Tinner Snips

Probably the most popular hand tool used by tinners, aviation snips are meant for cutting thin metal sheets ranging approximately from 16 to 26 gauge. Originally developed to cut aluminum in aircraft constructions (hence the name), aviation snips can also be used to work with other materials including vinyl, thick cardboard, and even thin stainless steel. However, their designs vary depending on the planned length and shape of cutting, sheet material, and some other factors. There are several common categories of tinner snips including straight cut, long cut, offset, upright, and some other types that mainly differ by their blades.

For instance, straight cut tools are better suited for making relatively short cuts, notches, or cutting softer materials. If you need to make a long cut on a hard sheet, an offset model is usually more preferable. Thanks to its angled blades, your hand holding the tool will be positioned farther from the sheet's sharp edge, which will allow you to avoid injuries. Besides, there are left and right cut snips, depending on the side where waste material comes off. If you're going to work with panels located overhead, it's better to choose among upright snips whose blades are positioned at the right angle toward the handles. All of these and other tinner snips featuring different cutting capacities are offered in our store.