Tin snips are hand tools specifically designed to cut sheet metal. With looks similar to pliers in many cases and ergonomically designed grips for applying high pressures as required.

Comfort and ease-of-use are important benefits to products in this range, as well as allowing control for precise cutting. The range has various sizes and blade types.

There are two broad categories: tin snips, which are similar to common scissors, and aviation snips, which use a leverage handle system to increase the mechanical advantage.

Tin Snips are characterized by their longer handles and short blades. Usually, they will have extra wide jaws and often made of dropped forged carbon steel.

Aviation Snips were designed originally to help cut aluminium in aircraft construction (hence the name)and exert a higher force of cutting when compared to tin snips. They are also referred to as compound action snips and come in three configurations: Straight cutting, left cutting or right cutting.

• Straight cutting snips (generally have yellow coloured soft grips) cut in a straight line and wide curves;
• Left cutting snips (usually red) will cut straight and in a tight curve to the left;
• Right cutting snips (usually green) will cut straight and in a tight curve to the right.

 These different cutting styles are necessary because metal is stiff and heavy and does not move out of the way readily when cutting around a curve. The respective styles move the material out of the way when cutting in the direction they are designed for.

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