aviation snips

bfullmer · Feb 19, 2017

tried to cut thin gage steel and it just bends over especially by the end of the snips would a better quality tool cut the thin stuff ?

gab · Feb 19, 2017

I've got 3 Blue Points from Snap On, 2 or 3 of the Wiss, and the other ones might be Diamond. The Wiss brand is the best.

funky_g00 · Feb 19, 2017

I agree get wiss brand ones if yours are not. I find that I will have this problem from time to time if I am trying to true up a cut. I do not seem to have the problem if I am cutting more than 1/4" off and taking small cuts help.

Moonlite37 · Feb 19, 2017

A onion sheetmetal worker would have three pairs of Wiss Aviation snips in his tool box, straight, left and right. It helps if the sheet is flat on the lower blade. These are considered to be expendable tools and are subject to wearin. There is a legend that they were developed during WW2 to be carried in aircraft to cut out in the event of a crash. It is also told that pop rivets were developed by the Unites Shoe Machine Company, the makers of shoe eyelets, to make rivets to be put in from one side for the building of aircraft during WW2

Steve@Advance · Feb 19, 2017

I've found good heavy duty scissors work better on the thin stuff.

Sometimes you can tighten the bolt just a little when they get some wear on them.

jeffcat · Feb 19, 2017

I will bet you if they are folding your work, they are worn out. The edge of the jaws have little tiny teeth on them. When they are chewed off there is no grip left.

WGM · Feb 19, 2017

I was a union sheetmetal worker who used left and right avistion snips. Straights were worthless. Maybe the onion sheetmetal worker had a use for straight snips.

4wdtom · Feb 20, 2017

When I worked is a shop that did a fair bit of sheetmetal work Wiss was the only brand we would consider. That was a while ago now, but I guess it hasn't changed from the replies below. They can be sharpened but will not be as good as new because the little serrations are gone.

Mike M · Feb 20, 2017

Be sure to get the ones where your hands stay above the work ! What a difference they make. Especially on longer cuts. Mine might be from Midwest ?

Moonlite37 · Feb 20, 2017

Most challenging job in doing duct work was to cut a hole in the top side of a duct that that was fastened on the floor joists above in order to install an elbow for an additional outlet.

GordoSD · Feb 20, 2017

The Wiss snips with the serrated bottom like this pair of "rights" are best

mtny · Feb 21, 2017

I've been a member of the sheet metal workers intl assoc for 28 years . Carried rights and lefts . Never straights . Best I have found are Midwest offset carried by Sears . They used to be a craftsman product. For straight cuts of length in the field we use bulldogs which are about 16 inches long with 3 inch or so jaws . Saw another post about cutting 1/16 metal . That's about 16 gauge . Plasma is definitely the handiest but there are unishears and double cut tools out there that aren't outrageous. Double cuts have all but replaced bulldogs . We run kett 14 gauge models they are top notch.

4wdtom · Feb 21, 2017

Yes! good tip, I forgot to say that.

Dusty MI · Feb 21, 2017

I have a part time sheetmetal shop, and I've never cared for Wiss snips.

Dusty

4wdtom · Feb 22, 2017

Well tell us what brand do you like?

Blackhole49 · Feb 22, 2017

Every time I try to correct spelling, I make one myself (avistion).

aviation snips

bfullmer

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gab

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funky_g00

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Moonlite37

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Steve@Advance

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jeffcat

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WGM

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4wdtom

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Mike M

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Moonlite37

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GordoSD

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mtny

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4wdtom

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Dusty MI

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4wdtom

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Blackhole49

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