Best aviation / tin snips ever

[jrsavoie]

Midwest snips are the best I ever used.

I'm glad to see they're still made. And still made in the USA.

They used to make Craftsman and Snapon

https://www.amazon.com/MIDWEST-Aviation-Snip-Set-KUSHN-POWER/dp/B00OCGQG3S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ecotec]

Midwest and Wiss are good basic tin snips. They have been around forever (under their own brands and under rebrands) in the same form factor, and with cushion grips. Much nicer tin snips are made by Malco and Klenk.

The Malco Max2000 line is pretty terrific.

 

[MiteyF]

When I was working as a fabricator at a sign shop (lots of welding, and lots of tin bending), I had a cheap set of Craftsman snips. Another guy at the shop (one of the installers) borrowed them for the day to go out on a job, as his were MIA. When he came back in the afternoon, he had bought me a pair of Midwest snips (left and right), because my Craftsman were "not worth having". I believe he binned the Craftsman snips on the spot.

I've had those Midwests for years, and I suspect I'll die with them in my box.

 

[jsackin]

All the sheet metal guys here in Kansas City use Midwest offsets.

 

[four.cycle]

Thanks

Midwest has been the OEM supplier for most conventional "tin snips" for other manufacturers since the end of WWII.
They're also the OEM for many of the "aviation snips" you see with other brand names stamped on them.

Midwest / Midwest Tool & Cutlery, 1210 Progress St., Sturgis, MI 49091 / https://midwestsnips.com/ / est. 1945 / "The Claw" patent 4967613 Nov 6 1990 Richard E. Cone /

Very interesting company history on this one. A goofy wrench they began making for a company known as "Sears" took them to the big time.
My old "Indestro" branded tin snips were most likely made in Sturgis, MI. by Midwest. Yours as well.

The notepad *.txt file attached below contains some notes.

The last two images below are an early "PAT PEND" version of the original "Pocket Socket"*

* not to be confused with the later "Pocket Socket" manufactured by Litton Industries ca 1980
* see next post

 

[four.cycle]

RE: Midwest Tool & Cutlery "Pocket Socket"

* not to be confused with:

Pocket Socket / Pocket Socket Inc., 17415 Ecorse, Allen Park, MI 48101 / patent 3187610 Jun 8 1965 Charles O. Russman / NSN 5120-00-868-0831 (red) and NSN 5120-00-868-0832 (orange) (two different size models) / Russman "Pocket Socket" Telescopic Multiple Wrench / https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=84783.0 /

example of Russman's "Pocket Socket" below:

 

[KnurledNut]

I used to cut a lot of metal and the USA-made Malco Max2000 red offsets were my go to for 95% of jobs. The same green offsets were necessary the other 5% of the time. I have tried most brands and found these to be the best fit for my hands for extended use and best functionality for my applications. The worst I ever used by far were Milwaukee.

 

[GeoBruin]

I used to cut a lot of metal and the USA-made Malco Max2000 red offsets were my go to for 95% of jobs. The same green offsets were necessary the other 5% of the time. I have tried most brands and found these to be the best fit for my hands for extended use and best functionality for my applications. The worst I ever used by far were Milwaukee.

Now wait just a minute! My Milwaukees are very good at opening blister packs!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I used to have to tune up any tin snips I bought, doesnt matter brand, even Malco. Granted, I almost always bought cheap. All of them had an overbite, which I ground away. Also thinned the tip to fit into J trim, vinyl and aluminum.
I'll see if I can get pics to show what I mean.

 

[danski0224]

I like Bessey .

This one is an offset snip:

D29ASSL-2​

The cutting edge is harder than Midwest and I have not broken off a lower jaw.

The metal does not pass over the jaw as easily as Midwest snips, though.

 

[KnurledNut]

I like Bessey .

This one is an offset snip:

D29ASSL-2​

The cutting edge is harder than Midwest and I have not broken off a lower jaw.

The metal does not pass over the jaw as easily as Midwest snips, though.

I would like to try those.
I do have the solid forged metal version and they are about the best thing for heavy cuts before stepping up to bulldog snips but are quite heavy, the handles are not that comfortable being bare steel, and I find the blade geometry has less ability and less user friendly. Definitely wins the cool factor though when it comes to robustness.

 

[danski0224]

I would like to try those.
I do have the solid forged metal version and they are about the best thing for heavy cuts before stepping up to bulldog snips but are quite heavy, the handles are not that comfortable being bare steel, and I find the blade geometry has less ability and less user friendly. Definitely wins the cool factor though when it comes to robustness.

I tried those and was not a fan, except for straight cuts. I also found that they need frequent tightening.

The lower jaw is not the same as the ones I mentioned, and the little bit of difference makes it much harder (for me) to cut curves. The jaw on the heavy duty ones is more similar to the model "up" from the one I mentioned, with the Ti coating and 3 figure price tag.

I have not tried all snips, but have found it impossible, so far, to beat the Midwest offset snips for their ease in cutting curves. They just do not last long for me, and I find it to be relatively easy to bust off the jaw.

 

[NHtoolguy]

No love here for the vintage Wiss Metalmaster aviation snips? I always thought mine cut very well.

 

[bonneyman]

IIRC, Klenk is the original maker of tin snips. If I'm reading their bio correctly that was in 1934.
Never used any, but they seem strong as heck.
(Just found out that they've discontinuing their line of snips)!

Klenk® Aviation Snips Archives - Klenk HVACR Tools

Klenk Division of Everhard Products has decided to discontinue the manufacture of our compound action aviation snips. Increased automation in metal cutting has decreased demand for our heavy-duty hand snips, so we have decided to focus our attention on other Klenk branded tools we manufacture...

klenk.everhard.com

I've used Wiss, Midwest, Malco, and Lenox. Malco was my standard users for many years. A forum member gifted me with a trio of the Lenox - they have since become my favorites.

Snips | LENOX® Tools

www.cutwithlenox.com

This company seems to have a good assortment of brands FYI.

Tin Snips Archives

Shop high-quality tin snips and metal snips tools built for precision and durability. Cut sheet metal easily with the best snips tools for roofing pros!

www.stortz.com

Here's my Wiss, Malco Zip Snips, and Lenox tools.

 

[dnschmidt]

Midwest and Malco. End of story.

 

[seber]

Now wait just a minute! My Milwaukees are very good at opening blister packs!

I'm pretty sure the only thing good at opening blister packs is dynamite.

 

[bonneyman]

I'm pretty sure the only thing good at opening blister packs is dynamite.

Ask Wiley Coyote - he'd know for sure!

 

[bonneyman]

Midwest and Malco. End of story.

Give a pair of Lenox a try. You might be surprised.

 

[KnurledNut]

These have put food on the table and paid a lot of bills.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Anyone know where are the Lenox snips made?

I use, and like the USA-made Wiss snips, but I don't do much metal cutting, other than ceiling grids.

 

[KnurledNut]

Anyone know where are the Lenox snips made?

I use, and like the USA-made Wiss snips, but I don't do much metal cutting, other than ceiling grids.

The older ones like bonneyman pictured were MiC. I have used those and personally didn’t like them.
The new ones are Taiwan sourced. I havent tried them. Lenox is now owned by SBD.

 

[Bubba Fett]

I'd bet the Taiwan-made ones are probably much better.

 

[dnschmidt]

You ask for alternatives when you don't have an acceptable answer. With both Midwest and Malco what's the point in looking further. If you already own SATA and Iwata spray guns why concern yourself with other brands? As good as it gets is all you need and both Midwest and Malco are as good as it gets with respect to aviation shears.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Ya'll sold me on Midwest snips.

Been looking for a set - ordered from Acme Tools just now

 

[Vinny]

I have left and right snips that seem to work on everything I need, but what are straightones used for?

 

[neophyte]

IIRC, Klenk is the original maker of tin snips. If I'm reading their bio correctly that was in 1934.
Never used any, but they seem strong as heck.
(Just found out that they've discontinuing their line of snips)!

Klenk® Aviation Snips Archives - Klenk HVACR Tools

Klenk Division of Everhard Products has decided to discontinue the manufacture of our compound action aviation snips. Increased automation in metal cutting has decreased demand for our heavy-duty hand snips, so we have decided to focus our attention on other Klenk branded tools we manufacture...

klenk.everhard.com

I've used Wiss, Midwest, Malco, and Lenox. Malco was my standard users for many years. A forum member gifted me with a trio of the Lenox - they have since become my favorites.

Snips | LENOX® Tools

www.cutwithlenox.com

This company seems to have a good assortment of brands FYI.

Tin Snips Archives

Shop high-quality tin snips and metal snips tools built for precision and durability. Cut sheet metal easily with the best snips tools for roofing pros!

www.stortz.com

Here's my Wiss, Malco Zip Snips, and Lenox tools.

Since Klenk has been mentioned, I think I saw something within the past year saying that the Klenk brand parent company had discontinued the Klenk Snips, although some stores still seem to have stock.

As far as Klenk inventing “tin snips” they definitely did not invent sheet metal snips.
I have seen claims about “aviation snips” with a compound leverage design, but am not really sure about that either, since older snip designs with compound leverage systems have existed for quite a long while.
I’m fairly certain I’ve also come across older snip designs from Schollhorn tools, the maker of the Bernard Patent pliers, that used a formed sheet metal handle, connected to forged or punched and ground snip blades, to produce a compound leverage snip design similar to the compound leverage pliers Schollhorn manufactured prior to WWI, although the Schollhorn compound leverage snips seem to be very uncommon.
Schollhrn did exist up to the late 1940s, so it might be possible the Klenk design came first, but I’m doubtful.
Schollhorn and Bernard were all about forming tool handles, and entire tools like pliers, out of punched and formed sheet metal.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

I have left and right snips that seem to work on everything I need, but what are straightones used for?

Good question - IDK
I saw the set of all three and ordered it.
Guess I kinda look at it like I see socket sets that skip sizes.
Might not ever need the skipped one but it would bug me.

 

[neophyte]

I have left and right snips that seem to work on everything I need, but what are straightones used for?

Straight snips have existed for hundreds of years.
The curved snips, probably just don’t “look right” to some people, or maybe they’re just easier for straight cuts.

 

[MJD1]

Straight snips are only good for cutting banding as far as I'm concerned.

 

[KnurledNut]

Ya'll sold me on Midwest snips.

Been looking for a set - ordered from Acme Tools just now

I would send those back and get the 2 pc green and red offsets. Much more useful.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

I would send those back and get the 2 pc green and red offsets. Much more useful.

This morning I decided I'd like a pair of the offsets as well - Why not have both?

 

[jrsavoie]

Ya'll sold me on Midwest snips.

Been looking for a set - ordered from Acme Tools just now

Order the offsets. I rarely used my regular snips. I used offsets 99.5% of the time

 

[ecotec]

Straight snips are only good for cutting banding as far as I'm concerned.

As an electrician, I use them most often for cutting bands on bundles of pipe.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Order the offsets. I rarely used my regular snips. I used offsets 99.5% of the time

I did.
They will be here Tuesday

 

[IndyGarage]

I just saw a set of Fiskars on clearance at Northern tool and bought them today - they were on clearance for about $9 a pair, I bought all three types. Don't know if they are any good but everything I've bought from Fiskars has been about the best in the category. They have some gear leverage like some of their pruners

 

[tarbellb]

I just saw a set of Fiskars on clearance at Northern tool and bought them today - they were on clearance for about $9 a pair, I bought all three types. Don't know if they are any good but everything I've bought from Fiskars has been about the best in the category. They have some gear leverage like some of their pruners

Seen these floating around, give them a test and report back! Fiskars is hit n miss

 

[Monte]

These from Bessey are good. Completely drop forged. Easy cutting.

 

[Rinspeed]

I bought a pair of Midwest a couple years ago and they are way better than what I was using.

 

[Stearman456]

I know I’m old, but my 1950’s era Bluebird snips, made in Buffalo, NY by Bergman Tools are still my everyday, go-to snips. I have many of the other makes mentioned here, but I still think the old ones are the best, and made of better quality, old-fashioned, American steel.

 

[bonneyman]

I know I’m old, but my 1950’s era Bluebird snips, made in Buffalo, NY by Bergman Tools are still my everyday, go-to snips. I have many of the other makes mentioned here, but I still think the old ones are the best, and made of better quality, old-fashioned, American steel.

I've seen them in ads, but have never used them. But I have a good set of BlueBird battery pliers, and if the snips are like them, then they are probably great.