tin snips Aviation Snips Set or Gilbow 10″

[Dan ShillingParticipant @danshilling]

I was wondering what would be better an old fashioned Gilbow snip or a cheap aviation set – see details below.

 

I had read the Gilbow has reputation but not so easy to use and the aviation set is more useful. So a bit confused.

 

I’d be mainly cutting mild steel sheets say up 1.5mm.

 

What would be your recommendations to add to my toolbox.

 

Irwin Gilbow General Purpose Snips 250mm TG24510 £8.45 toolstation

tin snips Aviation Snips Set £11

[peak4Participant @peak4]

I have various high quality Gilbow type, small large, straight and curved, plus a cheap nasty aviation set of three.
The Gilbows do a better job than the cheap compound ones, but the aviation snips can access stuff that the Gilbow ones can’t, particularly as you get right and left hand  offsets for curves etc.

I also have one second hand set of offset aviation style branded as ProSnip (US made), which are the ones I normally pick up first.

Bill

[File HandleParticipant @filehandle]

I have only ever used the Gilbow style, so interested in what others say.
I use 3 sizes a 62 pair with narrow blades
12″ as your image and when the going gets tougher a larger pair with thick blades,
I sometimes fix one handle in a vice and operate the other.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Similar to bill, the Gilbows cut nicely but the aviation are handy for non precise work. Don’t fancy 1.5mm steel with either. get a thin disc in an angle grinder for that.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

You will notice the serrated blade sides on the cheapy set, it gives a rough edge.

You need 14″ Gilbows for 1.5mm steel and then it’s two hands.

[File HandleParticipant @filehandle]

I regularly cut steel that is slightly thicker than 1.5 mm, but I think that the 10″ ones might struggle. I cut it with ease with 18″ thick blade Footprint ones. I did a quick tin snips search to see if I could find an image of similar ones, but it brought up mainly aviation snips with the odd small gilbow or jewelers style ones. Tried again specifying Footprint and found this:

Mine are like the ones in the middle with really thick jaws, but not that clear from the angle and the rust. Not sure if you can still buy this size still. It can help with thicker steel to put one handle in a vice and manipulate the other making it more like a shear.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, I’ve got a couple of pairs of the Record 14″ G691 Gilbow tinsnips, the older pair got used for steel and stainless steel screen-cloth for vibrating sizing screens, which was hardish stuff and wasn’t that friendly to the best of tinsnips. I’ve also got a pair like Dan’s Gilbow one, either an 8″ or 10″ can’t remember which, and can’t remember if they are Gilbow or not, but I do also have a couple of cheaper ones with one serrated blade, which work well, but not so good if what your cut, has to look nice. I have also done as file handle, and held one handle in a vice, which makes cutting shaped stuff easier.

Regards Nick.

[Dan ShillingParticipant @danshilling]

thanks for relaying those experiences. I did wonder what the realistic thickness those 10″ Gilbows actually might do comfortably. So now I’m thinking probably 1mm.

Importantly form the comments at least it seems the Gilbows will last.

Not sure that those cheap aviation set might last long though.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Dan, those cheap aviation set are probably ok for thin stuff. One of my cheap pair will cut that steel strapping that is used on palleted stuff, and very frequently did, during my work years.

Regards Nick.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi File Handle, an illustration in my 1958 B&H catalogue shows two types, with three sizes, with 15″ being the biggest, maybe one is the type you have.

Regards Nick.

[File HandleParticipant @filehandle]

Yes Nick its the one one the left. Typical man to add 3″. They can sometimes be had secondhand.
Keith

[jon hill 3Participant @jonhill3]

Hi Dan I would buy a 2nd hand pair of Gilbow type snips, make sure they are proper Sheffield steel. As indicated in your first picture the tin snips often have a couple of lugs to fit a coil spring, making them almost as handy a a good pair of aviation snips.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

i.5mm with a tinsnips ?, might need your stirabout for that !

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

With 1.5 mm steel, I would expect to have to pull hard on the long handle of my bench shear.

Not sure that hand held sniops nare the ideal tool for such work.

Hacksaw / angle grinder?

Howard

[peak4Participant @peak4]

As a slight aside, I’ve just spotted this DeWalt shear attachment  via one of those Facebook mini review videos

Designed to fit to most battery drill/drivers

Bill

[larry phelan 1]

On larry phelan 1 Said:

i.5mm with a tinsnips ?, might need your stirabout for that !

just checked some of the second hand sheets I cut up regularly. Some of it is folded at the edge giving a thickness of 2mm for about 8mm. My snips will cut through this, but this is getting towards their limit. More  of an issue with using tin snips can be the length of the cut as the 2 cut edges get in the way of the handles. Having said that I have, in the past cut across 8 by 4 foot sheets. There a second pair of hands can help by bending the cut sheet out of the way.

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