The Best Tin Snips

With a set of high-quality tin snips, you can easily cut through thin gauge metal to complete a variety of home renovations and artistic endeavors.

By Timothy Dale | Updated Sep 20, 2021 6:13 PM

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The Best Tin Snips Option

Photo: amazon.com

A set of tin snips looks like a pair of heavy-duty scissors with thick, durable handles and short, strong blades that are able to cut through thin gauge metal like stainless steel, tin, and copper. These powerful tools are excellent for home renovations like replacing sheet metal roofing, installing metal gutters and drainpipes, and trimming HVAC ductwork. You can also use them for creating sheet metal art projects.

Some snips have straight blades, while others may have right or left slanted blades that are easier for cutting angles. The best tin snips to add to your workshop or garage will depend on how you want to use them and your preference for blade style. Take a look at the top products below to find a set of tin snips that complements your working style.

  1. BEST OVERALL: MIDWEST Aviation Snip Set – Left and Right Cut Offset
  2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: AmazonBasics Straight Cut Aviation Snip
  3. BEST FOR METAL ROOFING: IRWIN Tin Snip, Multi Purpose, 11-3/4-Inch
  4. BEST FOR GUTTERS: Crescent Wiss 9-3/4″ MetalMaster Compound Action
  5. MOST VERSATILE: CRAFTSMAN Aviation Snips, 3-Piece Set
The Best Tin Snips Option

Photo: amazon.com

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Tin Snips

Before choosing the best tin snips to trim your gutters, fix your roof, or work on the HVAC system, there are some important factors to consider, such as the material you’ll be using them with and whether you prefer a set of straight-cut or offset tin snips.

Type

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. However, the blades are much thicker and heavier than scissor blades to enable them to cut through sheet metal. These tin snips will normally have yellow handles so you can quickly differentiate them from offset snips.
  • Offset tin snips fall into two categories:
      – Clockwise-cut tin snips, as the name indicates, are used to make cuts in the clockwise direction. They have green handles to set them apart from the counterclockwise-cut snips.
      – Counterclockwise-cut tin snips can be identified by their red handles. These tin snips are best paired with clockwise-cut snips so that you can effectively make curved cuts in both directions.
  • Vertical tin snips have a set of blades that sit at a right angle to the handles of the tool, which is why they are also known as right-angle tin snips. These tools are ideal for tight spaces where only the blades of the snips can fit.

Straight-cut vs. Offset

Whether you are using a set of straight-cut or offset tin snips typically depends on the type of cuts you want to make, but can also be determined by your range of motion while you work.

Straight-cut tin snips can have short or long blades and can be used to make left- or right-curved cuts, though they are best for precise straight cuts, making them ideal for working on sheet metal roofing.

Offset tin snips have right- or left-angled blades, making them easier to use than straight-cut tin snips when you want to make circular or angled cuts. These snips are also a good option for working in tight spaces because the angled blades can bend around small obstacles to better grip and cut metal.

Material

The materials that you normally work with are a consideration to keep in mind when you are choosing a set of tin snips. If you are using the tin snips to cut metal, then your considerations should also include the gauge of the metal you typically use. A set of snips that can only cut 20- gauge steel will be useless if you have 10-gauge steel. Also, keep in mind that the larger the metal gauge number, the thinner the metal.

Some tin snips are also intended for use on leather, cardboard, aluminum, copper, vinyl siding, and wire mesh. If you have a purpose in mind for your tin snips, check the manufacturer’s recommendations to be sure you get a tool designed for your project.

Application

Before choosing a set of tin snips, determine how you want to use them and how robust the snips need to be for your purposes. Typically, tin snips are used for cutting through thin gauge sheet metal for home renovation projects, like replacing ductwork in your HVAC system or installing new drain pipes. These applications require the snips to be able to cut through the gauge of material you are working with, so you need to find a product intended for this application.

Tin snips with serrated blades usually require less force to cut through the material and are better equipped for use with very smooth metals because the serrated edges grip the metal as you cut, preventing the snips from slipping during use.

Comfort and Grip

Manually cutting through sheet metal can tire out your hands if you don’t have a set of tin snips with a comfortable grip that is suited to your hand shape and your handedness. Some tin snips are ambidextrous, but offset snips are frequently made for right-handed individuals. This means that a left-handed person would need to use them in reverse, with the clockwise snips performing counterclockwise cuts and the counterclockwise snips for clockwise cuts.

The grip should be made of a padded or rubberized material that will both cushion your hand and absorb the impact caused by cutting through the thick metal wire and sheet metal. Some tin snips also feature finger indents on the handle intended to give you better control over the snips while you work.

Our Top Picks

The products below were chosen based on quality and price. Check out this list to discover some of the best tin snips available to add to your workshop or garage.

Best Overall

The Best Tin Snips Option: MIDWEST Aviation Snip Set - Left and Right Cut Offset
Photo: amazon.com

This two-pack of offset tin snips lets you cut circular shapes, angles, or straight cuts while keeping your hand elevated above the material, reducing the risk of being cut or scraped. The blades are made with hot drop-forged molybdenum alloy steel that has been heat treated to increase their strength and durability, enabling you to impart more force into your cuts.

These tin snips can cut through aluminum, copper, and up to 18-gauge steel with compound leverage cutting action that is able to boost the cutting force by up to eight times. The snips feature high tensile strength steel handles covered with comfortable grips and slip-resistant indented ribs for better control while working.

Pros

  • Angle keeps hands safe while cutting
  • Strong and durable
  • Comfortable slip-resistant handles

Cons

  • Pricey

Best Bang for the Buck

The Best Tin Snips Option: AmazonBasics Straight Cut Aviation Snip
Photo: amazon.com

Whether you are working with thin sheets of aluminum, up to 22-gauge stainless steel, or up to 18-gauge steel, these affordable straight-cut tin snips are an excellent addition to your workshop or garage. Serrated edges bite into the material you are cutting to ensure that the blades don’t slip and to increase their penetration.

The blades are made with chrome vanadium steel that has been processed using a high frequency heat treatment, which increases their durability and strength. The handles are made of the same durable metal but feature a rubberized grip to reduce hand fatigue while you work. The tool has a latch to keep the snips locked in a closed position when not in use, but you can easily release the latch with one hand to recommence work.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Serrated edges prevent slipping
  • Stayd sharp

Cons

  • Not ideal for angled cuts

Best for Metal Roofing

The Best Tin Snips Option: IRWIN Tin Snip, Multi Purpose, 11-3/4-Inch
Photo: amazon.com

If you’ll be using your tin snips to work on roof repairs, this straight-cut tool is worth a look. Long, drop-forged steel blades are ideal for straight cuts in large pieces of metal sheet roofing, and precision-sharpened blade edges bite into the material as you cut, reducing the chance of the blades slipping.

These tin snips also have an easy closing latch to keep them secure when they are not being used and feature a compound cutting action that increases the power you are able to put into the cut, making it easier to get through up to 24-gauge cold-roll steel or 26-gauge stainless steel. The grips are padded and textured for a comfortable feel without sacrificing control.

Pros

  • Extra-long blades
  • Great for straight cuts in large pieces
  • Quality grips prevent slipping

Cons

  • May require frequent sharpening

Best for Gutters

The Best Tin Snips Option: Crescent Wiss 9-3/4" MetalMaster Compound Action
Photo: amazon.com

These impressive offset tin snips are an excellent option for fixing, trimming, or installing gutters and drains on your home with powerful blades capable of effectively cutting aluminum, vinyl siding, copper, and up to 18-gauge steel. The serrated blades help to increase the initial penetration of the blades, which also boosts the tool’s cutting potential while helping grip the material to prevent slipping.

These tin snips are made of heat-treated cast molybdenum alloy steel, and the pivot bolt holding the two sides together has a free-floating design that reduces wear and extends the tool’s life. These snips can also be latched up when not in use and have a spring-action to make it easier to cut and feed material through the tin snips. The handles are also comfortable and ergonomically designed, with a hole built into the handle for simple hanging storage.

Pros

  • Angled blades for easy cutting
  • Cuts very easily
  • Available in left- and right-hand cut
  • Made in the USA

Cons

  • Handles may stick when cutting thick metal

Most Versatile

The Best Tin Snips Option: CRAFTSMAN Aviation Snips, 3-Piece Set
Photo: amazon.com

Investing in this three-piece set of tin snips will enable you to handle a wide variety of tasks and projects with the right blades for each job. The three-pack includes an offset clockwise-cut pair, an offset counterclockwise-cut pair, and a straight-cut pair that are capable of cutting through up to 18-gauge, cold-rolled steel and 22-gauge stainless steel. Made of induction-hardened steel, the handles are covered in a protective rubber coating that gives the grip both comfort and control while using the snips.

Each of the tin snips is equipped with a latch-locking system to keep the snips securely locked when they are not in use. The spring-assisted latch can then be unlatched using just one hand so you can resume work as soon as you are ready.

Pros

  • Three pairs to handle all projects
  • Built-in measuring tool
  • Latch-lock system for safety

Cons

  • Wide handles not ideal for small hands

Our Verdict

Shoppers looking for a reliable twin pack of offset tin snips should consider the MIDWEST Aviation Snip Set, which are built to last and feature ergonomic grips.

How We Chose the Best Tin Snips

The best tin snips are able to make short work of sheet metals and the like, provide a comfortable grip for the user, and stay sharp even after heavy use. Our list of recommendations covers the most desirable features of these tools and offers our top picks for specific types of tin snips, such as straight-cut and offset tin snips. During our research we made sure to include products that stood out in terms of quality and ease of use.

We also ensured our recommended products are manufactured using high-quality materials and are able to withstand heavy and prolonged use without losing their sharp edge. Additionally, our picks all boast ergonomic and comfortable grip handles to prevent slipping.

FAQs

If you still aren’t certain about which tin snips you need, take a look below to find the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions so that you can make a better-informed decision.

Q. What is the purpose of tin snips?

Tin snips are designed for the purpose of cutting or trimming thin metal materials, like those used for gutters or metal roofing.

Q. What are tin snips made of?

Tin snips typically have padded, rubber handles with drop forged steel blades that can easily cut through thin sheet metal.

Q. What can you cut with tin snips?

Tin snips can be used to cut a variety of soft, thin gauge metals including carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and tin.

Q. Why are tin snips colored?

The handles of some tin snips can have a color-coding system that indicates whether they should be used for clockwise cuts, counterclockwise cuts, or straight cuts. Green handles indicate a clockwise cut and red handles indicate a counterclockwise cut, while yellow-handled snips are for straight cuts.

Q. How do you use tin snips?

You use tin snips in a similar way to using scissors, though the resistance through metal is much greater than scissor blades cutting through paper. Ensure that you nestle the metal deep into the jaws of the tin snips, opening the cutters as wide as possible at the start of each cut. This should help apply the correct amount of strength to produce clean cuts.

If you want to make a circular cut, you need to punch a starter hole through the metal with a straight blade screwdriver or another piercing tool so the blades of the tin snips have a place to start cutting.

Q. How do you sharpen tin snips?

Before trying to sharpen your tin snips, ensure that the blades are not serrated, as serrated edges cannot be sharpened. If the blades are not serrated, follow the steps below to sharpen the tin snips.

  1. Clean the tin snips to remove any oils, dirt, or residue that may be on the blades.
  2. Open the blades as wide as possible, then take them apart by removing the central bolt.
  3. Examine the blades for any nicks, marks, or defects, then secure the blades in a table vice.
  4. Using a metal filer, begin filing each blade on an angle from the pivot point to the tip of the blade. Make sure you only file in one direction to properly hone the edge.
  5. Continue filing until you feel the blade is sharp enough.
  6. Add polish to the tin snip blades with a whetstone that has been soaked in water.

Why Trust Bob Vila

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Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.