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Anybody have NWS “Berlin” tin snips

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Jeremy77

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IDK, don’t have them but they definitely look “sexier” and slimmer than the Wiss ones. Now whether they work better..... I got nothing.
 

gmt

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I bought a pair from KC tools a few months ago. I don't use tin snips much, but I thought they cut better than the Wiss and Stanley fatmax tin snips I have used in the past.
 

bonneyman

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If nobody steps in quickly - i guess ill just be forced to buy em and see for myself.

Buy some and give us a review. I've tried lots of snips (Wiss, Malco, Lenox, Pexto, Midwest, and looked at Klenk), but never tired Berlin. So, I'd be interested.
 
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kctyphoon

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I dont really use em to cut sheet metal though...

Not my video - but this is the primary use.

I’d love to know where i can get a job working in these areas that literally have nothing in the way.
 
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ChrisLS8

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I use snips daily and I'm happy with my channy rebranded Midwest. However I usually end up needing to do 16ga so I am going to look into compound snips.
 
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kctyphoon

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Screw it.. buyin em..

Arriving Thursday or Friday.. prediction - I’m not gonna like the “set up the spring thing” when you wanna use em.. they should just attacked the spring and made a latch at the back of the handles.. but who knows - maybe ill love em. Might be a bit before i get a chance to use them though.
 
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neophyte

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Screw it.. buyin em..

Arriving Thursday or Friday.. prediction - I’m not gonna like the “set up the spring thing” when you wanna use em.. they should just attacked the spring and made a latch at the back of the handles.. but who knows - maybe ill love em. Might be a bit before i get a chance to use them though.

In the US Aviation Snips with the Lever Design like Wiss and Midwest seem to be the defacto standard for snips at most retailers.

If you look into high end specialty roofing tool suppliers, even in the US, most carry German or Austrian manufactured snips, and the defacto standard for the imported European snips is a single pivot non-compound-leverage design.

For thicker or tougher material, most of the snip designs are available in multiple lengths, and different materiaks/alloys/hardnesses, from the various snip manufacturers.

Stubai in Austria is one of the respected manufacturers, and their snips are very nice.

Erdi, owned by Bessey, in Germany is another. I believe Erdi manufactures many of their snip models in three or more different alloys, depending on whether the snips will be used for soft metals like copper, or harder metals like steel, or stainless, or inconel, etc. The different alloys can be identified by handle color.

There are a few or more other German manufacturers including Freund, which is distributed by some places in the US.

In France Edma, mostly known for their hand, Supercoup, sheet metal nibbler, is a manufacturer.
Facom in France also manufactures the forged single pivot snips, as does Bahco, whose snips are also manufactured in France, possibly from the Same supplier as Facom. SAM also supplies similar snips.
England used to have Gilbow, but while the Gilbow brand is still around, the snips are manufactured elsewhere.

Most of the above manufacturers also now manufacture compound leverage aviation snip designs as well.

As for the annoying spring design, with the separate spring, it’s pretty much standard on every manufactuers single pivot design snips.
Some of the manufactuers don’t even supply the springs, like Facom.
Others like Stubai offer the springs as a separate item that can be purchased and installed, although some dealers will just include a spring with purchased snips.
It’s really annoying when snips don’t come with the springs, because standard borg springs don’t seem to be the proper size, and the separate springs don’t seem to be as readily available as the snips.
 
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kctyphoon

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In the US Aviation Snips with the Lever Design like Wiss and Midwest seem to be the defacto standard for snips at most retailers.

If you look into high end specialty roofing tool suppliers, even in the US, most carry German or Austrian manufactured snips, and the defacto standard for the imported European snips is a single pivot non-compound-leverage design.

For thicker or tougher material, most of the snip designs are available in multiple lengths, and different materiaks/alloys/hardnesses, from the various snip manufacturers.

Stubai in Austria is one of the respected manufacturers, and their snips are very nice.

Erdi, owned by Bessey, in Germany is another. I believe Erdi manufactures many of their snip models in three or more different alloys, depending on whether the snips will be used for soft metals like copper, or harder metals like steel, or stainless, or inconel, etc. The different alloys can be identified by handle color.

There are a few or more other German manufacturers including Freund, which is distributed by some places in the US.

In France Edma, mostly known for their hand, Supercoup, sheet metal nibbler, is a manufacturer.
Facom in France also manufactures the forged single pivot snips, as does Bahco, whose snips are also manufactured in France, possibly from the Same supplier as Facom. SAM also supplies similar snips.
England used to have Gilbow, but while the Gilbow brand is still around, the snips are manufactured elsewhere.

Most of the above manufacturers also now manufacture compound leverage aviation snip designs as well.

As for the annoying spring design, with the separate spring, it’s pretty much standard on every manufactuers single pivot design snips.
Some of the manufactuers don’t even supply the springs, like Facom.
Others like Stubai offer the springs as a separate item that can be purchased and installed, although some dealers will just include a spring with purchased snips.
It’s really annoying when snips don’t come with the springs, because standard borg springs don’t seem to be the proper size, and the separate springs don’t seem to be as readily available as the snips.

The bigger concern for me is how easily they will cut, and if I'm gonna immediately realize the importance of the compound action it DOESN'T have. NWS does have some of the default style - but I figured that's just "more of the same" so not really much different then what's for sale for $15. I like the idea of the thin handles in that typical NWS grip with the style I picked. They do have different lengths available, and I went with the shorter set : about 10" - so we'll see how they do. Anything bigger and it's becoming too big of a tool for me to try and carry. I'll see if I'm gonna buy another pouch for my belt. I wanna keep all "my stuff" completely and OBVIOUSLY separate from what tweedle Dee and tweedle Dumb pick up to use - even though I keep my belt in one of the bucket trucks instead of my own work vehicle. Too annoying to carry it back and forth - I gave up on that.

Who knows - but it's gonna be obvious on the first use if I just wasted $30 or not. If they are on par with the old WISS than at least I can tell myself - ok the blades are harder and will hold up longer,. But on the first cut if my hand really struggles, they will likely never be picked up again.. the gambles of an internet purchase lol..

At least it's not a $1000+ HDMI cable some people are buying, thinking it's gonna make their tv magical.
 
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kctyphoon

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I bought a pair from KC tools a few months ago. I don't use tin snips much, but I thought they cut better than the Wiss and Stanley fatmax tin snips I have used in the past.

Ya know - and I just friggin realized I have two 10% off codes for them from my last 2 NWS purchases. Lol

Thanks - I was just hoping to hear someone say they weren't worse.. so, new toy coming..
 
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tarbellb

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I bought them about 4 months ago while on sale as well.

I have both the Berlin style (straight cuts), a Berlin left, and a Compound Right, all Elora brand which look to be rebranded NWS.

So far, they have been excellent. I cut mostly 18-22g stainless, aluminum, carbon steel. The edges have held up very well. The spring feature for me has actually been a benefit because it allows to the snips to compact more in my mobile kit. Placing the spring in before use has not been a factor.

That being said, I dont use mine much, maybe a couple times a week. Im definitely not a tiner with tons of experience using all types of snips. But the quality is excellent, and the design is nice and smooth, and seem more nimble.
 
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kctyphoon

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Amazon order arrived today. What came is completely different than the picture on all the adds.. aside from just not looking “as cool” as the picture, the grips are different - and thats one reason why i wanted the NWS was for the textured Grips.. everyone else is out of stock - so I’m assuming i got an old model.. i just ordered another pair from Kctool, out of stock till the 20th.. so i guess I’m waiting a while..

Almost placed an order from chadstoolbox - but there was NOTHING to denote if an item was in stock or not, and after remembering what some people have posted on there about them, and reading other reviews of the website - i opted to wait for Kctool..

This is what i was expecting -
327995-FE-E3-D4-43-E1-B4-FC-10636-E0-A7-BCD.png


And this is what came - just with black lettering..
BFB1-B9-DF-09-C3-4-BE0-9143-3-A34-CFD4-EEE1.png


I want what was in the picture for the listing - cause they look a lot nicer, and i want the textured grips like my other NWS has. Good chance imma wind up with both cause I’m not very good at returning things.
 
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tarbellb

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Bummer. I will have to check my pair to see what they look more like, but I believe my Elora are the upper photo.

Interested to see what your thoughts are after using them, I dont have much to reference to.
 

neophyte

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Amazon order arrived today. What came is completely different than the picture on all the adds.. aside from just not looking “as cool” as the picture, the grips are different - and thats one reason why i wanted the NWS was for the textured Grips.. everyone else is out of stock - so I’m assuming i got an old model.. i just ordered another pair from Kctool, out of stock till the 20th.. so i guess I’m waiting a while..

Almost placed an order from chadstoolbox - but there was NOTHING to denote if an item was in stock or not, and after remembering what some people have posted on there about them, and reading other reviews of the website - i opted to wait for Kctool..

This is what i was expecting -
327995-FE-E3-D4-43-E1-B4-FC-10636-E0-A7-BCD.png


And this is what came - just with black lettering..
BFB1-B9-DF-09-C3-4-BE0-9143-3-A34-CFD4-EEE1.png


I want what was in the picture for the listing - cause they look a lot nicer, and i want the textured grips like my other NWS has. Good chance imma wind up with both cause I’m not very good at returning things.

The bottom snips, with the smooth coated grips, are the classic design for that type of snip. The design has probably been around for 70 years if not substantially longer. The snips should work well, but I understand you griping about not getting the style pictured sbove, especially if you wanted the finger grooves.
 
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kctyphoon

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Just an update. Placed an order from KC Tool (backordered) right after my post for another pair, with a note attached that i wanted what was pictured. KC Tool actually sent me an email telling me that they had just received a shipment, and that the 225mm models are not what is pictured in the ad, and that the style pictured is only the 250mm and 300mm models. So they offered to replace the 225mm model i ordered before they filled the order, with the 250mm model, and refund the difference since the 250mm is actually a little cheaper.. very happy that someone actually took the time to clarify that and go out of their way for a small customer.

Fun fact - got my new NWS diagonals a few weeks ago from KC Tool and I LOVE them. Guy at work says “can i borrow your cutters for a second?”.. i say sure.. hand them over.. i hear “bang bang bang” - and get my new cutters handed back with the grips ripped at the bottom from being used as a hammer.. nice right.. not to worry - changes at work coming and i will just order another set after that happens.

Ive placed 3 orders with KC Tools now for my NWS stuff and all have been great.. And YES KC TOOL - i did notice that you visited my profile page :)
 
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kctyphoon

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Arrived today - very happy.. exactly what i wanted.. thanks again.

just spent an hour online looking for a leather pouch that looks like it will hold them and attach to my belt like my other pouches.. wanted something Klein but couldnt find one that looked like it would work.. just ordered this one off Amazon. I think it’ll be fine.

Task Tools T77286 Tradesperson's Leather Snip/Pliers Holder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A479QO0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Now i gotta find some neatsfoot oil...

Any more NWS stuff i order is coming from KC Tool..
 
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kctyphoon

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Just ****.. lol. Worth the wait.
Only thing NWS needs to do is make the perches or foundation where the spring meets the handles on the 250mm model a little bit wider. The thin handle kinda invites the spring to roll over to one side or the other and get a little jammed up while closing them. I adjusted the tension on the little retainer spring just a bit, and so far so good. That one little area should really have a wider, flatter surface just for spring to seat

5-B7590-C3-4-FE6-43-C3-B86-D-DF6-BBE69-DA3-C.jpg


To prevent this from happening
7331163-C-AF60-40-BD-A163-B932-B1128-E58.jpg


Compared to the others
C6-B41628-DF20-47-A5-9-BA0-CDC74123-FB63.jpg
 
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kctyphoon

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FINALLY got a chance to use these things.. they cut friggin awesome.. very happy. Added to my tool belt.. the spring isnt perfect since it doesnt have a flat base to seat onto. A little piece of JB weld might resolve that..
 

tarbellb

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Funny, I just had a chance to run mine through a job cutting 22g bonderized steel sheet. Lots of fine cuts, couple inches maybe, notching.

While they do cut nicely, my compound action version are MUCH easier on the hands.

I agree the spring is a bit annoying, works, and folds out the way, but not as nice again, as the newer compound action snips.
 
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kctyphoon

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Funny, I just had a chance to run mine through a job cutting 22g bonderized steel sheet. Lots of fine cuts, couple inches maybe, notching.

While they do cut nicely, my compound action version are MUCH easier on the hands.

I agree the spring is a bit annoying, works, and folds out the way, but not as nice again, as the newer compound action snips.

Yeah your YMMV. I'm not exactly using mine to cut sheet metal.. the wiss cutters I'd normally use work fine but the action seems to bind up after time, and someone will ALWAYS find a way to break one of the tips off. I've been on a NWS kick anyway.

I just swapped the grips on my Irwin branded NWS lineman pliers (I have different NWS lineman too) over to the Klein replacement grips. Much better..
 
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