Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 23
  1. #1
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    1017m up in Katoomba, NSW
    Posts
    372

    Default What brand of snips do you like?

    Apologies for lack of paragraphs - can't do them atm. I'm looking to acquire a good quality pair of snips. I thought Knipex might make them but I can't find any. Lee Valley have a set of three but the price and lack of Country of Origin screams China at me. http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/pag...56,43407,71726 They also look very similar to a pair that a mate brought around yesterday, and the spring release has failed after not much use. I found this site which claims to make the best snips in the world, in the USA, Midwest Snips (seems they specialise in them) http://www.midwestsnips.com/2011_products_category.php Prices look good. What do you guys like?
    Regards, FenceFurniture

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    San Antonio, Texas, USA
    Posts
    17

    Default

    I use a big pair of Wiss non-compound snips for trimming 1095 up to about 0.025". They won't work for thicker. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wiss-20Ga-Ti...item1c4ae8ba84
    The stone age didn't end because the cavemen ran out of stones...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Caroline Springs, VIC
    Posts
    0

    Default

    I use cheapys from reject shop or bunnies because they get left outside in the weirdest of places only to be found 3months later covered in rust.

    My dad, which worked as a tin snip carpenter on commercial jobsites swore by Wiss

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Footprint 14" off set tin sips and a pair of Erdi D22A long straight snips.

    The Erdis are several years old and the Footprints I picked up at a second hand tool stall at the local markets for $10.


    Midwest seem to make a fair dinkum set of snips.I have seen some examples at Total Tools. Have a look if there's one nearby.

    Grahame

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    My favourites are a pair of 14" offset English Gilbows along with 7" straight and curved Gilbow jeweller's snips. Re-roofed the house and roofed a carport and two sheds using them. I do have Wiss LH, RH and straight snips that come in handy. The Wiss are US made.

    BT

  6. #6
    crowie's Avatar
    crowie is offline Life's Good, Enjoy each new day & try to encourage
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Faulconbridge, Lower Blue Mountains
    Age
    68
    Posts
    64

    Default

    Plus 1 for "Wiss" - Made in USA

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    102

    Default

    Plus for Wiss also have a look at Snap on tools priceee yes but good.
    Tho not sure if there still American made

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Simplicity View Post
    Plus for Wiss also have a look at Snap on tools priceee yes but good.
    Tho not sure if there still American made
    I saw some Wiss snips in Masters and they were marked Fabrique De China on their labels. One in particular ,the same design as my Erdi's ie,long straight off set but still a compound action were not drop forged but stamped out of a thin section steel.

    Perhaps there are two different qualities. One for the diy crowd and one for professional use. I do hope so.

    Grahame

  9. #9
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    1017m up in Katoomba, NSW
    Posts
    372

    Default

    Funny you should mention that Grahame. At least the writing was European. I noticed that some are branded Erdi-Bessey and unfortunately Bessey have not been backward in embracing Chinese production. However, the Erdi's that I looked at on a Swiss site looked like the real deal. Google Chrome will do (an amusing) auto-translate on this page: http://www.brw.ch/shop/produkte/inde...&t_dummy=dummy
    Regards, FenceFurniture

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Syd
    Posts
    492

    Default

    Someone was complaining about Midwest rusting a while back I recall, so maybe usa isn't the be all and end all, if that's a big thing in purchase decisions.

    Have wiss(usa), midwest, yellow/purple handle chinese with a "known" brand name - rigid maybe and various ones that must be 60 or 70 years old with no names, all seem to work fine, not sure I'd agonize over it too much!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Athelstone, SA 5076
    Posts
    4,255

    Default

    plus 101 for Gilbows

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Armidale NSW
    Age
    52
    Posts
    915

    Default

    I've got a pair of Irwin aviation snips that I find comparable to Wiss snips I've used. I think they are probably manufactured in China, but they certainly seem to do the job.
    Cheers.

    Vernon.
    __________________________________________________
    Bite off more than you can chew and then chew like crazy.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Whether its snips or other tools I suppose the following could apply.

    The trouble is with any well known brand name is that these days we cannot always rely on that brand name to have those same qualities and features that brand once did.

    Business take overs and buy outs means the the once relied upon brand for quality now dances to the tune of the new corporate owners.

    Much of what we once knew to be the "good stuff" is now continually reworked, down graded in quality and designed for premature failure after a short post warranty period. It,s nearly fraud and trickery on a grand scale.

    Maybe its an mature person thing but I feel more confident in the older versions ie the Gilbows and Footprint brands in what I do. Heaven to me will be a endless second hand shop of quality tools.

    Grahame

  14. #14
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    1017m up in Katoomba, NSW
    Posts
    372

    Default

    Indeed Grahame. We have to be constantly vigilant to avoid buying rubbish. It seems there are very few names that can be trusted these days, and a check is always worth it. Even "Made in xx" can't be trusted - if the cost of packaging is the most costly component then where it happens is where it's claimed to be made, and files - in particular saw files - are the most problematic that I've found.

    It's not always the vendor's fault either. A couple of years ago I had dialogue with a well known online retailer about their Grobet Suisse saw files, and they diligently went off to check with the supplier as to country of origin. They then assured me that it was Switzerland. I knew that this was bollocks after the tests were done (actually by just looking at the damn things).

    Recently I saw that they still had the same wording on the saw files page:
    "Covering all but the finest-toothed Western-style saws, this selection of files is made by Grobet of Switzerland, a firm renowned for the quality of its workmanship and materials for 200 years."

    and because some more testing was happening, and they were on my mind again, I wrote back to them and suggested they dig a bit deeper. They did so and came back to me last week saying that the files were indeed of Chinese and Indian origin (even though they are despatched from Switzerland) and that they will be deleting the range. Furthermore they are taking the supplier to task about having mislead them, and are seeking to return all stock (which will be a sizable qty I should think).


    Really, what we need to check is country of manufacture and country of materials supply, e.g. Swiss Made from Swiss steel would nail it down.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Lindenow
    Age
    50
    Posts
    869

    Default

    I have always relied on my Wiss Aviation snips and of course my Gilbows of 4 or 5 differing styles.
    But recently I bought a box of odds and ends at an auction and in said box was a brand new pair of Stanley Fat Max straight cut aviation snips.
    And I have to admit they stack up to my trusty Wiss snips no worries at all.
    Although I do believe that their "special feature" serrated blades have something to do with it.
    But they cut like a hot knife through butter..

    Matt
    Warning Disclaimer

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Aviation snips and rust
    By TORB in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 11th Apr 2015, 10:37 AM
  2. tin snips-left hand or right hand?
    By 3 toed sloth in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 39
    Last Post: 18th Mar 2012, 04:07 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •