Sheet metal shears

Sheet metal shears: everything you need to know

Tin snips and power shears are used for cutting wires and metal sheets, making edges of a workpiece straight, etc. The working parts of these tools have sharp steel blades which allow making precise cuts producing as little debris as possible.

What are the types of tin snips and power shears?

• Tin snips. These tools are powered by human force only. Most of them are fitted with a lock, and with a spring mechanism that amplifies the effort. With the help of tin snips, you can cut, for example, non-ferrous alloy sheets with the thickness of 1.5 mm and less.
• Power shears. Powerful high performance devices operated by a built-in motor. These tools can be connected to the mains or have a battery. Suitable for processing metal workpieces with the thickness of up to 5 mm, as well as for parts made of composite materials. Power shears allow to cut fast without much effort.

Depending on the type of processing to be performed, these electric tools can be divided into sheet metal shears, nibblers and straight shears. Sheet metal shears are intended for cutting flat workpieces beginning from the edge only. Nibblers are used for making holes by pressing out the material at any place of the processed surface. Using straight shears, you can both cut and perforate sheets even in hard-to-reach places. When in use, they follow the required cutting path and can adapt to the curved surface.

Tin snips also differ from each other by various characteristics:

• Type of blades. Apart from straight ones, there are curved cutting elements for making curved cuts and rounded edges of a workpiece, and there are also circle ones for cutting holes.
• By the way they are made: In the catalogues, it is possible to find forged or cast items.
• Length. It can be either 175 mm or 350 mm. Longer tools are usually used when dealing with thick workpieces, while short ones are good for tight spaces.

Tips on using tin snips and power shears.

Use the tools according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and observe the safety precautions. Put on protective gloves and goggles. You should remember that electric tools feature a limited period of continuous work which is 10–15 minutes, as a rule.

Fix the workpiece securely. Otherwise, you may deflect from the desired cutting path. Don’t touch the edges of the processed material: there’s a risk of getting injured.

You shouldn’t use dull tools. This will have a negative effect on the quality of the job and the service life of the devices. It is recommended to avoid working in dusty areas and rooms with high humidity.

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