As you say, "you gets what you pay for" but all should come with some kind of warranty and if it does not work, send it back and get a refund. Check the return policy, some are free and some you have to pay postage. (Ebay and Paypal have return money policies. May take some time but you should get it back)

Paul.

I had a Makita 110v nibbler some years ago. Brilliant . Gave it away to a friend through not using it. But very good quality.

Steve.

I purchased the Axminster version a couple of years ago and I am very pleased with it, I have used it quite a lot for cutting up 18g sheet steel and it performs very well, it is powered by a Parkside cordless drill. For occasional use it seems to be very good value.

Do you have a compressor? If so, a pneumatic nibbler might be an option?

+1 for Johns link on improving the tool. The length of the assembly when fitted in the chuck makes them hard to handle as does the relative rotational freedom. A solid strap between the drill and nibbler handles may make a worthwhile improvement in rigidity.

Next I use mine I shall figure out a solid strap between the drill handle and the nibbler handle to keep things more stable. Rather like the system used by the DeWalt shear attachment :- **LINK**.

https://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/polishers-shears-and-nibblers/18ga-shear-attachment/dwashrir

But stronger. That DeWalt device is a bit of a disappointment. Works but not nice to use due to lack of rigidity in the coupling.

But its five years since I used my nibbler so the matter is hardly urgent!

Plan B was to strip an old cordless drill to make a battery powered all in one. Even less urgent.

My experience is that even the uber-cheap ones will work OK. For a while at least so its really a matter of estimating how much use it will get.

Chip control has to be taken really seriously. Big bag in a stand with something to hold the mouth open underneath coupled to disciplined clearing at regular intervals is essential. Catches half to two thirds of the things.

Thats why mine is a last resort tool.

Clive

For anything upto that thickness I use a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade. No distortion, make sure you use eye protection as the odd metal chip can fly up.

I've got one too. Yes , noisy . Yes , very messy sharp bits , ( I clear up best i can with a welding magnet if it's steel ) I often have a dog in the workshop, who loves getting arc eye , metal splinters in his paws , and the vice tommy bar whacking him on the head !

Unless it's a more substantial one than mine , it'll struggle on 1.5mm steel . Needs plenty of practice to cut curves accurately .. the steel needs lubricating on the cut line . Forever jamming , and they dislike being pulled back in a cut for a second go ..

I've often thought if it was mounted upside down on a table so it was rigid like a router table , It could work better . But then the bits would be firing straight at your face ..?

I bought one similar to the Axminster one, I forget the name, the spare parts make it better value. A line of oil should be run along the cut line, or the parts will wear quickly. You can rotate the heads and lock them quickly to make the direction of feed easier.

As others have said, messy – I have one somewhere, used it once, went back to the Monodex type.

Rob

Trumpf This has to be the ultimate nibbler, the template section of our tool room was revolutionised when they got a CNC nibbler.

Mike

Edited By Mike Poole on 01/08/2021 23:14:58

You will have to tidy up after your ears recover, and you have swept up all the crescent moon bits of swarf.

In which case, why not mark out, and chain drill?

You will still have the filing, and clearing to do just as if you had used a nibbler.

Depending on the size, would a hole saw do the job?

Howard