Best aviation / tin snips ever

[Stearman456]

My Dad had a set when I was a kid (which I still have and sharpened just last week) and they are a nice, easy cutting set. Bluebirds had two styles in three sizes (7”, 10”, and 12.75”) and one style was for making straight cuts and the other for curved ones. I think what I like about them the most (besides being old and therefor cool) is their very good quality steel. I’ll bet that was the first time I’d sharpened those ones in ten years or so, and I do a fair bit of aircraft sheet aluminum work (although anything around here heavier than .032” usually gets cut on a floor shear). I just bought a couple of sets on eBay to fill the gaps in my collection and give me one in each size and style, and I probably averaged $20 or $25 per set. They all need an overhaul and a good sharpening but that’s nothing. If you‘re curious you won’t regret grabbing a set and with a little wire-wheeling, filing, and paint you’ll swear they’re brand new - just have a really close look at the open jaws before you buy them as lots of dummies out there seem to have been using them for cutting piano wire and ruined them.

 

[jrsavoie]

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.

Must have been a different time
The Midwest, Craftsman.and Snapon offset snips I had were allowed by Midwest and all the same

 

[tarbellb]

I just installed my own 22g lock seam metal roof this summer. Almost 30 squares worth between the shop and house.

I've done mostly architectural sheet metal, meaning higher precision and cleaner cuts required

The 90° angled head is by far my favorite, it doesn't work in every situation but often it's the most comfortable and controllable

The Midwest were slightly nicer then my Malcos

 

[nadogail]

The only good snips I have used were Wiss, I have used other snips that were probably worn out or discarded by others.

 

[californiamilleghia]

Is there a good website that shows how to "restore" old Wiss, Craftsman , Midwest etc tin snips

And how to tell if they were too screwed up and not worth restoring ,

I am normally cutting 18-20 G automotive sheet metal for old car rust repair.

Thanks

 

[SixThirtyTwo]

Lots of brands mentioned in this thread. Curiously, Channellock never seems to be mentioned in the context of snips. They seem reasonably priced for USA made aviation snips. Has anyone tried them?

Tin Snips for Pros | CHANNELLOCK®

From ductwork to sheet metal, CHANNELLOCK® Snips are forged from rugged alloy steel and proudly made in the USA. Discover offset, standard, and upright aviation snips built to work hard.

www.channellock.com

I was looking at Midwest's catalog and noticed that they have a "Special Hardness" variant of their left and right cutting snips:

Special Hardness Offset Left Cut Aviation Snip [MWT-SS6510L] - Midwest Tool

MIDWEST® Special Hardness Offset Left Cut Aviation Snips feature blades that are heat treated to Rc60 for cutting Stainless steel, Inconel, Titanium, and

midwestsnips.com

 

[KnurledNut]

Lots of brands mentioned in this thread. Curiously, Channellock never seems to be mentioned in the context of snips. They seem reasonably priced for USA made aviation snips. Has anyone tried them?

Tin Snips for Pros | CHANNELLOCK®

From ductwork to sheet metal, CHANNELLOCK® Snips are forged from rugged alloy steel and proudly made in the USA. Discover offset, standard, and upright aviation snips built to work hard.

www.channellock.com

I was looking at Midwest's catalog and noticed that they have a "Special Hardness" variant of their left and right cutting snips:

Special Hardness Offset Left Cut Aviation Snip [MWT-SS6510L] - Midwest Tool

MIDWEST® Special Hardness Offset Left Cut Aviation Snips feature blades that are heat treated to Rc60 for cutting Stainless steel, Inconel, Titanium, and

midwestsnips.com

Channellock are rebranded Midwest.
Special hardness are heat-treated to a higher HRC for cutting harder sheet goods like stainless steel.