Tin snips
Encyclopedia
Snips, also known as shears, are hand tool
s used to cut sheet metal
and other tough webs
. There are two broad categories: tinner's snips, which are similar to common scissors
, and compound-action snips, which use a compound lever
age handle system to increase the mechanical advantage
.
Other less common blade patterns include the circle pattern or curved pattern and the hawk's-bill pattern. Circle pattern snips have a curved blade and are used to cut circles. Hawk's-bill snips are used to cut small radii on the inside and outside of a circle. The shape of the blades allow for sharp turns without buckling the sheet metal. A common use is cutting holes in pipes.
Compound-action snips are also known as aviation snips because they were developed to cut aluminum in the construction of aircraft. They can handle aluminum up to 18 gauge, mild steel up to 24 gauge or stainless steel
up to 26 gauge. These type of snips have become the most popular because of the linkage
that increases the mechanical advantage without increasing the length of the snips. There are three cutting styles: straight cutting, left cutting, and right cutting. Straight cutting snips (generally have yellow colored soft grips) cut in a straight line and wide curves; left cutting snips (usually red) will cut straight and in a tight curve to the left; right cutting snips (usually green) will cut straight and in a tight curve to the right. These different cutting styles are necessary because metal is stiff and heavy and does not move out of the way readily when cutting around a curve. The respective styles move the material out of the way when cutting in the direction they are designed for. The blades are usually serrated
to prevent material slippage.
In addition to the configurations outlined below, there is also upright and long cut configurations. The upright snip has the blades rotated 90° from the handles. This configuration is more ergonomic and commonly used in tight spaces. The long cut snip has long blades that make it easier to make long straight cuts. These snips are commonly used on vinyl or aluminum siding
.
Standard compound-action snips are designed for cutting steel or softer materials; although the occasional use on stainless steel is not detrimental. For cutting through tougher
materials, such as inconel
and titanium
, special hard snips are available. They are similar in design to standard or offset aviation snips but have specially heat treated blades. These snips will have a different color handle to differentiate them from the other standard types.
Aviation snips are also commonly known as maille snips and sheet snips.
ing lengthwise. The snips have a three-piece jaw that has two side blades that slide against a central blade. This creates a 11/64 in wide strip that curls up along the cut. A compound lever
system is used to increase the mechanical advantage.
The bulldog-pattern is a blade pattern that has longer handles to increase the mechanical advantage of the snips. In tinner's snips this means the handles are extra long at 16 in (40.6 cm), and will have a mechanical advantage around 15:1. The compound-action bulldog-pattern, also known as a notch snips, has the ability to cut up to 16 gauge cold rolled sheet metal or multiple layers of sheet metal up to 0.062 in (0.15748 cm) thick.
Some snips have replaceable blades for when the blade becomes worn out. An added advantage to this is the ability to make the rest of the snips from a light weight material, usually aluminum. This helps to reduce fatigue
.
Hand tool
A hand tool is a device for performing work on a material or a physical system using only hands. The hand tools can be manually used employing force, or electrically powered, using electrical current...
s used to cut sheet metal
Sheet metal
Sheet metal is simply metal formed into thin and flat pieces. It is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and can be cut and bent into a variety of different shapes. Countless everyday objects are constructed of the material...
and other tough webs
Web (manufacturing)
A web is a long, thin, and flexible material. Common webs include foil, metal, paper, textile, plastic, and wire. Common processes carried out on webs include coating, plating, and laminating....
. There are two broad categories: tinner's snips, which are similar to common scissors
Scissors
Scissors are hand-operated cutting instruments. They consist of a pair of metal blades pivoted so that the sharpened edges slide against each other when the handles opposite to the pivot are closed. Scissors are used for cutting various thin materials, such as paper, cardboard, metal foil, thin...
, and compound-action snips, which use a compound lever
Lever
In physics, a lever is a rigid object that is used with an appropriate fulcrum or pivot point to either multiply the mechanical force that can be applied to another object or resistance force , or multiply the distance and speed at which the opposite end of the rigid object travels.This leverage...
age handle system to increase the mechanical advantage
Mechanical advantage
Mechanical advantage is a measure of the force amplification achieved by using a tool, mechanical device or machine system. Ideally, the device preserves the input power and simply trades off forces against movement to obtain a desired amplification in the output force...
.
Tinner's snips
Tinner's snips, also known as tinner snips or tin snips, are one of the most popular type of snips. They are defined by their long handles and short blades. They usually have extra wide jaws and are made of drop forged carbon steel. Depending on the size of the blade, tin snips can cut between 23 and 16 gauge cold rolled low-carbon steel. They can ranged in length from 7 inch long. There are two main types: straight-pattern and duckbill-pattern. Straight-pattern are best for straight cuts, but can handle gentle curves. Duckbill-pattern snips, also known as trojan-pattern snips, have blades that taper down from the pivot to the tip of the blades. The blade edges are also beveled to more easily cuts curves and circles or shapes. They are a lighter duty snip that can only cut up to 25 gauge mild steel.Other less common blade patterns include the circle pattern or curved pattern and the hawk's-bill pattern. Circle pattern snips have a curved blade and are used to cut circles. Hawk's-bill snips are used to cut small radii on the inside and outside of a circle. The shape of the blades allow for sharp turns without buckling the sheet metal. A common use is cutting holes in pipes.
Compound-action snips
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
up to 26 gauge. These type of snips have become the most popular because of the linkage
Linkage (mechanical)
A mechanical linkage is an assembly of bodies connected together to manage forces and movement. The movement of a body, or link, is studied using geometry so the link is considered to be rigid. The connections between links are modeled as providing ideal movement, pure rotation or sliding for...
that increases the mechanical advantage without increasing the length of the snips. There are three cutting styles: straight cutting, left cutting, and right cutting. Straight cutting snips (generally have yellow colored soft grips) cut in a straight line and wide curves; left cutting snips (usually red) will cut straight and in a tight curve to the left; right cutting snips (usually green) will cut straight and in a tight curve to the right. These different cutting styles are necessary because metal is stiff and heavy and does not move out of the way readily when cutting around a curve. The respective styles move the material out of the way when cutting in the direction they are designed for. The blades are usually serrated
Serrated blade
A serrated blade is a type of blade used on saws and on some knives or scissors. It is also known as a dentated, sawtooth, or toothed blade.A serrated blade has a cutting edge that has many small points of contact with the material being cut...
to prevent material slippage.
In addition to the configurations outlined below, there is also upright and long cut configurations. The upright snip has the blades rotated 90° from the handles. This configuration is more ergonomic and commonly used in tight spaces. The long cut snip has long blades that make it easier to make long straight cuts. These snips are commonly used on vinyl or aluminum siding
Siding
Siding is the outer covering or cladding of a house meant to shed water and protect from the effects of weather. On a building that uses siding, it may act as a key element in the aesthetic beauty of the structure and directly influence its property value....
.
Standard compound-action snips are designed for cutting steel or softer materials; although the occasional use on stainless steel is not detrimental. For cutting through tougher
Toughness
In materials science and metallurgy, toughness is the ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform without fracturing; Material toughness is defined as the amount of energy per volume that a material can absorb before rupturing...
materials, such as inconel
Inconel
Inconel is a registered trademark of Special Metals Corporation that refers to a family of austenitic nickel-chromium-based superalloys. Inconel alloys are typically used in high temperature applications. It is often referred to in English as "Inco"...
and titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
, special hard snips are available. They are similar in design to standard or offset aviation snips but have specially heat treated blades. These snips will have a different color handle to differentiate them from the other standard types.
Aviation snips are also commonly known as maille snips and sheet snips.
Pipe and duct snips
Pipe and duct snips, also known as double cut snips, are a subtype of compound-action snip used to cut stove pipe and ductDuct
A duct may refer to:* Duct , various ducts in anatomy and physiology* Duct , for transfer of air between spaces in a structure* Duct tape, a kind of adhesive tape* Ducted fan, motor for aircraft...
ing lengthwise. The snips have a three-piece jaw that has two side blades that slide against a central blade. This creates a 11/64 in wide strip that curls up along the cut. A compound lever
Compound lever
The compound lever is a simple machine operating on the premise that the resistance from one lever in a system of levers will act as power for the next, and thus the applied force will be amplified from one lever to the next . Almost all scales use some sort of compound lever to work...
system is used to increase the mechanical advantage.
Configurations
The following types of snips are available in different configurations. The first is the angle of the blades to the handles. If the handles are inline with the blades then the combination is known as a straight snips; if the handles are at an angle then it is known as an offset configuration. This design allows for the material to flow away from the blades when making long cuts, which is easier and safer than straight cutting snips.The bulldog-pattern is a blade pattern that has longer handles to increase the mechanical advantage of the snips. In tinner's snips this means the handles are extra long at 16 in (40.6 cm), and will have a mechanical advantage around 15:1. The compound-action bulldog-pattern, also known as a notch snips, has the ability to cut up to 16 gauge cold rolled sheet metal or multiple layers of sheet metal up to 0.062 in (0.15748 cm) thick.
Some snips have replaceable blades for when the blade becomes worn out. An added advantage to this is the ability to make the rest of the snips from a light weight material, usually aluminum. This helps to reduce fatigue
Fatigue (material)
'In materials science, fatigue is the progressive and localized structural damage that occurs when a material is subjected to cyclic loading. The nominal maximum stress values are less than the ultimate tensile stress limit, and may be below the yield stress limit of the material.Fatigue occurs...
.