Midwest Snips

[gdocktor3]

In Sears the other day I saw a set of Midwest aviation snips sitting on the clearance shelf. Had a big American Flag on the package and they looked to be pretty decent. I already have a set of Wiss snips I barely use, so I didn't splurge on them, but was impressed with the overall appearance. I finally had the chance to research them and I like what I see. It didn't say on the package and I have seen those fraud American flags and USA logo's before, but they are indeed made in the USA. Midwest Tool and Cutlery Company (Midwest) began manufacturing metal cutting snips and related hand tools in Sturgis, Michigan in 1945. Today, Midwest is a privately held Michigan corporation that operates manufacturing facilities in Sturgis, MI; Kalkaska, MI; and Caledonia, OH.

Anyone ever heard anything about them or use their products? How do they compare to Wiss as far as durability and price?

Check em out http://midwestsnips.com/

 

[plinker]

Last I knew ( from a few years ago), Wiss went offshore. Midwest is a high quality brand.

 

[winlinmac]

Durability and Price? Better than Wiss any day
Midwest's snips are way better. smoother and sharper than Wiss. Think of the Midwest as high leverage, minimal effort to cut.

Wiss is Made in the USA again, but quality is not there especially ever since they were acquired by Apex Tool Group.

 

[Woodtick]

Nicest snips I have used. I have a set for the shop and one for the work tool bag. I highly recommend.
Rich

 

[metaldad]

they're the best i have, and i have alot of different brands

 

[Olafur]

I like mine. Great tools.

 

[rlitman]

Durability and Price? Better than Wiss any day
Midwest's snips are way better. smoother and sharper than Wiss. Think of the Midwest as high leverage, minimal effort to cut.

Wiss is Made in the USA again, but quality is not there especially ever since they were acquired by Apex Tool Group.

+1 to all of this. Midwest is better than Wiss hands down.

 

[Kpaige]

If you think these are good snips try Malco aircraft snips you will never go back.

 

[signcrafter]

Menards carries them and when menards has one of their sales I usually pick up another midwest snips. I have about 6 of them now in straight, left, and right. I used wiss for years and midwest is a lot better, especially what you can buy off the shelfs these days.

 

[gdocktor3]

If you think these are good snips try Malco aircraft snips you will never go back.

I don't doubt that one bit. All Malco tools are high quality.

 

[gdocktor3]

Durability and Price? Better than Wiss any day
Midwest's snips are way better. smoother and sharper than Wiss. Think of the Midwest as high leverage, minimal effort to cut.

Wiss is Made in the USA again, but quality is not there especially ever since they were acquired by Apex Tool Group.

I like the low profile torx bolts on the Midwest snips. The Wiss have those big bulky hex heads that get stuck on everything.

 

[TS3g]

Midwest's are great snips. I'm still partial to my Malco Max2000s though

 

[Parabellum]

Saw them at my local sears today, Never heard of them til now

 

[winlinmac]

Midwest is the OEM for Craftsman's USA Snips. The Craftsman Evolv (economy version) is Made in China and not made by Midwest.

Saw them at my local sears today, Never heard of them til now

 

[Vette10R]

I installed HVAC for 5 years, I've used Midwest and Wiss and a few others. I would take Midwest over Wiss any day of the week!

 

[Air21]

Real Tool Reviews did a REVIEW and a COMPARISON that sold me on Midwest snips. With my student discount they were 20% off at SEARS but I had to get the straight offsets from Zoro. They do everything advertised whenever I ask. I just wish I had to use them more!

 

[winlinmac]

I'm sure there's another thread like this on the forum, but hey, fresh feedback is always welcomed.

Check out Midwest's serrated long cut snips too. Definitely worth adding to your apparatus.

 

[duke5572]

Midwest is good stuff. I didn't realize this was an "unknown" brand. I've been using their aviation snips, tin snips, and sheet metal working tools for years doing aluminum work on residential exteriors.

Excellent point about the rivet vs. giant bolt on the snips. Tears up my tool belt and mars painted aluminum at certain angles.

And yes, Malco is also an excellent brand.

 

[gdocktor3]

Midwest is good stuff. I didn't realize this was an "unknown" brand. I've been using their aviation snips, tin snips, and sheet metal working tools for years doing aluminum work on residential exteriors.

Excellent point about the rivet vs. giant bolt on the snips. Tears up my tool belt and mars painted aluminum at certain angles.

And yes, Malco is also an excellent brand.

That's what they do. Snips, shears, seamers and other cutting tools. Most people don't use them all day every day as an HVAC tech or Aviation tech does, so they grab the most common, readily available. Usually that's Wiss. I never saw Midwest anything sold anywhere until this weekend at Sears. I wish they made more tools like Malco does.

 

[LB-1911]

I never saw Midwest anything sold anywhere until this weekend at Sears.

They have been around for awhile.

05-16-2013

Almost all of the Midwest branded snips at Sears appeared on clearance today when I went into the store. This included all of their tinner style snips and a good amount of their aviation style snips. If you've been wanting some, better go by and ****** them up while you can. After that you'll have to order them from epsteins or amazon or something... Just a heads up.

 

[Tellingthem]

Check out the Midwest knifti-cut. Great little utility snips/scissors. Use them all the time on straps and banding.

 

[Jim C.]

Anyone know who makes snips for Snap On? Is it Midwest??

Jim C.

 

[ecotec]

Check out the Midwest knifti-cut. Great little utility snips/scissors. Use them all the time on straps and banding.

I use mine all the time. They are great and cheap.

For snips, I stepped up to Malco's and never looked back.

 

[dr_clyde]

Malco is also my personal favorite. Although I do have a few pair of Wiss and Midwest floating around that get used occasionally.

Pity Apex ruined Wiss. They used to be good.

 

[Jim C.]

Anyone know who makes snips for Snap On? Is it Midwest??

Jim C.

Thanks, but I was just asking who makes snap on aviation snips.

 

[dr_clyde]

Thanks, but I was just asking who makes snap on aviation snips.

Did you just quote your own question?

 

[Jim C.]

Did you just quote your own question?

Yes I did. I asked who makes aviation snips for Snap On. In response you told me who makes your favorite snips. Your answer had nothing to do with my question. Sorry I didn't ask the question you wanted to answer.

Jim C.

 

[dr_clyde]

Yes I did. I asked who makes aviation snips for Snap On. In response you told me who makes your favorite snips. Your answer had nothing to do with my question. Sorry I didn't ask the question you wanted to answer.

Jim C.

Sorry, I was responding to the OP of the thread. I didn't realize your question was directed at me in particular. I didn't realize you had revived a thread to ask a different question.

 

[KnurledNut]

Anyone know who makes snips for Snap On? Is it Midwest??

Jim C.

Yes.

 

[tjpavlov]

I'm sure there's another thread like this on the forum, but hey, fresh feedback is always welcomed.

Check out Midwest's serrated long cut snips too. Definitely worth adding to your apparatus.

What are serrated snips used for?

 

[Jim C.]

Yes.

Thanks for answering my question.

 

[Parrothead]

Well here I thought I was going to be the oddball by saying I liked the Midwest snips better than Wiss. Turns out almost everyone agrees.

 

[captain14]

There was a thread hear over the winter about taking the online Midwest University courses.
Simple info about their cutters and then take a test, and choose a prize.

Link:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345161

 

[rlitman]

What are serrated snips used for?

Good on plastic that wants to slip through the blades otherwise.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Until now, I never heard of Midwest snips. I'm still using older Wiss snips, although not often. When it's time to replace, I'll have to check out Midwest.

This many tool people can't be wrong

 

[atlm]

I know this is an older thread, but I recently picked up the set of Midwest offset aviation snips pictured in the first post, and I can't believe how much better and easier they cut than my other snips (Ridgid, Evolve, and HF).

Odd that they were on clearance 2 years ago. Sears is still selling them, and has them in their Black Friday flyer for $24.99, which is way cheaper than anywhere else.

After using them for a while, I happened to see the video that's posted above:

That video is like a playback of my experiences, except missing the ****** parts where my knuckles get cut with the sheet metal edge using the non-offset snips, and the sheet metal edge getting messed up dragging across the hex bolts on the other snips.

Midwest is good stuff, and still made in the USA!

 

[dnschmidt]

Midwest is the best there is in my opinion.

 

[davethorik]

I have a set of these, was impressed and these are a gift for my mom. They can cut tissue paper on up. Scissor-tin snip hybrids. I also own qty 2 Knifti-Cuts.
Good stuff.

MWT-6716AS with a 20" extension 1/2 dr

 

[ChrisLS8]

They also rebrand for Channellock which I use the offset rights at work and love them, cut 16ga like butter

 

[bwringer]

Nice to see them on the shelf at Menard's, too.