These metal shears are deal for any shop garage or hobbyist requiring precision metal cutting.
Cutting 18 gauge sheet metal.
Guide the top blade of your snips along the line to complete the cutout.
For a reference on gauge thickness see our gauge chart.
Thin gauge steel like sheet metal can be cut with a large variety of tools.
You can go up a couple thickness with aluminum 20 gauge steel vs.
Accurate and easy to operate this 120 volt powered metal shear features hardened blades for durability and long life.
If it say 18 gauge that really is the limit.
You can damage the tool using it with heavier gauge material.
Start the curved cut by nibbling at the gash left by the screwdriver with the tip of offset compound snips until you can slip the lower blade under the metal.
Aviation snips and tin snips are a common method of cutting thin sheet metal for hobbyists.
It may not be an obvious choice but fitted with the right blade a circular saw is a great metal cutting tool.
Steel thickness is referred to as gauge the smaller the number of gauge the thicker the steel.
In our test it cut through rebar like a hot knife through butter.
Pay attention to the gauge rating for your tools.
Thicker steel like pipes tubes and plates may require the use of power saws and torches.
These tools are good for cutting soft sheet metals such as tin aluminum and brass.
Thick using a ferrous metal cutting blade.
For auto body work or any other metal cutting project this metal shear makes smooth and clean cuts in aluminum plastic or sheet metal as thick as 18 gauge.
You probably wont find snips which are capable of cutting above 18 gauge mild steel.
18 gauge aluminum but the opposite is true for stainless.
Also referred to as aviator snips these scissor like hand tools cut sheet metal materials up to 18 gauge in thickness accurately without leaving a ragged bent edge as the finished product.
Additionally the type of metal you are cutting make a big difference.
Hot metal chips will fly everywhere.
Then cut a gradual curve until you reach the curved line.
You can cut mild steel up to about 3 8 in.
They have short powerful jaws that can cut through 18 gauge sheet metal as well as the seams on sheet metal ducts.
