Need to cut some archs or radius smooth sweeping curves, was wondering if the shears that attach to my cordless will give me a nice clean cut in metal coil stock. Got approx. 9 arches to cut with lengths from 6-12′. Hoping that I don’t have to do this with a pair of snips.
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Replies
HF has shears for $30 and you do not have to attach to a drill-- I did a whole copper roof with HF's shears and they worked like a charm -- all the best Dudley
Ya need two hands on the tool is the only drawback. One on the trigger and one on the handle. they pivot on the shaft.
I use snips a LOT and snips are easy and fast. Dwalt makes the cordless center cut shears, that really are the ticket for a lot of use..
Back to the point, clamp down the coil stock and have at it.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Enjoyning the finite of matter, in an infinite realm of possibilities...
Thanks for the reply, sounds like I'll go with a pair of offset aviation snips as this is a highly visible piece. Trying to hold the tool with two hands and wrestling a flimsy piece of aluminum and making a real clean cut sounds like a lesson in frustration. Already have enough of that in my life, why create more.
If the radius is soft enough, use the BIG straight Malco shears, either way get a new pair that are sharp if your old ones are in anyway questionable...a pair of reds a month is not uncommon for me.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Enjoyning the finite of matter, in an infinite realm of possibilities...
radius is real soft, so the straight malcos would work better than the offsets?
I find them better for long cuts and even slight curves, longer handles and blades give me more control and less chomping.
A trick we use is do not SNIP the blades totally closed on the chomp, stop short and rebite a deep chomp, the tips passing in the cut can make a hicky in the smoothness of the cut.
And avoid then little slivers that can get ragged, they are annoying at best...sharp snips or shears help a lot.
Big straights (Malco) are about 25 bucks ( alum. handles) Wiss reds are about 14-16.
Try both.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Enjoyning the finite of matter, in an infinite realm of possibilities...
Thanks
I have a set of those... really nice tool.
I have forund that they really cut to the left and straight well. Not so good to the right.
If you don't hold the drill right, the turbo shears will mark up the surface of the metal next to the cut. This happens mostly on heavier gauge material, but you might want to run a cut on some scrap first.
Yes, you need two hands- one on the drill and one on the shears. The Malco drill holder made for the shears is a waste of time.
Not as good as a Unishear, but about 1/10 of the cost and no cord needed.