Air or Electric snips

[TheBizMan]

For those of you who use aluminum skin on your TD, what type of snips do you use to cut it. Electric or air power, and why?

[madjack]

...air...'cause I have 'em...either one will work...pistol grip...either air or electric(Vs. straight barrel) are easier to control but either/either will work just fine....
madjack

p.s. I think I paid around 15 bux for mine at Harbor Freight...............MJ

[LDK]

I bought my aluminum skin the other day and I'm looking around for some kind of (snips) too.

[GPW]

Anybody not having used one of these before would do well to do a bit of practicing on scraps First !!! They do cut quick and clean , anywhere you point them ...

[alffink]

Love the air snips, but they are air hogs
be sure your compressor is big enough or you'll be pausing every few inches, letting the tank catch-up......

But, I eventually got it done and it was still better than trying to use hand snips.

[ebonbetta]

Hmm as an aircraft mechanis I guess I am spoiled.
Find a good .25 by 2 by 6 foot long steel bar. get a good carbide 3/16 or 1/3 straight router but and use the barr as a guide. And just follow the bar as a guide. assuming your cutting a straight edge. If you have a router that has a decent guide you could follow any form you want.

[Wolfgang92025]

Easy, air snips.

That's what i borrowed from my neighbor..........

Lot better than trying to cut it by hand.

Wolfgang

[NUNGUN-SISTER]

I have air...very easy to control...just make sure your compressor can keep up with them.

[aggie79]

I have electric snips but the majority of my cuts were with a Bosch jig saw with metal blade. This was much easier to control than my electric metal shear. I did cut to approximate size, applied/tacked the aluminum in place, and then routed the final cut.

[asianflava]

I got an ElCheapo electric one from Harbor Freight. Worked just fine, you just have to be careful to have the waste cut on the correct side or your good piece will get jacked up (I think that applies to all of them though). I got electric ones because my compressor probably couldn't keep up.

[BrwBier]

I got the electric one from Harbor Freight because at the time I did not have air and it was only $40. Reguler cleaning of the blades and a dry lub make it cut very easy.
Brwbier

[Mightydog]

We tried air snips and quickly discovered that they needed more air that we were able to compress for it.

We went with a Milwaukee nibbler. The place that sold us the skin used them for cuts every day. They strongly suggested hosing down the tip with WD-40 every time you used it to keep everything working well. The local shop that repairs Milwaukee tools thought it was a good idea and have started suggesting it to.

We kept the box that it came it so we have a clean place to park it when it's not in use...which is most of the time.

[LDK]

Well I bought an air shear from harbor freight and it locked up on me. I think now I'll try the electric ones. That is if I can get my money back on the other one Anyone know harbor freights return policy????

[madjack]

Well I bought an air shear from harbor freight and it locked up on me. I think now I'll try the electric ones. That is if I can get my money back on the other one Anyone know harbor freights return policy????

...just curious Larry...what thickness was the metal and how much CONSTANT air pressure didja have to work with... ...I have used 3 diff HF air shears and have never had a problem with them.........
madjack

[LDK]

Maybe they can be adjusted or something. I didn't even used them. I just put the male adapter on it and hooked it up to my air compressor and it worked for a minute and it locked up. I adjusted the air pressure up and down and all it did was make a hissing sound. I even loosen up the allen bolts and oiled the blade and it still didn't work. I think maybe the seal blew out in it.