's getting plenty of air. I suspect the Hitachi single blade shears are a much better design.

 

[keith19]

Knibblers, even the cheapo variety on drills, are useful for tight curves. But the crescent-shaped swarf can a problem, and as everyone says, they get nearly everywhere, and love finding their way into shoes and socks.

If I remember I mount a couple of old speaker magnets underneath a small sheet of steel, which is placed under the job. This catches about 99% of the little devils. Then remove magnets from underside while holding the steel sideways over a large sheet of newspaper. Most will fall off, some need scraping off, gently. Save enough and you can weigh them in...

 

[hotrodder]

Pros and cons to all of 'em... the 3 bladed type are the easiest to cut straight lines with and leave zero distortion, as said they remove a 5mm ish strip. That's their biggest plus point and also their biggest con as it makes them suck at cutting curves (unless the radius is huge) or removing something like the trianglular shape in the pic. 2 bladed version are a billion times better at radiused cuts, not quite as easy to cut straight with and not as distortion free although they only really distort the waste side when trimming things. Like everyone else i hate the mess nibblers make, if i need the dexterity they offer it's either rough out and trim with tin snips, dig out the jigsaw or in the case straightish cuts with radiused inside corners punching/holesawing the radii and cutting to them

Forgot to mention, another bonus of the 2 bladed shears is that blades last longer as each one has 4 cutting edges

 

[Randall977]

I bought one of these today and I'm really impressed with it - literally cuts through metal like a knife through butter. I'm mainly cutting new metal upto 1.2mm so perfect for me, maybe no good for rusty and thick metal?

 

[malcolm]

I reckon I'll go for the Bosch GSC 282 Shear. Something like http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320805690999 Max I'll be cutting is 2mm. Tried something similar at a friends place and the cutting like butter and neat edges were really impressive.

Got confused and ordered a nibbler during the week thinking that's what I had tried. Popped into your thread and realised the mistake and immediately sent a message to try to cancel which didn't send. Organising to return it and fortunately a really good seller. I've had a really bad week in general - planning to give up on it shortly and try a new week.

 

[Robotstar5]

I've had a really bad week in general - planning to give up on it shortly and try a new week.

I think there's one due in a couple of days, don't miss it

 

[hairymel]

funnily enough tonight i found myself hobbling around my local german supermarket, in the search for some cheap sanding discs.

on returning to my van, a close inspection of my sock revealed a nibbler 'crescent' impaled in my foot.

i haven't used my nibbler for at least a year! (must get my compressor back in the workshop)

i found my cheapo noname air nibbler a godsend for a lot of jobs and found that silverline die/cutters fit perfectly (both mechanically and financially )

 

[Wedg1e]

I bought one of these today and I'm really impressed with it - literally cuts through metal like a knife through butter. I'm mainly cutting new metal upto 1.2mm so perfect for me, maybe no good for rusty and thick metal?

I have an ancient Lesto GEG-1 that I inherited from my dad (and he got it given sometime in the early 80s!)... all metal construction just like power tools used to be when men were men
I've checked for earth bonding but it still scares the poo out of me every time I switch it on. Goes through car bodywork steel like the proverbial hot butter knife, as you say.

 

[oddbob]

Have you considered a bench shear? I know it won't make them nice chuggin' noises, but looking at the pik of the sort of shapes your cutting out I would've thought something like a Beverley shear (or a cheap Chinese copy like the one I have) would be better suited ...more controllable, cuts nice tight curves with ease and is throatless. If it needs to be portable you can always bolt it to a board, and kneel on it when using!