vintage tin snips score

[Geurt]

Thanks to the GJ I now have an addiction scanning the internet for old tool scores. Received these two today and I'm exited! They feel reel solid, one has 'Germany' engraved. Maybe some refurbishment is needed before I use them. Anyone have any tips on sharpening or maintenance of snips like these?

 

[Outlawmws]

Is there a nut on the back side of the rivet? if not, then sharpening them may not be realisitic. Those are Either Early Aviations snips, or cheap imitatins. Aviation snips normally have a compound leverage mechanism, and can be dissasembled for sharpening.

Sharpening takes a fine grit grinder, preferably lower speed, and a special file to reset/re-cut the "teeth" so they grip the metal being cut. That file is normally either special order, or you have to go to a specialty store that supplies sheet metal workers their tools to get them. I've never seen that file in a regular hardware store, and I don't remember it's formal name off the top of my head... Checkering file?

 

[Outlawmws]

ps: I'm reasonably certain those are missing a slightly curved spring between the posts that stop the handle movement. Otherwise they will be a bear to handle in use.

 

[Monte]

Looks like Erdi (Bessey) snips

http://www.bessey.de/catalogue/cata...00000030002c21400020023&catMainFolder=cutting

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks like Erdi (Bessey) snips

http://www.bessey.de/catalogue/cata...00000030002c21400020023&catMainFolder=cutting

Your right, Never seen them in a non compound version, and I guess they don't use return springs. Must be a pain in the **** to use, and are probably for light metals or aluminum. Not a lot of leverage there for anything heavy.

 

[Monte]

german craftsmen have strong hands

 

[Outlawmws]

Guys that use snips all day long have a muscle linking the lower part of their thumb to the rest of the hand that don't even visibly exist ordinary people, even those that have fairly strong hands.

The strongest grip I ever saw on a guy was an older friend (Now deceased) that was a sheet metal worker from about 16 or 17 years old till the day he retired. I once had to break up a potential fight between him and his youngest son and he grabbed my fore arms as I got between them and held up my hands ready to stop him. I thought my arm bones were going to break as he squeezed and tried to get control of himself and glared over my shoulder at his son.

He could take bench snips and cut metal like it was paper, that I could not cut at all, or only by using my weight behind the snips.

 

[Geurt]

Thanks for the tips guys. They do look like them Bessey snips.

Today I finally had a chance to test them. Up until 1.0 mm. they cut very well although I'm sure that a set with the leverage like those aviation snips will be a good addition for some serious cutting. They are still pretty sharp and cut well so for now sharpening is not needed. I found a nice video about it.
Took them apart and cleaned them up with a brass wire wheel, then put some wax on the bare steel and some high pressure lube in the hinged joint. Think I will paint the handles of the left hand one red some day for easy indentification.

 

[jabberwoki]

german craftsmen have strong hands

From what?

 

[Outlawmws]

From what?

Lets not go there, there are wimin an kids aboard...

 

[Monte]

From what?

from using the snips and not from what you think

 

[WHT]

german craftsmen have strong hands

Without return springs, they must also have very sticky fingers.

 

[Monte]

Without return springs, they must also have very sticky fingers.

yes from the jelly on the breakfast bread