ajchien
Well-known member
I've got a pair of vintage tin snips that dont cut nearly as well as I'd like them to. How do you guys go about sharpening them?
Sharpening tin snips
- Thread starter ajchien
- Start date
mdbeck1
Well-known member
Get an old Coca Cola bottle. Use the tin snips to try to "cut" the nick off of it. It sounds goofy but it works.
It also works on SWMBFAO's scissors.
littletoes
Well-known member
Drawfiling is how there were intended to be sharpened.
That is, you clamp them in a vise, and pull a file across it edge-ways. I think if you do a "search" on the net, you might find a pic or two.
Its how I was taught.
That is, you clamp them in a vise, and pull a file across it edge-ways. I think if you do a "search" on the net, you might find a pic or two.
Its how I was taught.
Fordman7795
Well-known member
If used correctly you should never have to sharpen snips. More than likely they just need to be adjusted. PM me if youd like to know the proper way to adjust them
AmickRacing
Well-known member
The larger pattern snip style aren't too bad to sharpen and adjust. Once you do that it's amazing how dull they really were.
I wish there was a way to sharpen (and have them work properly) offset snips tho. Or is there a way that I've missed?
I wish there was a way to sharpen (and have them work properly) offset snips tho. Or is there a way that I've missed?
Provincial
Well-known member
I have a pair of Wiss aviation snips that I bought at Boeing Surplus 30 years ago. They obviously were resharpened numerous times because there is so little metal left. The metal removed was at the faces that slide together as they operate, not the "top" of the jaws. The finish of the resurfaced area looks like a cup wheel was used for the process. It would take a special fixture to hold the jaws for this, and the tool would have to be completely disassembled.
could you give me some info. It's hard to imagine something that cuts will never get dull.
but I don't really know much
mkat1951
Well-known member
I work with tin snips on a daily basis and I find more often than not it's the adjustment of the blades (how close the blades are to each other) that lead to poor cuts. What I usually do is adjust them and then tack the nut to the bolt to keep them from coming loose again, I find that once they've been readjusted they seem to come loose quite easily. Not that this has anything to do with fixing your old snips, but whenever I buy a pair of new snips I always take along a piece of metal to test them out, you'd be surprised at how many pairs are not right from the factory.
metaldad
Well-known member
AmickRacing
Well-known member
g'morning amick!
i see your here also.
My addictions are quite consuming lol
Could someone post the correct way to adjust them?
mkat1951
Well-known member
The way I usually adjust my aviation snips is just by testing them on a piece of metal. You should be able to cut very thin pieces off the edge without it binding or folding over the metal, trial and error I guess. Maybe there might be a better way but this always works for me. Pattern snips I usually just try and get them close with out binding.
Fordman7795
Well-known member
The way to adjust them is to close them and latch em shut. Then tighten the bolt between the blades. After its tight enough to where they dont open, open the latch and SLOWLY loosen the bolt until they pop open. At that point the blades are as close as possible without catching and will cut the best.
mrbreezeet1
Banned
Sounds like your talking about aviation snips then, right?
I pictured the bigger ones from the OP, ones more like Scissors but with short blades?
Good to know though, I will have to try that.
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AZ_Catskinner
Well-known member
An old machinist taught me to hit the cutting surfaces with an India stone from time to time. They do tend to get some asperities on the blades with time, and knocking them off will improve performance.
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
I figured the OP was talking aviation tin snips, as the scissors type tools I normally call shears. For shears, the Craftsman shears I have have full replacable blades that bolt in. For my Wiss V10 shears like these:
http://www.hardwareandtools.com/Ape...s-10-1-4-Inch-23-Gauge-Tin-Snips-6898423.html
I just send them out to my local scissors and knife shop to get sharpened.
I am interested in this thread as i have a 15 yo pair of Craftsman aviation snip that have a few slight gouges/dings in the blade edge likely from the previous owners misuse that i would love to figure out how to get out and get he blade edge smooth again.
mrbreezeet1
Banned
I bet you could carefully file them with a fine single cut mill file.
toolmaker1
Well-known member
Sorry for the confusion, the snips/shears I am talking about look like this (not mine, just copied from eBay)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/P-C-1322-12...aultDomain_0&hash=item5d2f611ff5#ht_500wt_823
http://www.ebay.com/itm/P-C-1322-12...aultDomain_0&hash=item5d2f611ff5#ht_500wt_823
mrbreezeet1
Banned
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I would say this, along with lightly honing the flat surface, and also tighten the screw some.