Wheeler Posted May 9, 2006 Share Posted May 9, 2006 Anyone have experience with nibblers or shears? I'm looking to do some fabrication (making patch panels for shaving rear end and side lights as well as some other sheet metal work). What is the difference between the two? What brands do you have and how well do they work. I know Milwaukee makes both and so does Harbor Freight. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted May 9, 2006 Share Posted May 9, 2006 I've got the pistol grip Harbor Freight shears. Sometimes they can be kind of hard to get moving, but once they do they cut sheet metal like butter. I wouldn't mind having a nibbler too for curved cuts as I've used one before and it worked great, but they do have one downside. When the nibbler cuts it ejects small 1/4 moon shaped pieces of metal. I was using one of these working at a bench and the ejected little daggers had a tendency to fall into the tops of my shoes, and they're really sharp. Very uncomfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjhines Posted May 9, 2006 Share Posted May 9, 2006 I purchased a nibbler and a flanging tool from Northern Tools/HF... I use a grinder and hand snips for details I can't get into with the nibbler.... A good set of Greenlee style punches is also great to have on hand... I purchased a set of flanged lip dies as well.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted May 9, 2006 Share Posted May 9, 2006 I loved using my friend's nibbler. Fastest, smoothest way through sheet metal. Watch out for those little scrap pieces, like stated above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 I have a Milwaukee shear ($20-gott'a love garage slaes with tools!) and it rocks. I have contemplated a nibbler, but chose a plasma cutter first.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Some-Guy Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 Princess auto has both on sale Iam going to go pickup on of each tomorow hopefully. I havnt used either but apperntly they make life a hell of alot easier! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280Zone Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 I have the Harbor Freight nibbler and that thing is a blast to use. However i will second or third the caution of the moon shapped daggers that go EVERYWHERE! I still find them stuck in my shoes.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody 82 ZXT Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 I have both the nibbler and the shears. Both have their uses but, I think the nibbler is the most versitile. It can cut as straight as you aim it or it can do some crazy shapes if needed. I've clamped angle iron to sheet metal so I could have a guide to use when I want a straight peice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2126 Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 Anyone have experience with nibblers or shears? I'm looking to do some fabrication (making patch panels for shaving rear end and side lights as well as some other sheet metal work). What is the difference between the two? What brands do you have and how well do they work. I know Milwaukee makes both and so does Harbor Freight. Thanks The differences are..... shears are similar to a pair of scissors, just beefier and made for cutting straight lines or nice rounded curves on sheet metal. A nibbler has a relatively small pair of blades that basically nibbles small pieces of sheet metal away.....good for cutting small details, tight or blind corners and such. However, as mentioned, a plasma cutter is really nice but, much much more $$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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