What are the parts of tin snips?

16th August 2021

What are the parts of tin snips?


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		Tin snips are made up of two main parts: the handles and the blades (which are fastened together by a bolt).

		Tin snip blades
		The blades perform the job of cutting through the sheet metal. The shape and size of a tin snip’s blades can vary with each individual model, as each are designed for different tasks. The tin snip’s blades are commonly made from drop forged steel and either have ground or serrated edges.

		Ground edges Some models of tin snips have precision ground edges, meaning the shape of the blade’s edge is smoothed down and sharpened to shear through the metal effectively. Different types of grinding produces blades of different shapes.

		A common shape for many models of tinsnip is the hollow ground face. This is where a tin snip’s blade is ground down into a concave shape to give the snip the sharpest cutting edge.Although grinding can create a very sharp blade edge, it is not always the strongest technique as the thinness of the edge weakens the blade and only allows it to cut through thin material.

		Serrated edges Other models of tin snips have serrated edges which provide multiple points of contact with the sheet metal. These serrations allow the snip to grip onto the object securely and spread the cutting force across the blades.

		Serrated edges are usually given to tin snips that are intended to cut thicker and stronger materials.

		Tin snip handles
		The handles are the part held by the user. They sometimes resemble those of scissors, with finger and thumb holes for comfort.

		Other types have thinner handles similar to that of pliers. These allow more control for awkward cuts and are easier to use in smaller areas.

		Nut and bolt on a tin snip
		A nut and bolt joins the two sides of the tin snips together. The nut and bolt design is essential for ensuring the highest durability of the joint.A tin snip’s nut and bolt are replaceable and can be bought from hardware stores and DIY shops. Always check when purchasing these parts that you have the correct ones for your specific model of tin snip.

		The nut and bolt need to be tightened regularly using a wrench to make sure the tin snips cut effectively. Use an appropriately sized wrench to turn the bolt’s head clockwise until the blades slide past each other smoothly. If the blades feel stiff then it may be an indication that the bolt is too tight.