Suggestion of a sheet metal nibbler.

[Alan0354]

I am looking for a cheap metal nibbler. The chassis of my amp is 0.056" or 16 gauge steel. The ones I know only goes up to 18 gauge. Any suggestion?

[J M Fahey]

The hand powered ones have a practical limit which is reasonable hand strength, but I use an add-on head mounted to a variable speed hand drill which has no problem at all.

Check this one which looks similar:

SHEET METAL NIBBLER Metal Cutter Drill Attachment - Bad Dog Biter - Amazon.com



EDIT: at least mine comes with replaceable cutting "teeth" , ask if the one shown above has spare ones and buy a couple extra.

You won't wear them but might crack one.

[Alan0354]

The hand powered ones have a practical limit which is reasonable hand strength, but I use an add-on head mounted to a variable speed hand drill which has no problem at all.

Check this one which looks similar:

SHEET METAL NIBBLER Metal Cutter Drill Attachment - Bad Dog Biter - Amazon.com



EDIT: at least mine comes with replaceable cutting "teeth" , ask if the one shown above has spare ones and buy a couple extra.

You won't wear them but might crack one.

Thanks, I was looking at this one too, but I don't have experience with those attach to power drills. Good to know. It's not that expensive also.

Edit: I just ordered it.

[tedmich]

This thing works very well for longer cuts
14 Gauge Swivel Head Shear
i got it on sale for $30, and its a BEAST, high quality grease makes the blades last quite well

[John_H]

Air Nibbler - Save on this 16 Gauge Air Nibbler
I've got one of these. It goes through aluminum like a cow eating cabbage.

[tedmich]

air tools? UNFAIR COMPETITION! Once you sink the $$ on a decent compressor these ARE the way to go...

(Aluminum is the best case scenario, big E shears will do 16 AWG SS304, but not forever)

[Alan0354]

The hand powered ones have a practical limit which is reasonable hand strength, but I use an add-on head mounted to a variable speed hand drill which has no problem at all.

Check this one which looks similar:

SHEET METAL NIBBLER Metal Cutter Drill Attachment - Bad Dog Biter - Amazon.com



EDIT: at least mine comes with replaceable cutting "teeth" , ask if the one shown above has spare ones and buy a couple extra.

You won't wear them but might crack one.

Stupid question, I receive the tool, but no instruction. Any tip on how to use it? I notice it has two cutting head, one inside the handle.

I think I know how to use it just by looking at it, just drill a hole big enough to fit the head in and push and cut. I just want to confirm or I might break it.

[Alan0354]

Air Nibbler - Save on this 16 Gauge Air Nibbler
I've got one of these. It goes through aluminum like a cow eating cabbage.

Thanks, I got the one that adapt to the drill. I was actually thinking about this, I have an air compressor, but it's just too much hassle to bring it out every time I want to cut something.

[Alan0354]

This thing works very well for longer cuts
14 Gauge Swivel Head Shear
i got it on sale for $30, and its a BEAST, high quality grease makes the blades last quite well

I think this one is good for cutting sheet of metal. But I purpose is to open a hole in the chassis for PT, I don't think this one can cut very well in the middle of the sheet metal to cut a square or rectangular hole.

[John_H]

air tools? UNFAIR COMPETITION! Once you sink the $$ on a decent compressor these ARE the way to go...

(Aluminum is the best case scenario, big E shears will do 16 AWG SS304, but not forever)

I've got a big Speedaire compressor. It'll keep up with about anything. I have a bunch of air tools. Grinders, drills, sanders, saws, impact wrenches etc. Most of it is just cheap Harbor Freight tools, but I'm spoiled when it comes to that stuff.

The air nibbler makes beautiful cuts when guided with a straightedge.

[Gingertube]

Hand Tool?

The original and the best - been around since they built the ark, well maybe not quite that long, but I certainly had one in m y apprentice toolbox in 1972.

The Original Adel Nibbling Tool

Found the Drill Chuck jobs hard to control, the bloody things have a mind of their own and shoot off in strange directions if not absolutely clamped.

Cheers,
Ian

[loudthud]

I needed to cut a hole about one inch square. The hand nibbler at Radio Shack wouldn't handle the thickness of the material but I re-ground the cutting tip with a Dremel tool and it worked fine.

[MusikalienATX]

Harbor freight has one for about $10, works ok and it's a little sturdier than the RS one...