Comparison between Nibblers and Shear Tools

Metalworking is one of the most complex industries due to the severity of the production processes involved. Those who regularly work with heavy gauge metal sheets perform several processes in order to get the metal to the required specifications for further forming. Amongst such several operations, cutting of sheet metal plays a significant role. There are several tools available for sheet metal cutting that help you do the job at a faster rate, whilst allowing you to produce clean cuts by reducing the workpiece damage and the risk of injury. This post discusses the most commonly used sheet metal cutting tools, i.e., nibblers and shears. Read on to know a comparison between the two.

What is a Nibbler Tool?

A nibbler tool is a versatile cutting tool used to make precise and intricate cuts in various materials, such as sheet metal. It operates by shearing small portions of the material, allowing for curves, notches, and complex shapes to be easily achieved.

What is a shear tool?

A shear tool is used for making straight and clean cuts in different materials. It operates by applying a pressing action to separate the material along a straight line. Shear tools are commonly used in metalworking, fabrication, and construction industries for efficient and precise cutting.

Make the Right Choice between Nibblers and Shears

Although the most established and popular cutting tools, many of us are still not aware of the major distinction between nibblers and shears. In order to make the right choice, you must first know about the tools first. Let us see a brief description of nibblers and shears.

• Nibblers: Available in freehand use or bench-mounted versions, these versatile cutting tools help cut through sheet metal precisely without damaging the workpiece. These handiest and universal cutting devices work without feed force, distortion, emissions, or spark. These cutting tools are widely chosen to make cut sections, small channels or cutouts, tubes, and corrugated or trapezoidal sheets. The tool can cut a wide range of steel materials in varying thicknesses by allowing for easy and quick direction change.
  
• Shears: Shears, which help cut slight curves and straight cuts, are used for cutting aluminum, brass, copper, lead, and other materials. With long-lasting durability and dependability, these sheet metal cutting tools make repeatable cuts, whilst reducing waste. They are compact and are designed to provide faster and less fatigue cutting. Available in either pneumatic- or electric-powered versions, shears are known for their highest speed, optimum performance, and efficiency.

Which One to Select Nibbler or Shear?

Although both nibblers and shears are meant to perform the same cutting action, there are a few differences between the two. Let us have a look at some.

• Nibblers are not an ideal choice when it comes to cutting extremely fine lines. However, the same can be accomplished with the help of hand shears.
• Unlike shears, nibblers are widely chosen to cut patterns out of sheet metal.
• Shearing action creates less waste compared to nibbling, which produces thousands of tiny chips.
• The shearing tool is suitable for heavy-duty cutting tasks compared to nibblers.
• As the shearing tool creates less waste, it is much easier to clean the space after the cutting unlike the nibbling operation, which produces chips everywhere.
• Shears cut with minimum distortion, unlike nibblers that destroy the material in their path.
• Great for prototyping and small production, nibblers are easy to operate in difficult-to-access areas, unlike shears.
• Shears easily cut through 14-gauge mild steel and stainless to 18-gauge quickly and quietly without warping or bending.

With this information, you must be able to make a wise selection between the two for cutting sheet metal to the required specifications. However, besides the information provided, there is much more technical information you must know about these cutting tools. Collaborating with a trusted sheet metal tool manufacturing and distributing company will surely help you in this regard. The post ends by letting you know about such a manufacturer, Woodward Fab, who keeps a large inventory of both nibblers and shearing tools. They not only offer high-quality cutting tools that work impressively for cutting a wide range of materials with varying thicknesses but also offer unbeatable customer assistance to help know the product better.