Does (or why not) HF make an electric nibbler?

[guy48065]

I must have clicked on an infomercial for a drill-powered sheetmetal nibbler because now everywhere I go on the web I see the ad for it
It actually could be useful to me--but it's not something I need often, or would pay much money for. And I certainly wouldn't want it to be an awkward drill-powered accessory. Which brings me to:

Why doesn't Harbor Freight make a corded nibbler? Did they ever? Or have I missed it in the store & catalogs?

 

[zendriver]

Harbor freight corded power tools are "the work of the devil"!

Maybe their market research says there's not a big demand for them, plus they do sell an air powered model, which makes it easier for them to sell another air compressor.

I did a quick search of competitors models and most of them looks like their price from 300 bucks and up. Ouch!

Could be a good opportunity for "Hercules beats .............."


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[paramud]

https://www.harborfreight.com/power...auge-4-amp-heavy-duty-metal-shears-62213.html

This one?
I have it, it works great.

 

[ndnchf]

https://www.harborfreight.com/power...auge-4-amp-heavy-duty-metal-shears-62213.html

This one?
I have it, it works great.

That's a shear, not a nibbler. I have that shear and the HF air powered nibbler. they both work well within their limitations. But I too would prefer an electric nibbler just to avoid dragging out the bulky air hose.

 

[malibu101]

That's a shear, not a nibbler. I have that shear and the HF air powered nibbler. they both work well within their limitations. But I too would prefer an electric nibbler just to avoid dragging out the bulky air hose.

Just saying....
Losing the bulk of an air hose will increase the bulk/weight of the tool itself.
Normally air tools are lighter and smaller than an electric tool.

Although electric can go anywhere without being tied to an air source.

 

[neophyte]

I must have clicked on an infomercial for a drill-powered sheetmetal nibbler because now everywhere I go on the web I see the ad for it
It actually could be useful to me--but it's not something I need often, or would pay much money for. And I certainly wouldn't want it to be an awkward drill-powered accessory. Which brings me to:

Why doesn't Harbor Freight make a corded nibbler? Did they ever? Or have I missed it in the store & catalogs?

If you check Ebay or maybe amazon, there are electric “import” nibbler available, but there still $150 - $250, and you have to make sure the nibblers are 110-120v. Presumably Harbor Freight might be able to due better if they offered a model or two, but nibblers are still specialty tools, and even from mainstream professional tool companies they tend to be expensive, outside of specialty tool suppliers or industrial supply companies. Air nibblers for lighter gauge sheet metal, and the drill adapters are much more common.

 

[bimmer1980]

I bought a Makita electric nibbler for a sheet metal project I was working on.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-5-Amp-16-Gauge-Nibbler-JN1601/203162029

The Makita is similar to some of commerical higher end models, i.e Kett, in that the tooling is shapped so you can cut corrugated sheet metal.

I think I paid about $150 (maybe $200 at the time) at homedepot.com for the Makita.

It has been well worth the money.

I also have one of the Bad Dog Tools drill adapter nibblers.... rather a pain in the rear to use.....

 

[Knotgoalie]

I recall that in the car audio trade in the 70s~80s we used Bosch electric nibblers and I don't ever remember a breakdown.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Bite the bullet and get a Bosch. Used Switzerland on ebay can be hunted for reasonable prices.

Fyi...I'm bias, have 3, love them. Had other brands, sold them.

Also, what gauge you need? 14,16,18?

Or bite a big bullet and get a Modern, lol. I have one that does 3/16" plate.

 

[WWheeler]

We've used the same Milwaukee 6880 every day at work in a 24/7 shop for more than a decade to cut stainless material >2mm and it never fails to amaze. It's never been serviced or replaced, with exception of the power cord, which has been modified to be about 4x as long as stock. We don't call it a 'nibbler'. Its 5S label where it's stored when not in use says "material ripper" which is waaay more apropos. I have no idea what it cost, but it's worth more than that. If HF has/had one I'd bet 2 weeks pay it wouldn't last past the first use if it could even get a bite on material that thick, which I'm pretty sure it wouldn't.

 

[guy48065]

If you check Ebay or maybe amazon, there are electric “import” nibbler available, but there still $150 - $250...

I don't understand why they are so expensive. Electric "universal" motor, 5-6 amps, reciprocating action like a jigsaw, jigging a hardened piece of drill rod thru an anvil...and costs 5X or more what a comparable jigsaw costs.

 

[rlitman]

Bite the bullet and get a Bosch. Used Switzerland on ebay can be hunted for reasonable prices.

Fyi...I'm bias, have 3, love them. Had other brands, sold them.

Also, what gauge you need? 14,16,18?

Or bite a big bullet and get a Modern, lol. I have one that does 3/16" plate.

I've got the Fein 16 gauge and Bosch 14 gauge. Both are excellent.

I don't understand why they are so expensive. Electric "universal" motor, 5-6 amps, reciprocating action like a jigsaw, jigging a hardened piece of drill rod thru an anvil...and costs 5X or more what a comparable jigsaw costs.

Yeah, I don't get it either. Probably just a matter of supply and demand and economics of scale.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Also, there's different style of cut. Rectangular, moon shape, maybe others???

The moon shape is more geared toward fast curves etc.

Anyone know of a good write up on the differences? I'm on my cell phone and it's too hard to do that type of research right now.

 

[Maui]

The Milwaukee 6880 nibbler is available at Home Depot. It costs in the neighborhood of $1000.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-4-Amp-10-Gauge-Nibbler-6880/100609456

Maui

 

[neophyte]

I don't understand why they are so expensive. Electric "universal" motor, 5-6 amps, reciprocating action like a jigsaw, jigging a hardened piece of drill rod thru an anvil...and costs 5X or more what a comparable jigsaw costs.

Compared to jigsaws, nibblers are a ‘niche’ tool, which means low production numbers and generally higher prices.

Jigsaws for instance are pretty much used by everybody. Professional woodworkers use them, professional metalworkers use them, general fabricators use them, you can get blades not only for wood and metal, but also for a number of different types of plastics, for foam, for leather, for cardboard, for cast iron, for ceramic materials, etc. Schools use them, homeowners who like to do crafts, or just want a saw own them. Etc.

Nibblers, and other power shears, are mostly only used by professionals, who routinely need to cut sheet metal, wire mesh, or certain types of plastic sheeting or laminates. This narrows the tools use roofers, sheet metal fabricators, automotive use, heating and cooling duct work, and a small group of other trades. Even in the trades such as sheet metal fabrication, a lot of tradesman don’t own a nibbler or power shear.