Sheetmetal (Tin) snips 101

[mrobins297aaa]

^^^ this is true but for what I did I needed to close the snip all the way without having an "overbite". I tried to explain in the last paragraph of my above post.

Richard

i didn't mean that post to be directed at your post, it was just a general statement about cutting with tin snips.

 

[Tucko]

great thread outlaw, after being a tinnocker for 41 years before i retired 5 years ago you'd think i'd be able to add some good advice on snips and how to sharpen them but unfortunately when ever my snips got dull i just bought new ones. Funny i probably still have all of them. we mostly used wiss snips........although i know there are a lot of good brands out there now.

I have some older bull dogs, some even with the curved blades they were either my dad's or grandfathers not sure (they were both sheet metal workers).........I'll have to find them and take some pic's.

HA! I'm like you. I've got 25 years in the trade, and just can't get rid of my pile of greens and reds. Some are for loaning to apprentices (the dull, sprung ones), and some are for wire cutting when I'm in a pinch.
I need some new ones, and I'm done with Wiss, and tired of the Midwest...

 

[Tucko]

^^^ this is true but for what I did I needed to close the snip all the way without having an "overbite". I tried to explain in the last paragraph of my above post.

Richard

A good way to fix the overbite is to weld on some more material at the spots on the handle that come together, or the "stops" whatever they're called. Build these up a little so the handle can't close far enough to give you the overbite. Did mine 20 years ago, they still work great.

 

[Outlawmws]

This is why I still pick up older Wiss snips at yard sales. What I need is to get a source for the checking file used to put the "teeth" back on the blades after sharpening. I'm sure they are still out there, I just haven't looked yet...

 

[mrobins297aaa]

yeah i really never knew anybody that sharpened them, there was that unwritten rule about cutting wire with snips..........its never done unless you want to ruin them. and heaven forbit you should take someone elses snips and cut wire.
although i used to cut wire with my m5 little bulls.

 

[1950mercury]

Nice post hopefully some will post a how to sharpen aviation snips

 

[bonneyman]

Whatever you do, beware of "fish hooks"! They'll get ya every time!

 

[bareass172]

Thanks so much for this, I really enjoyed the read. It also opened my eyes to the fact that I had an old set of those Wiss #9's in my box and didn't even realize it. I didn't know much about snips except how to use them, and my dad snagged those #9's at an estate sale for $1 a couple years ago. Now I know and can appreciate them!

 

[rockinacummins]

Excellent information! Thanks!

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I am constantly cutting stove pipe for my dryer vents. I come out of the dryers at 6" and got out the building at 10". I also do a lot of crimping to make all these connections. I found the Weiss shears I have elevated in the pic to be the best.

 

[theknurl]

aviation snips;
used for cutting thicker materials
notching
cutting wire
they work for fish mouthing tubing
leaving stress risers on the edge of the cut

a couple of sets hang on the wall......visitors get to use them

for cutting straight;
Wiss #18, 13 3/4" long
Wiss #6 1/2, 16" long or the even bigger #7s

trimming;
PEXTO #15 Hawk Bills

cutting curves;
the basic all around Duck Bills 12 3/4" long any American brand will do they are pretty much the same

then its the exotics.....ones that cut right or left (the same pair)

my Uncle's 1927 H. Lembke from Berlin

my Father's 1928 Thuillier-LeFrants NOTHING will turn with them, Dad ordered them with tool steel blades, salesman said he was the only person that ever ordered the special blades

I have 8 pairs of Thuillier LeFrants, some with the colorcase still on them

then there are the custom made ones by Pete Peterman;
cut perfectly straight or turn ~1/4" radius left (only)
a set came up 6 months ago $549 BIN, they are worth it, but I have my Father's and Grandfather's

sharpening tin snips;
there are 2 types, just like sissors
the good ones with a bend and a twist in the blades and a cam behind the pivot point, even the big old Wiss straight cutting ones have a cam.....not much but its there


and the rest......you have to look where the wear is

putting "tooth" back on blades de-glaze the coarse wheel on a bench grinder and turn the stone with your fingers use the corner adjust the tool rest so you're only hitting the last 0.050-0.060"

 

[mrobins297aaa]

here's a few I have:

 

[mrobins297aaa]

here's something that every sheet metal layout man uses.

A circumference rule, if your not familiar with it you square down from the inch measurement and it gives you the circumference of that dia circle. ie if you square down from 8" on the rule you get 25.12............8 x 3.14=25.12
invaluable before calculators.

 

[theknurl]

mrobins297aaa;

Lufkin #95 4' steel rule

you should see all the info on the back side

 

[kapster]

After watching billsmetal youtube video "using tin snips" i bought a set of midwest aviation snips today. I got the standard ones, wondering now if i should have gotten the offset type that gets your hand up higher from the work. Whats the preferred type? I think the offset type are what I've used at work but my technique was so off it never went to good. I thought maybe the standard type might have a little more leverage? Might be wrong there.

 

[Outlawmws]

I don't think the operational leverage between them is significant. However, the angle you are likely to be using them can have considerable difference in what you are actually able to apply for pressure.

I also think you have more controls over the regulars than the offset, as your moving moment is greater than with the offsets where the moving moment is more of a twisting motion that a pulling of the grips side to side.

 

[kapster]

Cool, thanks outlaw! The control is enough of a reason for me to keep these and give them a try. We have offsets at work, should i need that style. I know ive had times where i had to reach into something and couldnt make the cut because of the offset jaws.

 

[toolmaven]

Found this thread and found it interesting. I have quite a few snips, most Wiss. I have Nos. 10, 9, and 8 curved. Most of the sizes in straight and universal. Also, the regular aviation snips. I also have a Pexto Hawk'sbill and two Wiss 9X scroll pivoters - which are amazing circle-cutters. My biggest is an old 39" tinsmith bench shear. I sometimes use that for straight cuts instead of my Beverly. I've never really taken pictures of my snips, except the 9x.

 

[bonneyman]

Dang, looking at all these pics makes me think I'm back in my dads old shop!

 

[plott hound]

nice collection of snips for sure.im a tin banger and have always used wiss products.however the quality of wiss snips has really tanked.i burn through 5-6 pairs of "reds" a year,absolute junk.have tried klenk,malco,milwaukee,and stanleys but none have the jaw shape I need for notching cleats and cutting holes.i need to find another brand to use buy cant seem to do so here in Canada.

 

[Cypherian]

Hand Metal Checking tools order some file chalk and a file cleaner too while your at it . :}

Cypher

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...ols/files/metal-checkering-files-prod488.aspx

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?dimensionids=9516

http://www.tools4schools.com/

http://northernprecisionsales.com/

 

[toolmaven]

Hey, Outlaw, If you revisit this old thread . . . You don't need a checkering file-and the blades may be too hard to file with even a $50 Swiss-made checkering file anyhow. Sharpen one blade with a few licks of a very coarse hand-held stone. I use a segment from a Blanchard grinder. Then, touch the inside with a 600 grit to remove burrs. The rough grind adequately mimics the serrations. Once, I carefully "dished" the inner surface of a badly nicked snip with a 4" angle grinder. I got lucky and matched the original contour and it cuts fine today.

 

[paulm12]

Outlaw: I just saw this thread, I have a few older pair of bench snips, for general use around the garage, and want to sharpen them up a bit. Just can't get myself to toss out and buy new. Thanks for the info.

 

[Rileysan]

Those are cool Toolmaven! First set I've seen, so another thing to watch for!

I saw this thread and knew I had to chime in. I found the same Wiss 9x snips that toolmaven has at a yard sale this past weekend. I knew they were something special so I snatched them up immediately. I paid $1 for these.

I love the stamped Wiss logo - which is new to me. I've only ever seen (read: noticed) the cast logos on my other Wiss snips.

Brian