Hand and electric shears for metal: an overview of cutting tools

For even cutting of metal sheets, manual or electric metal shears are used. The tool is presented in a wide variety of species, which makes it possible to select a specific model according to the required characteristics. However, for the correct choice of metal scissors, it is important to study the advantages and disadvantages of devices and consider popular models.

For cutting metal sheets, metal scissors are used, both manual and electric.

Manual metal scissors: characteristic features of the tool

Metal scissors are a tool that is designed to cut metal sheets evenly without the formation of iron chips. The cutting process is carried out by deformation. When acting on the levers of the tool, high pressure arises, due to which the piece of iron is divided into several elements.

Manual shears for metal are made of HSS steel

To obtain a uniform cut, the scissor blades must be at a certain angle and have a small gap. These parameters are selected for the tool based on the sheet material and its strength.

Important! The scissor blades are sharpened at an angle of 60-75 degrees for smooth, burr-free edges.

Metal shears can be manual or electric. The first type is used for conventional cutting of steel sheets up to 1 mm thick and aluminum elements (up to 2.5 mm). The device is represented by two cutting bases and two long arms, due to which the necessary pressure is created during the cutting process.

Important! The longer the handles, the easier it is to cut metal pieces.

To cut a sheet of metal evenly, the scissor blades must be located at a certain angle

Electric tools are mainly used for processing corrugated and other sheet metal of complex configuration. This tool is not used for normal cutting.

Manual scissors are mainly equipped with a rigid blade made of HSS steel with a hardness of 65 HRC.There are less durable models that are made from alloy 59 HRC or tool 56 HRC steel, which reduces the price of manual shears for metal. To increase efficiency in many tool options, each blade is coated with a special substance in the form of titanium nitride, which gives the product additional hardness, making it possible to machine very thick metal sheets.

The metal scissors blade can be smooth or serrated. The first option is used to make a straight cut line, but the sheet may slip out during the cutting process. The jagged edges prevent the product from falling out. However, this type of blade does not provide a smooth cut.

The scissors jaws can have different profiles. In the first case, when cutting the sheet, a piece of metal will bend back, without interfering with cutting the product further. In the second case, the cut-off metal product is blocked on one of the jaws.

The blades of hand scissors for metal can be either smooth or serrated.

How to choose manual professional metal scissors

Considering different options for a tool, you should immediately decide which is better to buy metal scissors - right or left. What is the difference between the fixtures can be understood by looking at how the tool functions. Right-handed scissors make a straight or curved cut from left to right, and left-handed scissors cut from right to left. There is a separate type of tool in the form of straight scissors for metal. They are used to make a straight cut. These scissors have a yellow handle.

Useful advice! From a practical point of view, left-handed metal scissors are more ergonomic and comfortable due to the fact that the wrist is on the inside, which eliminates quick hand fatigue and increases comfort when cutting.

Before choosing manual metal shears, you should familiarize yourself with the options for making the tool. Forged, cast and composite models are available depending on this criterion. The first type of tool is distinguished by its great strength and high cost. Sharp cutting bases provide fast and high-quality cuts in any sheet metal, including aluminum and thick steel. The handles of the product are made of durable polyamide.

Cast scissors require less durable material than forged products. They are characterized by low cost, fragility, but they work quite efficiently.

Manual shears for metal can be forged, cast and composite

The split scissors are equipped with a lever mechanism, which ensures even pressure on the cutting surface. The handles are opened thanks to a spring-back mechanism, which makes the operation of the scissors simple and convenient. The blades of such lever metal scissors are made of durable steel, and the handles are made of soft plastic.

Tin hand shears equipped with short blades and long handles are used to cut mild steel and low carbon tin. Tin models make straight cuts with a smooth bend. You can also make circular patterns on sheet metal.

Which scissors are better for metal: an overview of different types of tools

The most common option is the all-purpose metal shears. The tool is compact and lightweight. It can be used to cut and form small and large metal sheets, process corners and the center of workpieces.

Useful advice! The versatile tool can be used to cut small cables.

The most common are universal metal shears.

For cutting thin metal sheets no more than 5 mm thick, metal corners and iron rods, manual lever metal shears are usually used.This tool has two flat blades that are connected to each other by a large screw. The lower part of the knife is fixed to the workbench, and the upper part is fixed in the area of ​​the handle. This arrangement promotes deformation of the dense surface.

The cutting iron is fixed in the area of ​​the lower knife. In this case, in the area of ​​the upper blade there is a guide marking. The mechanism is driven by a lever.

Good hand-held professional metal shears for cutting long pieces of metal are the alligator type of tool. The tool received this name due to the presence of a hinged jaw for cutting. The device is driven by a hydraulic cylinder. This type of tool is strong, durable and low cost, but produces imprecise cuts and rough finishes.

Other types of scissors for metal, their characteristics

For cutting rough sheet metal, you can use the tabletop mechanism, which makes a clean cut without burrs. It is used for processing square and round rods, with its help, angular cuts and T-shapes are produced.

Guillotine shears for metal can be used in batch production

For medium series production, it is rational to purchase manual guillotine shears for metal. In them, the workpiece is clamped using a plunger. One of the blades begins to move down the fixed knife, while making a cut. The propeller blade can be straight or angled to cut a large piece of metal.

For high-performance processing of thick, resistant material, it is advisable to use large hand-held metal shears with a lifting mechanism, in which serrated knives are mounted on a special tripod. A specialized tool with curved blades is used to cut the edges of the metal sheet. The scissors are capable of processing metal profiles up to 4 mm thick.

There are roller shears, in which superhard rollers play the role of knives. Due to the minimum distance between them, when passing a sheet of metal, it is squeezed and separated.

Another type of tool designed for straight cutting is the Pelican metal scissors. They are very convenient to use, because during operation the handles of the tool are located on top of the metal, as a result of which there is no need to bend up the cut material.

Shears for metal "Pelican" are designed for straight cutting

Review of the best models of sheet metal shears

Kraftool 2325-L metal scissors are widely used. The tool is made of chrome-molybdenum alloy. It is capable of processing sheet metal up to 1.5 mm thick. The tool is characterized by convenience and ease of use, which is achieved due to the complex design. During operation, no additional pressure is required.

Metal shears "Kraftul" are equipped with high stops on the handle, which contributes to safe work with the tool, which will not slip out of hands. The knives are fastened with staples. This model is used for cutting corrugated board and metal tiles. The cost of the instrument is on average 1 thousand rubles.

Noteworthy are the Grоss 78327 metal shears made of chromium-molybdenum alloy. The tool can cut stainless steel and non-ferrous sheet metal. Scissors are a product, all elements of which are fastened with bolts. The model is compact, versatile and easy to use. The scissors can cut sheet metal up to 1.5 mm thick. You can buy the tool for 900 rubles.

The model made of chrome-molybdenum steel Suanley 2-14-563 has proven itself well. The tool has a robust and durable design.For comfortable use, the spring is reinforced with a chrome mount. The ergonomic grip makes the instrument comfortable to hold.

Metal shears Kraftool 2325-L are made of chrome-molybdenum alloy and cut metal up to 1.5 mm thick

The metal shears have a hardened toothed blade that prevents the metal sheet from slipping during cutting, making the process quick and easy. The cost of the instrument averages 850 rubles.

Important! This scissor model can be used for cutting copper, aluminum and plastic.

Design features of electric metal shears

When studying what scissors are, one should consider the advantages and disadvantages of an electrified tool. In appearance, electric metal shears are similar to a grinder. Small models are equipped with a narrow elongated body, which makes them comfortable to hold in the hand. Larger, more powerful options have an extended handle for ease of use.

The body of the electric shears for metal is made of shock-resistant structural ABS plastic, in the inner cavity of which the engine is located. The front part has a multi-stage gearbox in a metal casing. In this unit, the rotational movement of the spindle is converted into reciprocating, due to which the cutting equipment begins to work.

In appearance, electric scissors for metal resemble a grinder

The working body of the electric shears works on the same principle as that of manual models. When the sheet metal passes between the static and moving elements, it is cut.

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Electric metal shears have a number of advantages over hand tools. No effort is required during sheet metal processing, as the process is automatic, thus increasing productivity. Since there is no need for tactile contact during work, the likelihood of injury is minimized.

Useful advice! If you want to save money, you can purchase a drill attachment instead of metal scissors, which will perform the functions of a cutting tool.

The electric shears can be used to cut thick metal workpieces up to 5 mm thick. This ensures a smooth and clean cut. Eliminates the possibility of deformation or damage to the integrity of the workpiece. Such a tool is capable of processing non-ferrous alloys, composites and polymeric materials that a hand tool cannot handle. Electric shears can cut not only smooth sheets but also profiled materials. Using the tool, you can make complex curved elements from a template.

Metal shears can cut workpieces up to 5 mm thick

Varieties of electric shears for metal, tool characteristics

Electric shears for metal by the method of deformation of the processed material are sheet, slotted and notched. The first type of tool, in terms of its principle of operation, is most similar to a manual device. The static knife is securely attached to a rigid support element, which has a horseshoe design. The movable blade works in a vertical plane by means of a reciprocating motion.

Electric sheet metal shears can process sheet metal of different thickness. The device is pre-configured by reinstalling the support platform, thereby adjusting the gap between the lower and upper knives.

Sheet metal tools are characterized by high speed and productivity, straight cut accuracy. It is capable of biting wire or fold material.In the process of processing the material, no waste is generated in the form of small and long spiral shavings. Due to the fact that the knives have a square shape with cutting edges along the edges, when one of them is blunt, you can change the position of the blade by placing it with the sharp side.

Among the shortcomings, it should be noted that the workpiece can only be processed from its edge. Scissors are bulky, do not differ in maneuverability, which is necessary for curvilinear cuts and profile blanks. The price of sheet-type metal scissors starts from 6 thousand rubles.

Electric shears for metal are sheet, slotted and notched

Characteristic differences of slotted shears for metal

The slotted design is equipped with two knives. One of them is fixed and fixed from above. It is made in a U-shaped design, equipped with two cutting edges. The lower blade of the tool carries out reciprocating movements in the vertical plane with the entry into the slot of the fixed knife of the electric scissors.

The tool can be adapted to different sheet metal thicknesses thanks to the option to adjust the gap between the knives. When cutting a metal workpiece, thin spiral chips are formed that come out upward and outward. Periodically, it must be cut with wire cutters.

Slotted scissors for metal can cut the workpiece in any part of it, thus eliminating deformation of the sheet, and the cut is smooth and clean. The tool can be used to make holes, which is very important when deciding how to enlarge a hole in metal without a drill. Thanks to the narrow nose, the device is convenient to work in hard-to-reach places. The scissors work well with the folds of the steel sheet.

Important! The metal slotting shears can be used to cut metal sheets up to 2 mm thick.

Slotted metal shears are used for cutting metal with a thickness of no more than 2 mm

Special Features of Metal Nibbling Shears

Electric punching shears for metal are a compact punching press that can be manually moved along the blade in a given cutting direction.

The design consists of a die and a punch. The first element has a round or square shape, it is fixed on the matrix holder. The punch acts as a punch. It is a movable structural element. The punch is fixed in the slider, making reciprocating movements transmitted by the crank mechanism.

Important! Since the die and the punch have the same shape, if one of the elements fails, they are changed in pairs.

Electric square shears are designed for processing sheet material with a thickness of more than 3 mm, and round ones can cut metal up to 3 mm thick. During the cutting process, the punch will make holes in the sheet that form a continuous track. Its width is equal to the diameter of the punching element. The die and punch are equipped with a stepless 360-degree rotation option, making it easy to make curved cuts. To reach hard-to-reach areas, the die is fixed at 90 ° angular spacing.

Nibblers for metal ensure a clean cut and do not deform the workpiece

The metal nibbler is characterized by versatility, good maneuverability, minimum turning radius, extended functionality, good visibility of the working area. The tool is capable of making curved cuts, a variety of holes and pattern cuts. He can start work not only from the edge, but also from the central part of the workpiece. The tool provides a clean cut without deforming the workpiece. Thanks to the high power of the device, the shears can cut thick workpieces.

Among the shortcomings of the tool, one can single out its ability to strictly maintain a given straight line.He has a hard time coping with thickness differences on the workpiece. In the process of work, a large amount of metal waste is generated in the form of sharp sickle-shaped shavings.

Popular models of electric metal cutting shears

Electric model Hitachi CN16SA for cutting corrugated sheets is in demand among consumers. The tool has a power of 400 W. Able to cut 1.6mm thick metal sheet. The scissors can work in three directions. The tool is characterized by ergonomics, making it easy to hold with one hand during operation. When cutting, sawdust is thrown down, which eliminates the possibility of waste getting into the eyes. You can buy the tool for 8 thousand rubles.

Another popular model is the Makita JN1601 metal nibbler, which is used to cut plain and corrugated metal sheets. The instrument is characterized by a power of 550 watts. It has a compact size, ergonomic shape, which contributes to the efficient operation of Makita metal shears.

Electric model Hitachi CN16SA is very popular among users for cutting corrugated sheets.

The tool carries out straight and curved cuts of sheet and corrugated material, the thickness of which does not exceed 2.5 mm. It is equipped with a built-in thickness gauge for easy operation. The punching head is capable of 360 ° rotation and can be installed in four positions. The cost of Makita electric metal scissors averages 18 thousand rubles.

The model "ZUBR ZNL-500" with a power of 500 W has proven itself well, designed for straight and figured cutting with a radius of up to 40 mm in sheet metal with a thickness of no more than 2.5 mm. The tool provides a clean and even cut. Thanks to the rubberized body, the device is comfortable to hold in one hand.

Metal shears "ZUBR" are equipped with knives with four cutting edges, which contributes to the effective and efficient operation of the device. The model is equipped with a set of probes for adjusting the device for different metal thicknesses. The cost of the instrument is 5 thousand rubles.

The Status NC380 electric metal nibbler is popular. The tool can carry out straight and figured cutting of metal sheets with a thickness of no more than 2 mm, works with metal tiles. The cutting process can be carried out both horizontally and vertically, while the material is not deformed, and the cut is smooth and clean. You can buy the tool for 7 thousand rubles.

Makita JN1601 metal nibblers are compact and ergonomic

What are hydraulic metal shears

Hydraulic shears are similar in principle to traditional hand or power tools. The only difference is in the way the force is applied to the cutting element, which is carried out through a pump or a hydraulic cylinder. As a result, the force of action on the blade increases several times. This contributes to a significant increase in efficiency, making the process easier and more efficient.

Hydraulic shears consist of a hydraulic cylinder with a piston, a rod, knives, a pressure hose, a swivel sleeve, a drain valve, and handles. The hydraulic actuator is fixed to one lever stationary, and the second element is connected to the lever, which builds pressure in the cylinder, and in this case, a compressor or a hand lever can be used.

The hydraulic shears are characterized by autonomy, mobility and operational safety. The tool provides a clean, high-quality cut. Since the blade moves at a low speed, this makes it easier to control the work process. The price of manual hydraulic shears for metal starts at 4 thousand rubles.

Hydraulic shears, depending on the principle of operation, can be knife and nibblers. The first option is used to process the edges of the workpiece.Slitting shears for metal allow cutting from the middle of the sheet.

Hydraulic metal shears are characterized by mobility, autonomy and safety

Depending on the design, there are manual, stationary and guillotine shears for metal. The first option is represented by a compact tool that cuts thin steel sheets, rebar and bars. A stationary tool is a high-power tool with a hydraulic drive connected to a compressor. Such a device produces all options for cutting metal parts of any complexity, and also performs cutting.

Guillotine shears provide fast cutting and forming of even seams. They are compact in size and have good power, which is sufficient for work in the workshop. This type of tool allows you to cut exclusively in a straight line.

How to sharpen metal scissors at home

In the process of long-term operation, sooner or later the question arises of how to sharpen metal scissors. To facilitate the process, it is necessary to disassemble the tool, using both sides of the knife as separate elements. In addition, thanks to this, the procedure will become completely safe.

If the metal scissors only need to be tweaked, then you can use a stone with a grain size of 1000

It is important to choose the right sharpening stone for sharpening scissors. If the tool needs to be sharpened a little, you can use a thin stone with a grain size of 1000. For sharpening a blunt instrument, the edges are preliminarily processed with a coarser grinding element with a grain size of 100-400, and then with a finer one.

Useful advice! Since metal shears are predominantly made of galvanized steel, any type of abrasive can be used to sharpen them.

The best grinding material is diamond stone, which has a good effect and will last for a long time. For more accurate results, you can use aluminum oxide or ceramic.

To sharpen a very dull tool, sharpening begins with a grinding stone with a grain size of 100-400

The first step is to sharpen the inside of the first blade. The sharpening stone must be moistened, then the blade must be placed on its surface. The knife is moved from the point of intersection with the handle to the tip. When sharpening, the entire length of the stone is used without applying too much pressure.

The next step is to sharpen the edges. In this case, the entire surface of the blade should be in contact with the stone. Over the entire surface of the sharpening, translational movements are made from the center to the tip of the blade. The sharpening of the other cutting half of the scissors occurs in the same way. At the end, both parts are folded, a couple of cutting movements are performed.

Metal scissors are a versatile tool that is essential for both home and professional use. Thanks to a wide range of product varieties, you can choose the right model that meets the stated requirements.