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Tin snip suggestions?

Aspen RT

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Jan 4, 2011
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964
Location
kansas
I have been looking at some Lenox tin snips, but I just found out they are...... DUH....made in China. But after comparing some Midwest snips(USA), I'm not too impressed with them either. Anybody got any suggestions?
 
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Brad54

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Jun 13, 2006
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4,646
Wiss.

Personally, I like the right-turn and left-turn snips, and rarely ever have a use for the straight ones. You can cut a straight line with the ones designed for cutting a curve. My recommendation would be to save yourself some money and get just the two.
Then, with the money you saved, get a set of flate "glazier" pliers... they've got about a 3- or 4-inch wide, flat jaw, and are awesome for bending (or straightening/repairing) flanges.

-Brad
 
OP
A

Aspen RT

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 4, 2011
Messages
964
Location
kansas
Wiss.

Personally, I like the right-turn and left-turn snips, and rarely ever have a use for the straight ones. You can cut a straight line with the ones designed for cutting a curve. My recommendation would be to save yourself some money and get just the two.
Then, with the money you saved, get a set of flate "glazier" pliers... they've got about a 3- or 4-inch wide, flat jaw, and are awesome for bending (or straightening/repairing) flanges.

-Brad

Thanks for the info!
 

Fordman7795

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Mar 31, 2011
Messages
2,370
Location
Bay City, MI
I havent seen any wiss not made in the US but ill keep an eye out. Like someone else said keep em oiled and also make sure they are adjusted right. If you want me to explain the best way to adjust them PM me
 

AZ_Catskinner

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Jan 29, 2011
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1,354
Location
Morenci, AZ
You can't go wrong with Wiss.

I've got a set of Craftsman aviation snips that I bought for a quickie job a while back that are excellent quality as well and are actually USA made.
 

BBQ&Love

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Nov 12, 2010
Messages
1,061
Location
Texas
I can't believe no one has said Malco. I have found them to be better than anything Midwest, Wiss, or Lenox have on the market.
 

Monte

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Dec 23, 2008
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Location
Germany
NWS

www.nws-tools.de

066r_15_250.jpg

060_12_250.jpg
 

fr0mastaj

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Jan 18, 2010
Messages
1,265
Location
MA
I was going to post this same question... I looked at my local Lowes the other day and all the Wiss snips are made in China!! :( That was a real bummer... I guess i could always try another lowes.

So if it was between China made Wiss and USA made Midwest, i'd assume i should get Midwest? Sears sells midwest if I recall correctly...
 

Stephenw

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Dec 21, 2006
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Location
Utah
I was going to post this same question... I looked at my local Lowes the other day and all the Wiss snips are made in China!! :( That was a real bummer... I guess i could always try another lowes.

So if it was between China made Wiss and USA made Midwest, i'd assume i should get Midwest? Sears sells midwest if I recall correctly...

I was in Lowes yesterday and happened to look at the snips. All the Wiss I saw were still made in the USA.
 
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Roddy73

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Apr 28, 2011
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45
Location
Southern BC
I've never liked Wiss, I've used Gray brand snips daily for years. Their offsets with the heavy bottom blade cuts through a pittsburg seam like buttaaah:thumbup:!
 

5lima30

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Nov 11, 2010
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2,442
Location
Mountains of Western NC
+1 for Wiss! Mine are made in USA. BTW I use the old style straight cut with the loop handles way more than my Wiss aviation left or right snips. YMMV.
 

danski0224

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Jan 29, 2005
Messages
13,376
Location
Near Naperville, IL
Midwest. I think they also supply Sears- not 100% sure.

Tried German made Bessey, and did not like how the metal passed over the angular stationary jaw.

Klenks are still made in the USA.
 

mrobins297aaa

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Sep 20, 2010
Messages
3,283
Location
south east michigan
Wiss has been around forever, In the 70's/80's we had 2000 sheetmetal workers in our union and I never seen anybody use anything else but wiss.
there good but don't ever cut wire with them it'll put a nick in the jaws and then when you cut sheet metal it will leave a nick in the metal as you cut. I know there are a lot of other good brands out there now, probably some better.
 

catfish

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Joined
Oct 24, 2010
Messages
360
Location
Australia
cooper still makes some tin snips (identical to the USA wiss) in australia but i doubt the cooper australia factory will be open much longer, australian dollar is too strong these days.

Can you guys send a memo to Bernanke and tell him to stop printing his Bernanke bucks?
 

bulletpruf

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Nov 28, 2013
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10,939
Location
San Antonio
Fellas -

Bumping an old thread. Anyone have updated recommendations for tin snips? Looking for quality first, but prefer to get some bang for my buck. Your thoughts?

Thanks!

Scott
 

bulletpruf

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Nov 28, 2013
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10,939
Location
San Antonio
Looks like most folks recommend Wiss. I don't mind getting nice used stuff if I can find it. What about something like this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pre-owned-C...58821261?pt=US_Hand_Tools&hash=item3395ef518d

Then you have some new ones with skinny jaws like this -
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIB-WISS-V1...96366554?pt=US_Hand_Tools&hash=item43c0bc2cda

Or thicker jaws like this -
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIB-WISS-A1...87597641?pt=US_Hand_Tools&hash=item4614424349

And this style, which comes in left, right, and straight - probably made in China -
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WISS-M3R-AV...55082657?pt=US_Hand_Tools&hash=item3f221a35a1
 

noslin

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Joined
Dec 25, 2012
Messages
57
i use midwest aviation. you only need green and the reds. dont bother with the yellows. make sure they have the serrated jaw as it helps when cutting. i had a set of the Stubai brand and they were great as well. they are not as bulky as the midwest. compare the heads on the wiss vs midwest. i think the midwest head is a little more narrow then the wiss, which i like.


i like the aviations over standard due to using the standard and working with metal you have to keep prying away the waste and its a pita doing it all the time. the offset aviations make it a lot easier to cut as you dont have to pry away as much.

here is a little fyi on snips. http://blog.stortz.com/a-cut-above-snips-buying-guide/

if you use the snips all the time then they are a commodity item and are seldom replaced. you should be able to get the wiss or the midwest for about 15 to 19 each.
 

wniemann

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Nov 5, 2013
Messages
185
Menards has midwests for like 9.99 right now. I'll be picking up a set soon


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