Best sheetmetal cutting snips

[Kobe RBVBD]

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.

[syndicated]

Wiss. The only way to go.

[carmon]

yep... new pair every week.... ..

[gmb]

Wiss are definitely the standard, although I picked up some Milwaukee snips to try in the shop and they seem pretty good.

[Tech Rob]

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.

[philjafo]

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.

[Mille Racer 69]

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.

[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

[Baycienda]

Hands down midwest. They beat the hell out of wiss and I think all malco are are midwest snips with malco name on it.

[qwerty hvac]

Midwest are the best. Most comfortable to use.


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[Eddie1KRR]

+1 for Midwest.
They were even better when they were sold under the Craftsman name and had the lifetime warranty

[jtrammel]

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

[ga-hvac-tech]

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.