air shears vs nibblers

need a good quick tool to cut sheetmealusually 16 gauge

shears or nibblers?

Plasma deffinitly the best way to go. My IR nibblers broke and sucked cutting 16 gauge. go with a break if your looking for big long even cuts

They both do different things. Nibblers are kickass for thinner sheet. Shears will cut thicker metal, but will distort ot bend one side of the cut, just like tin snips will.

Edited: 2/6/2007 12:57:34 AM by Twisted Galant

never really used any air shears. I have used a nibbler a fair amount. Mainly when installing speakers into a custom location in a vehicle. Works great for stuff like that. Anyother time i do any sheetmetal stuff its either the plasma or the cutoff wheel!

well the Plasma is your best bet. both tool only work well to 18ga. if you want to make straight cuts, most of the time the shears well work best and the nibbler is better for cuttting curves and things. the shear well cut the 16ga. but it is slow going and you well need to get new blades for it all the time

air shears work pretty good, but the electric shears work better. I know Makita makes them.

i got bluepoint nibblers and they work great very smooth cut nothign shaft and its easy to manuver

Originally posted by thatsmydawg



i got bluepoint nibblers and they work great very smooth cut nothign shaft and its easy to manuver

yeah for 18 gauge and up

i meant nothing sharp its nice for doin fillers for door handles and sheetmetal work

get a sheer bit for your air hammer its rough going but if you clamp down your material it will do it to some 16 gauge but a plasma is very nice but for cheap air hammer baby