Home Depot sent over a pair of Wiss straight-cut aviation snips for me to try out. (As you might recall, we’re in a paid partnership program with them, where they sent us a selection of tools for review consideration.)
Well, this is awkward – I have yet to touch its jaws to any sheet metal. But it has seen some use so far. I’ve used these Wiss snips to cut nylon zip ties, wire ties, clamshell packaging, and even a small piece of scrap wood that I needed separated.
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That last part isn’t true – it didn’t cut the scrap wood; it’s more accurate to say that it broke the wood, as the wood snapped apart along grain lines.
These Wiss snips, and its right- and left-cutting cousins, are regularly promoted at Home Depot as part of their Father’s Day and Holiday season sales. At those prices, and even at their regular prices, they’re great values.
I have used and abused aviation snips over the years, sometimes using them on sheet metal, but mostly using them for tasks that would either ruin good scissors, or require too much muscle power to accomplish.
Wiss M3R snips can handle up to 18 gauge carbon steel.
These snips, like many others, have compound-action jaws, transmitting more power than if they were built with a simpler pivot.
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They perform adequately, are nearly as comfortable as aviation snips can get, and they’re affordably priced, especially for a USA-made tool.
Price: $14 (potentially less during holiday seasons)
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Who should buy these? Anyone looking to buy their first straight-cutting aviation snips who want a comfortable USA-made tool that’ll perform without breaking down.
I have used Wiss snips in the past, and they handled sheet metal with ease, although, like this sample, I used it for general purpose use more than anything. That has changed in recent years, as I have taken to using Milwaukee jobsite scissors for general cutting needs.
My only disappointment? I’ve been spoiled by my Midwest snips which have a more premium-feeling grip, but it was also cost 43% more ($20 vs. $14).
I have some aluminum sheeting to cut soon. I’ll be sure to let you know if the work changes my opinion of these snips, but I don’t think they will.
Wiss makes solid-performing snips at decent pricing. These should work well for metalwork, but also for other cutting tasks.
Every holiday season, when I see the Wiss snips display at Home Depot, I do a mental celebratory fist bump, happy that they’re continued to be made here in the USA, and at low pricing.
Thank you Home Depot and Wiss for providing the review sample.
Brandon
The standard for steel framing and suspended ceiling installers. I’ve been trying other types such as Stanley and Milwaukee..but you always know Wiss will be quality
Blair
When I worked comercial that was the case, and that’s been almost 30 years ago, I’m sure things haven’t changed much.
MacLean
I’ve used their straight, right and left snips for building pole barns and other random HVAC stuff. They work great. Hands get plenty sore doing diagnol cuts across 30″ sheets… probably need a better tool…but these snips took a lot of cutting and still cut perfectly.
Brian k
Angle grinder is with a cutoff wheel would probably be better for that.
Framer joe
Cordless.shears
fred
There was a period in time where we had lots of jobs that included the removal of home heating oil tanks. We had a company that would come in and suck the residual oil out, and then do some cleanout in accordance with local and other codes. It would be left to us to rip the “cleaned” tanks out and cut them up. Many were in finished basements and could not be easily removed in one piece. We used corded Kett nibblers. They got the job done – but wow – all those little disks to clean up!
Back then we had tried grinders, cutting torches and sawzalls and then nibblers. The tank wall gauge made it inapplicable for shears. None of it was good I’m not sure if today’s crop of cordless nibblers would have worked.
BTW – I see that Bosch sells a 12V class cordless shears that looks nifty:
https://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/bosch-12v-max-lithium-ion-metal-shear-ps70bn
Doresoom
I have the same pair which I bought quite a while back for a one-time sheet metal project. Since then they’ve gotten the most use opening clamshell packaging, which they’re pretty good at!
Redcastle
I agree that these snips all versions are very good value for money even more so in the UK where they sell for a straight GBP for USD price including VAT at 20% whereas the baseline for all other US brand goods is the same number in GBP as USD then add VAT with most applying a further hefty premium. They are now available from at least two if not all three of the best specialist tool retailers, their presence in the big box stores seems to be more seasonal/sales or rotating in and out as the “not Stanley or Irwin” offering.
Hilton
Unrelated to this topic but what in your opinion are some of the best specialist tool retailers? I can think of Axminster and Rutlands, what else?
Redcastle
ITS and FIX. I really say four because Axminster and Rutlands definitely qualify although in recent years Rutlands have a smaller range than the others Customer service at all four is excellent.
Redcastle
FIX should be FFX
Hilton
Thanks. I’m heading over to the UK in November from South Africa so will check out those companies.
Jim Felt
I’ve even bought “not available in the US” stuff from Axminster!
They ship it a tad slower then Amazon UK but I’m not crazy enough to expect or actually need anything they’d offer overnight anyway.
And I like their name.
Game of Thrones-like as it seems.
The other’s just a giant slow moving continental river.
fred
I’m over in Europe a few times per year these days – sightseeing and vacationing – not tool buying – unless looking for some special gift.
I have bought from a UK source on Amazon – but I don’t know if they have a bricks and mortar store in the UK – or how good they really are:
http://www.bigredtoolbox.co.uk/
Jason / surfjungle
Consider also dm-tools.co.uk and mtmc.co.uk.
Jason / surfjungle
Also and for what it is worth, when buying German hand tools such as Wera and Knipex, amazon.de is excellent value when compared with its .co.uk counterpart and great value in general. This is not true of German power tools however.
fred
Wiss (one of the venerable brands of the Apex tool group) was once nearly synonymous with USA-made scissors.
My wife has a pair of their #20LH 10 inch inlaid blade shears and their CB7LH pinking shears – the “LH” on both items fits with her being left-handed. Hers are at least 35 years old – so I’m not sure if they are still made and/or made in the US anymore.
Jim Felt
fred.
Many I’ve seen in recent years are still marked Made on the USA. As are all of my own.
Scott K
I bought a pair of these on sale at HD for $10. They seemed like they would come in handy and I’ve used them numerous times (only once or twice on sheet metal). They’re great on screen, mesh, zips, and plenty of other materials.
KokoTheTalkingApe
Re opening those plastic clamshell packages: a cheap pair of crash scissors work great. Crash scissors are those offset, micro-serrated, short-blade scissors that EMT’s use to cut clothes off injured people. The offset keeps your hand up out of the way, and the tiny serrations just eat up most flexible materials. They are semi-disposable, and usually cost just a few bucks. There is a “foot” on the lower blade so it slides along skin easily, which you can grind off or just leave be; it makes no difference in opening packaging.
Re metal snips: I had to use them to cut sheet metal once in my life, and I discovered the offset snips that keep your hand out of the cut were pretty great. Also, leather gloves are essential.
fred
My favorite for cutting open clamshell packaging:
https://www.amazon.com/ALLEX-Super-scissors-17211-japan/dp/B001M0E5YO/
Jim Felt
So fred aside from the fact that Costco should by definition sell these to save their customer’s hands would your wife agree and therefore should I buy these for my addicted to tamper resistant packaging spouse?
(I just use a Sawzall or dynamite. And a ton of swearing.)
fred
We like them – but the sorts of “bandage” scissors that Stuart links to seem like a good and possibly cheaper alternative. Both would seem to get your fingers up and out of the way of the plastic packaging as you cut along.
firefly
Mine favorite is actually the package opener inside the leatherman wingman. The sharp hook is amazingly effective both in punching a hole then ripping through the plastic casing in an almost effortless manner.
Stuart
Yep, but I still tend to like snips better – they take a lot less effort when cutting thicker or more troublesome plastic.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/medical-shears-reasons-to-buy/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/prestige-medical-style-shears/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Chip
Wiss is “the” name I think of when it comes to snips,other brands have caught up to them partially.
Re; snips vs cutting.
Snips and punches anneal the tin ,drills/and saws can cause rust around the cut+ spreading chips and swarf across the entire surface causing more rust..
Brian M
Midwest is soo much better IMO; sharper, easier to cut, last longer and (like the post said) better grips. Malco is even better than Midwest but are even more expensive. Wiss is nothing special IMO. You can get Stanley or whatever and get the same results, not everything made in the USA is gold. Beware COO connoisseurs, outside of snips Wiss’ products are nearly all made in China.
Cr8on
Midwest is my choice. Made about 30 miles from my front door using 100% US sourced materials. Mind you I’m not that buy US only guy but sometimes it just feels right. I do have some Wiss Snipes I use to cut shingles with though…
Jim Felt
I’ve got both and now that you mention it I’m going to make sure to my Midwest snips more front and center.
Thanks for the “reminder”.
Framer joe
Can’t beat them ,for the price or more expensive ones…and…as you know ,gotta be , Made in the USA…..
Quality American made tool!
Steve
Like you, I just use them as scissors in the shop. Nothing I need to cut can stand up them. Milwaukee has some nice ones that are quite affordable, I picked those up too.
KevinB
Great product. I use them all the time on blister packaging and the older ones for cracking lobster/crabshells.
mikeakafazzman
Been using Wiss for well over 20 years. They used to be a standard for metal workers. I also have Milwaukee and Midwest snips. Hard to beat the cost of Wiss nowadays if you need something that just works.
Nathan
I have WIss snips and I got them 10 years ago to replace the ones I used to use in the hangar. granted they don’t get much use over all but they get some and after enough time. At home they get little use however.
I always advocate getting the 3 pack or rather getting the straight, the left hand and the RH. They are often less 3 times the cost of the single and if you don’t already have them – and you start cutting alot they come in handy. I use my lh or rh snips to open packages so I put less wear on the straight snips.
Nathan
OH I tried out the midwest snips and I don’t really see much to fall in love with. Unless the Wiss ones today aren’t made in america. Last ones I picked up were but it’s been a while. Not that the midwest ones are bad in anyway either – but they didn’t make me want to trade over.
jayne
I’ve had mine for over thirty plus years. Never ever let me down. I’ve only used them on sheet metal though. Cheaper knockoffs by you know who are awful compared to these. I had the cheap ones just garbage and that’s where they went.
Matt Steele
Maybe I’m cheap, but I like the occasional snips that are free after rebate at Menards. Lenox or something? Hard to go wrong with free.