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Best sheetmetal cutting snips
I am looking for the best sheetmetal cutting snips. I do install in addition to service, and I make my own plenums in the field. Not to mention all the duct modification I do in the field.
None of my metal cutting tools seem to survive long. So any recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you.
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Wiss. The only way to go.
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yep... new pair every week.... ..
it was working.... played with it.... now its broke.... whats the going hourly rate for HVAC repair
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Wiss are definitely the standard, although I picked up some Milwaukee snips to try in the shop and they seem pretty good.
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I tried many different brands when I did sheetmetal work, and I found the Malco AVs and Max2000s were the best anywhere. The AVs were nice because the offsets were very low profile and they had a smooth operation. The Max2000s stayed very sharp, and the larger grips allowed you to cut heavy gauge metal. They had a longer cutting edge = more cuts with fewer strokes = less hand fatigue.
I never carried anything but a right and left offset and a pair of bulldogs for cutting slips and drives. I was doing large commercial sheetmetal installs, and I could get about 1-2 years out of my snips.
Don't pick the fly crap out of the pepper.
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When I was doing a lot of duct work new construction and replacement installs I would get about 3 months out of Irwin right offsets, though comfortable and worked good just didn't last. I got a pair of Lennox right offsets and won't get anything else ever again. Get about 12 to 15 months out of a pair. It helps a lot to only cut tin with your snips and get a pair of bulldogs for cutting the seems, slips and drives.
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1st of let me say I do not do install and rarely use snips.
However I do have a set for the few times a year I might need them.
They are just cheap ace hardware brand, but they just cut right
Through the sheet metal no issue. I don't foresee any complaints if
I did have to use them daily though.
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I worked as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer for 7 years, doing quite a bit of sheet metal in that time. I'm now a first year HVAC/R apprentice.
In my opinion, having used many different types, I found that for overall quality and Longevity, nothing outperformed Wiss
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Hands down midwest. They beat the hell out of wiss and I think all malco are are midwest snips with malco name on it.
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Midwest are the best. Most comfortable to use.
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+1 for Midwest.
They were even better when they were sold under the Craftsman name and had the lifetime warranty
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I used Midwest for a while and Malco for a while, then I got a pair of Lennox rights and left and will never go back to any other snips they are the best hands down IMO. For straight cutting I use Malco 12s
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Originally Posted by
OnlyOneKeano
I worked as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer for 7 years, doing quite a bit of sheet metal in that time. I'm now a first year HVAC/R apprentice.
In my opinion, having used many different types, I found that for overall quality and Longevity, nothing outperformed Wiss
I did A&P for a while back in the late 1970's... seemed the only real $$$ was graveyard at the airlines... something I did not like much.
I used to buy Wiss at HD... then tried Malco and use them. Have not tried Midwest yet.
One thing for sure; one gets a better price on tools online now-a-days. I tend to buy a bundle of stuff every few mos... rather than nickel and dime... usually get free shipping and sometimes a volume discount.
GA-HVAC-Tech
Your comfort, Your way, Everyday!
GA's basic rules of home heating and AC upgrades:
*Installation is more important than the brand of equipment
*The duct system keeps the house comfortable; the equipment only heats and cools (and dehumidifies)
*The value of comfort, over the long term; leave economic choices behind!
Choose your contractor wisely!
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I liked the craftsmen snips but they stopped making them, now I use Midwest
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Midwest here. If your doing a lot of cutting in the field, maybe it's time for a uni shear. We have the Bosch uni shear, works great
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any thoughts on those malco turbo shears ? i've been using the same midwest snips for 3yrs now and they need replaced. the lennox look good and i am glad to hear good things about them from you guys here. at my shop we never use foam board and a quick shear attachment seems like a good investment to me.
read,learn,grow.....repeat.
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Midwest are my favorite. I have klenk, malco, wiss, and lennox in my tool box. I enjoy midwest the most. Last I remember Sears stocked them on the shelf.
Gotta have the right tool for the job!
Where is all the stuff MADE IN THE USA?
"Thats what we do Troy. Incredible, Invisible, Imbelivable things. We are an Unseen, Unknown, Unvincible fraternity of craftsman.."
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Well, the good thing I've learned here is that they don't typically last more than 1-2 years in general. Which is not a good thing, of course, but it tells me that I'm not misusing my tools since the shears last approximately that long for me as well.
I have the Malco Turboshear and it's served me extremely well. 4 years and it's still going. Love that thing, especially when you need to cut out a return on the side of a furnace. Just pop a 1/2" hole and cut it out. Awesome. Best sheetmetal cutting investment I've ever made.
I am suspecting a slacker apprentice used my snips to cut copper wire, which might be what suddenly killed them. But I can't say for certain, they were 2 year old snips.
Thanks for the recommendations. I've always used Midwest and Wiss snips, and since nobody has cited using their tools for over 2 years, I'd have to agree they are good ones. I just hoped for better!
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The Malco 'shear head' works well for me... I bought a 12V Dewalt drill and keep it attached to it all the time (attachment brackets are not much $$$).
Nice to just pick it up and cut.
Note a 'shear' style power cutter will cut angles and corners... a 3 element scissor cutter will not turn corners well-better for straight cuts.
GA-HVAC-Tech
Your comfort, Your way, Everyday!
GA's basic rules of home heating and AC upgrades:
*Installation is more important than the brand of equipment
*The duct system keeps the house comfortable; the equipment only heats and cools (and dehumidifies)
*The value of comfort, over the long term; leave economic choices behind!
Choose your contractor wisely!
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Originally Posted by
Kobe RBVBD
Well, the good thing I've learned here is that they don't typically last more than 1-2 years in general. Which is not a good thing, of course, but it tells me that I'm not misusing my tools since the shears last approximately that long for me as well.
I have the Malco Turboshear and it's served me extremely well. 4 years and it's still going. Love that thing, especially when you need to cut out a return on the side of a furnace. Just pop a 1/2" hole and cut it out. Awesome. Best sheetmetal cutting investment I've ever made.
I am suspecting a slacker apprentice used my snips to cut copper wire, which might be what suddenly killed them. But I can't say for certain, they were 2 year old snips.
Thanks for the recommendations. I've always used Midwest and Wiss snips, and since nobody has cited using their tools for over 2 years, I'd have to agree they are good ones. I just hoped for better!
Copper is a relatively soft metal.... I suspect if someone abused your shears it was bailing wire or something hard (a nail?).
Shame helpers cannot just ask... they would learn something if they did.
GA-HVAC-Tech
Your comfort, Your way, Everyday!
GA's basic rules of home heating and AC upgrades:
*Installation is more important than the brand of equipment
*The duct system keeps the house comfortable; the equipment only heats and cools (and dehumidifies)
*The value of comfort, over the long term; leave economic choices behind!
Choose your contractor wisely!