Mini Sheet Metal Cutters

[Spot the welders dog]

Looking at two possible products for cutting <1mm> and wondered if one had a preference over t'other...

First one is a Clarke CPS75 > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clarke-CP...248?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c79657cd0

Second is the Stakesy's STA124 > http://www.stakesys.co.uk/product/sta124_sheet_metal_mini_shear/

0.5mm difference in reported capacity, but why? Does the Clarke look more robust?

 

[Flapdisk]

Hmmm the body of the Stakesy's one looks like it is pressed out of a much thinner steel and is no where near as thick at the bend where most of the force will be when in use.

 

[chunkolini]

I have had two of the Clarke ones, killed the first by being stupid.
They are great for up to about 2mm sheet.
Good at convex curves but concave does them in.
Outside curves, rough cut a series of straights closeish to the line then roll the curve around the blade, lovely cut.
I still have mine and dig it out ocasionally.

 

[ian f]

i've had the clarke one for about 10 years. it's not used everyday but i'm glad it's there when needed

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Thanks guys.

 

[Andy from Workshopshed]

I recently bought the STA124 and the frame is very substancial. It worked very well with thin sheet.

There is a small cam that moves the lower wheel, you can see it in the stock picture below but it does not seem to hold well. I found that with the thicker sheets the cam slips out and the lower wheel moves and the top wheel climbs over the top jaming it up. I'm not sure if there is somekind of adjustment that can be done to make this work better.
A good feature is that there is a small pin connecting the top driving wheel to the ratchet wheel on the other side. If you try to force the wheels when they are jammed then that shears and it stops you inflicting further damage.