The industry has three basic color it associates with the various types of snips: Red handles – Used to make “left” or counter clockwise cuts in sheet metal. Green handles – Used to make “right” or clockwise cuts in sheet metal. Yellow handles – Used for straight cuts in sheet metal.

What do the colors of tin snips mean?

The industry has three basic color it associates with the various types of snips: Red handles – Used to make “left” or counter clockwise cuts in sheet metal. Green handles – Used to make “right” or clockwise cuts in sheet metal. Yellow handles – Used for straight cuts in sheet metal.

What is the difference between red and green tin snips?

Green snips are designed to cut clockwise curves and red snips to cut counterclockwise curves. You can use the snips with either hand, but if you’re right-handed you’ll find it easier to use green snips for many types of cuts (Photo 1A).

What is the difference between tin snips and aviation snips?

Aviation snips have a compound action which gives them a mechanical advantage over standard tin snips. This is due to the double pivot and extra linkage in their design. This mechanical advantage means they should be more comfortable to use for longer periods than tin snips.

What are the three types of tin snips?

Tin snips have a variety of different types that are typically separated by the shape and direction of the blade. The three common types are straight-cut tin snips, offset tin snips, and vertical tin snips. Straight-cut tin snips have straight blades that are just slightly shorter than the length of scissor blades.

Do I need left or right tin snips?

Straight tin snips that cut straight lines with minimum effort. Right hand tin snips are suitable for cutting straight lines and cutting off in an anti-clockwise direction. Best suited for right handed use. Left hand tin snips are suitable for cutting off in a clockwise direction and for cutting straight lines.

What are the yellow snips for?

Each color signifies a different direction that the snips are made to cut. Red snips cut left. Yellow snips cut straight or left and right. Green snips cut right.

Are Lenox snips good?

Best snips on the market The Lenox snips came perfectly tuned right out of the package, and they have stayed that way. They are smooth, comfortable, and cut right through to the tip. Remind me of Klenk’s with a better grip.

Can you sharpen wire snips?

If you have a rotary tool such as a Dremel, you can use it to sharpen blunt diagonal cutters. All you will need is the right grinding disc. A diamond Dremel disc is the best for sharpening the hardened cutters of pliers.

How do I choose a metal snip?

Color-coded handles The handles on standard aviation snips are color-coded: Red snips are best for cutting to the left, yellow snips are best for making straight cuts, and green snips are best for cutting to the right.

Why are there left and right tin snips?

Right hand tin snips are suitable for cutting straight lines and cutting off in an anti-clockwise direction. Best suited for right handed use. Left hand tin snips are suitable for cutting off in a clockwise direction and for cutting straight lines.

How do you maintain tin snips?

1. Return all snips and cutting tools to their appropriate storage cupboard, in a dry environment.
2. Leave the work area in a safe, clean and tidy condition.
3. Regularly clean, tighten and maintain all snips and bolt cutter tools.

How thick can tin snips cut?

0.062 in
In tinner’s snips this means the handles are extra long. The compound-action bulldog-pattern, also known as a notch snips, has the ability to cut up to 16 gauge cold rolled sheet metal or multiple layers of sheet metal up to 0.062 in (1.6 mm) thick.

Do wire cutters get dull?

They have sharp cutting edges that slice through wires and other objects with ease. However, the cutters become blunt over time and stop cutting effectively or not cut at all. When this happens, you either have to sharpen the edges or replace the tool altogether.