3 Tools Perfect for Inside Sheet Metal Cuts

[@jeremysummers7196]

i am a HVAC/ Sheet metal worker and i use a normal set of avation snips like you started with to make that type of cut everyday. i use a hammer and a flat head screwdriver to knock a hole in the middle of my square to be cut out and then get get my snips and cut in a circle untill my snips come to my cut line and then proceed from there and cut out my square.

[@GenePavlovsky]

I was wondering if something like this would work. The snips just need more space to work properly. Thanks for pointing out you're doing it successfully in your line of work.

[@Twistedstar0320]

As an aircraft mechanic we have to worry about minute details. tiny scratches, nicks, gouges, deformation, and we have to be able to fabricate panels and aircraft skin quickly and file them down to an exact size and deburr every edge. using sing these tools allows you to ensure integrity and makes it easier to minimize the time filing.

[@deanlhouston]

Agreed, the snips used to start out with in the video are NOT for cutting straight lines, they're called "Lefts" and "Rights" snips in the industry for a reason, you have to turn them in that direction to make clean cuts. I used to be an HVAC mechanic and saw many sheet metal guys cutting square holes in ducts with just those snips.

[@williamgeorgelopezjunior8533]

@@deanlhouston I think aircraft supersedes ductwork. You’re taking about metal in the sky vs ductwork hidden in a building… so it definitely needs more delicate precision than just hacking like tinknockers donwith some malcos or midwests. As a carpenter who’s a panel guy, i need to cut painted aluminum finished product, I know I’ll destroy the finish if I’m trying to use left or rights trying to cut out inside squares.

[@HilalHMuhammed]

Good old fashioned tutorial - concise and no bullshit… thanks a lot

[@rickyvenilal1713]

First tin snips, then hand rivets, now the Jilson and Nibler, awesome - Hand tools I never knew about.

[@gregmallitt]

i have one of those power nibbler . they are great . i found if you mount it in a vice and hold the job and manouver it around it is much easier to control

[@chrisw4562]

Great video. I really like the hand cutting tool you showed. It is perfect for the beginner to make an occasional cut and get clean edges. I actually have one of those and thought it was a kind of nibbler that cuts one bit at a time,, but seeing the continous cut it can make was a nice revelation!

[@danceswithaardvarks3284]

Perfect thanks. I want to cut some French curves out of a sheet of thin stainless steel. Just watched a lot of videos before I found this video and it was the only one that helped.

[@tractorman4461]

I agree that with anything you do, practice makes perfect...or at least closer to perfect. Good comparison on three viable options. Thank you sir, for taking the time to post your efforts.

[@fournierdon2172]

I have a Monodex cutter which is the same action as the Jilson and it works well. The only snag is that the action tends to make the cutter shuffle back a little with each squeeze and that can give scuffing on the metal surface so you need to exert considerable forward force to try to prevent that. You can see these scuff marks on your test piece.

[@xRadio2006x]

the perfect video that just happen to show up in my feed at the perfect time. need to make a hole in a tight space and the hand nibblers, while time consuming, will be perfect.

[@chrisburton8251]

Very nice presentation, very helpful to me as I research nibblers and cutters. Thanks!

[@rok1475]

You should do a follow up video with a carbide-tipped metal cutting jigsaw blades that are now available.

[@CCCC-mk4sq]

Thank you very much for the Great demonstration and explanation! You let me know how to cut it correctly and effectively!

[@UpcycleElectronics]

Thanks. I just received a hand nibbler yesterday and used it to cut a project box's LCD window in a steel sheetmetal box. It worked pretty well for my twelve dollars on eBay. Mine has the plastic grip stops on both handles. It's a bit rough to use it with 18 gauge steel, but it works. I also ordered the drill attachment version from AliExpress for the same price, but haven't received it yet. While shopping around I noticed there is a small plastic stand sold for the power nibbler too. That might be worth checking out. I never seem to have the right drill for these types of jigs. However, the idea of mounting the nibbler and drill to a surface and manipulating the workpiece by hand sounds appealing as an electronics hobbyist that works with small metal surfaces. Thanks for sharing. -Jake

[@Asyss_Complex]

How has the drill attachment held up so far? Is it worth it? I too work on electronics, and I hope you don't mind sharing some tips when it comes to making enclousures.

[@gabedestellano]

No links to purchase one of these tools?

[@ear4funk814]

Great video ... thanks for the comparisons ... was going to attack an inside cut with snips ... but now see it will distort the metal on inside cut.

[@Alan_Edwards]

Good comparison video. I've been through the pain of using shears to do and inside cut - not fun. I need to cut a hole in my furnace duct work to install a humidifier and know which way I am going for sure now. I wish I had bought one of the drill attachment tools a long time ago. Thanks for the demo.

[@cuervojones4889]

Oh, this is perfect! Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for to cut some shapes out for my whirly-gig!

[@BigFiveJack]

Hello Sir, These three tools were well demonstrated by you in this video! I've watched a decent number of your videos at this point and you communicate quite well. I would like to build a plane and I am very much drawn toward aluminum. I have subscribed to you at this point. Down here in Florida, not so far from Tampa, I should have plenty of flying days per year.

[@patmat.]

Awesome, thank you. I'll check what steel sheet thickness they can cut, I guess 2mm (gauge 12 = 7/64") would be two much.

[@morganfreeman5171]

Excellent information, great video !

[@paulhamilton5634]

For the inside cut, simply go from the hole to the opposing corner the relieve tension and allow the inside piece/s to move out of the way.

[@jd957]

Nice review! Easy to understand and covers all the bases.

[@hectorgerco2963]

Thank s to talk so clearly , and easy

[@skinnyfoodie2437]

I really appreciate your demonstration :)

[@davethurston753]

Very nice. Thanks for the demo.

[@yodaries3301]

Very useful information. Thank you very much.

[@greyfox2347]

What's the Trade name of the second cutter in the demonstration?

[@jromhek2070]

Thanks a lot , you answered my questions .

[@robdoe2420]

How were you following the line on the powered nibler? I sure couldn't see how you were doing it, as the line was buried under the tool??

[@chandanpiku]

Thanks for your upload. I am impressed with the Jilson Supersnip Shears but found it to be too expensive. So can you please suggest me a cheap but good alternative for Jilson Supersnip Shears under $25 that can easily cut through 1 to 2 mm stainless steel sheets.

[@levanahbdolak9982]

Great useful information---thank you!

[@allthegearnoidea6752]

Great demonstration thanks

[@DAPHNE1776]

What size is the sheet metal you are cutting?

[@brendenfullmer1052]

How wide is the waste material that comes out of the cut? The rolled up material? How wide is the cut?

[@Josh-ww5kz]

To cut a hole out with using hand snips you just have to make a bunch of relief cuts in the metal, I usually just punch a hole in the metal big enough for my snips to go in, then i continue with making a bunch of relief cuts from that hole into all the sides staying a quarter inch from the ends, then i cut off the chunks and go back with my snips to get closer to my box, have to alternate between the two snips a few times too

[@jesus.moreno]

great video

[@tamikasmitt935]

What's the name of the tool at 3:01 ?

[@aryantechnologiesgmailcom]

i want to cut 2mm sheet of Mild steeel , is it possible with this tool

[@1shARyn3]

What are metal thickness restrictions for each tool?

[@ThiagoG_]

Asked myself the same thing.

[@jpmasso]

I have a Draper hand nibbler that is like the Jilson Shear (not the other hand nibbler shown in the video) and I am very happy with this tool. The specs says it cuts sheet metal up to 1.2mm thickness and laminates and plastics up to 2mm.

[@1shARyn3]

;-( Prefer something that will cut up to at least a full 2.0mm

[@1shARyn3]

minimum of 1.65 mm

[@kennybo-iy2ed]

grinder

[@michaeldavis8259]

Will it cut 16 ga steel?

[@jenniferwalden3029]

It looks like you're using Jilson Supersnips (the Jilson Quicksnips are black).

[@imapokeguy]

Did you ever try nail clipper?

[@lionintu]

Haha

[@stephensimpson5283]

I like the Jilson Shears. Very neat.

[@michaelsrowland]

What is the metal and what thickness

[@Junglist3345]

Your bare hands on that sheet metal is driving me nuts....LOL..

[@Ratseeker]

Guy got Hercules calluses we can only wish for.

[@CoryKing]

Very helpful video. Thanks!!!

[@ron1martens]

Thankyou for spending your time presenting this video and with a great description. The Jilson looks like a great hand tool. I have seen the third attachment and it didn't seems to work well on corrugated metal, iron or whatever manufacturers call it. Some call it custom orb which still is corrugated iron. Anyway would the jilson work on corrugated iron. I'm also wondering the cordless niblers can they cut an accurate line on corrugated? A plumber told me one brand of nibblers wondered too much and didn't do an accurate cut on corrugated. Thanksyou. I do like the jilson haven't seen them before. Since I'm from Australia.

[@LAV1320]

Thank you sir! Is the #3 cutting tool good for 16g sheet metal??

[@rabelabel]

Assuming that the center is waste, always start an inside cut on sheet metal in the very center and spiral out to the cut-line! Then, just trim out the corners!

[@PoopShitz]

Exactly. Work smarter.

[@telldpablo]

You’re absolutely right. Knowing how to properly use a pair of snips makes these tools unnecessary. In my experience that is having used them everyday for almost 20 years. Or you could use Wiss M-41 stove pipe cutters.

[@alexaulenbacher9085]

yeah he really had no business with those snips. also a legit pair of midwest snips will take you a long way compared to cheap brands.

[@keithschneider6348]

What gage of metal?

[@jkj1459]

VERY NICE IT EATS LIKE A CATERPILLAR.

[@chennaicitymadhanmichael9906]

Great Sir thank you👈👌👏

[@haelchamp7099]

Good day, sir. Where can I find this Jilson shear? Thanks.

[@HomebuiltHELP]

Amazon: search for "sheet metal nibbler"

[@HomebuiltHELP]

Amazon: search for "sheet metal nibbler"

[@jenniferwalden3029]

Are the sheet metal nibblers on Amazon as good as the Jilson Quicksnip (or Supersnip?) he used?

[@nirmal6362]

thanks, very helpful

[@EnnTomi1]

its a luxury to have like 5 tools on you at all time. You can use the normal left right shears to make it work, hold one at each hand, and alternating cut the sheet.

[@mikefreedom5612]

Thank you

[@geraldkoth654]

To use the shears, you remove a piece from the middle of the desired "hole" so you are left with a small band of material inside your marked lines and then the shears work with the metal inside being turned up. This assumes you no not need the piece removed for anything.

[@MrBikercat]

Hello, just discovered your video. can you recommend a tool that'LL work on 16 gauge sheet metal? thanks

[@UpcycleElectronics]

I just received the hand nibbler yesterday and cut a window in a project box for a LCD. That box was made from 18 gauge steel. This hand nibbler wasn't my favorite tool to use, as this was a bit tedious and rough on the hands but it got the job done.

[@TheLAGONAS]

how we call this tool?can it cit coopper shit?,i want to make gaskets

[@ironsink34]

Lebowski?

[@kuldeepsankpal6443]

I like jilson one

[@ZombieLincoln666]

wish I knew about these before I used a Dremel

[@Elvisrivers1]

Using a Dremel now. Spent about $100 so far on wheels and pieces of sheet metal. Trying to cut a flat 5x7 frame. I have wasted money and materials. This stuff he is showing won't work on steel plate.

[@bacardirose3183]

Wow!

[@HappyBoi-re6no]

Or you could spice things up and use an angle grinder with a cut off wheel.

[@movax20h]

Few more tools: jigsaw, reciprocating saw and bandsaw if you have access to blade welding tool (very cumbersome tho). Some of these can be used on flat sheet, and some to some extent on already bent sheets, or mounted sheet. For big holes, bandsaw can probably be also used. Mitre saw not much, unless, it is small piece, or you need to do some internal cuts on tubing maybe. Handheld electric (or pneumatic) sheers are also very useful, and produce clean cut cleanly. Most for stright cuts, but you can do some big radius cuts too. Of course, if you have budget or need precision, and can work on flat sheet, laser cutting, plasma cutting and water jet cutting are the option too.

[@GenePavlovsky]

The tools you suggested do work, but if the blade grabs, it can distort the sheet pretty badly?

[@joeborowy5794]

Cuts with ease

[@D35_Picasso87]

Why didn't you take a unibit and drill a pilot hole in the center of the sheet metal then you could have use either red or green snips to cut out whatever it was inside the sheet metal

[@funnymovies7965]

WOW! Your voice sounds like Baldi in the game Baldi's basic education and learning's.

[@Stu718]

Power nibbler sprays sharp swarf every where. Buy a good broom

[@thisdj83]

Vacuum

[@jordanjohnson714]

Don't use a hand nibbler if you don't hate yourself... Especially with thicker material ..

[@freddiehoskins6658]

I have learned that you have no game with snips!

[@jjohnston94]

Body saw?

[@kamerslammer]

Now lets talk about those pesky little 🌙 shaped bits that get stuck in the bottom of your boots. Then somehow get found in your house when your barefooted. Way worse then Legos.

[@keithschneider6348]

Just terrible those chips are.

[@willandersen3695]

You need affiliate links on this, bud. You could have made a killing by now!

[@arslanmunir7604]

Car cutting parfacet machine

[@Elvisrivers1]

Do it on steel plate please. This won't work on steel. Easy on aluminum

[@arslanmunir7604]

Car speeker cutting machins recomeaint plz

[@Hooverdarnit]

Do a memo with STEEL not aluminum.

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

And don't forget plasma cutter.

[@tamikasmitt935]

O

[@mannychavez780]

Great video but next time use safety gloves👍

[@AKingZWldAQu33nZUnVZ]

Good Information But You Need To Wear Cut Proof Gloves And Safety Eye Wear You Made Me Nervous Watching You What Can I Say Me Having A Big Heart And Caring Is Just Who I Am For Others Not So Much Thank For The Tutorials!!!!!

[@ZCV7853]

Instructions unclear - cut hand off due to sharp edges