The Roofer’s Guide to Metal Snips

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When installing a new roof, you want to ensure that it's high-quality and durable. You're thinking of different materials to work with, and you decide metal is the right choice. Great decision! Metal roofs are not only durable but trendy as well. 

You'll need safety gear like protective gloves, safety goggles, long sleeves, and pants. Perhaps most importantly, you'll need a good pair of snips.

A good pair of razor-sharp snips will last years, and there are several factors to consider when purchasing metal snips: cut, hardness, blade type, and roofing material are all important to consider when choosing the right pair of snips for you.

Safety Gear and Tips

When working with metal roofing and tools like snips and air shears, it’s important to prioritize safety. Here are some key safety tips:

Essential Safety Gear

  • Gloves: Always wear sturdy gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges and tool blades.
  • Eye Protection: Safety goggles or glasses are essential to shield your eyes from flying debris or metal fragments during cutting.
  • Protective Clothing: Long sleeves and pants are recommended to cover your skin and avoid cuts from sharp metal edges.
  • Footwear: Choose protective footwear with durable soles to safeguard your feet from potential hazards, especially on construction sites.

Essential Safety Gear

  • Firm grip: Always maintain a firm and steady grip on your tools to prevent slips or mishandling during cutting.
  • Cut away from your body: To reduce the risk of injury, make sure you are cutting in a direction that keeps your body and others out of the path of the tool.
  • Slow and controlled movements: Avoid rushing. Work steadily to ensure clean cuts and reduce the chance of mistakes or accidents.
  • Use the right tool for the job: Ensure that you're using the appropriate type of snips or shears for the material and cuts you're working on.

Storage and Care

  • Clean after use: After each job, take a moment to clean your tools, removing any dust or metal fragments. This simple step can extend the lifespan of your tools.
  • Proper storage: Store your tools in a dry, safe place to avoid rust or damage. Keeping them in good condition will help ensure they remain reliable and effective over time.

Cut Orientation -- Left or Right Cut

Cutting curves into metal roofing can be tricky. Luckily, most domestically produced tin snips have color-coded handles to help the cutter choose cut orientation.

  • Red snips indicate snips that cut straight, and to the left (comfortable for right-handed users).
  • Green snips indicate snips that cut straight and to the right (comfortable for left-handed users).
  • Yellow snips indicate snips designed for straight cutting only.

 It's important to remember that the snips will always cut a curve in the direction of the lower blade.

Straight or Offset?

The angle at which the handles are offset from the cutting blades will determine which types of cuts are easier and which are more difficult. For example, handles that are offset 40 degrees to the right of the blades can be used to cut in tight corners towards the left.

Some snips have handles offset at 90 degrees from the blades. This works well for cutting in tight places where your hands may not fit. 

Regular aviation snips work great for dead-on cuts of material. Usually, these snips have narrower blades, which allow for cuts in tight spaces and curves. 

Alternatively, offset snips are great for making long, straight cuts. The elevated handles prevent your hands from making contact with the materials. These snips can still be used for curves, albeit wider curves. 

Cutting Techniques

Using the right cutting techniques is essential for achieving clean, precise cuts when working with metal roofing. Here are some tips to help you get the best results with your metal snips:

Steady Pressure and Controlled Movements:

To ensure smooth, even cuts, it's important to apply steady pressure throughout the cutting process. Avoid rushing or forcing the snips through the material, as this can lead to jagged edges and distorted metal.

Small, incremental Cuts for Curves:

When cutting curves or working in tight spaces, make small, incremental cuts rather than trying to cut the entire curve in one go. This method gives you more control over the cut, allowing you to maintain a smooth, even curve without bending or warping the metal.

Long, Straight Cuts with Offset Snips:

For longer, straight cuts, offset snips are your best option. The elevated handles allow you to keep your hands clear of the material, making it easier to maintain a straight, consistent line without interference.

Managing Metal Distortion:

Metal can easily distort or bend when cutting, especially in tight areas or when making sharp turns. To minimize this, always hold the metal firmly and avoid twisting or applying excessive force with the snips.

Angle the Snips for Cleaner Cuts:

For best results, angle the snips slightly in the direction of the cut. By tilting the snips, you can guide the blades more effectively through the metal and reduce the risk of leaving sharp, jagged edges.

Blade Hardness / Durability

The hardness of snips determines their lifespan and ability to cut different types of metal. The Rockwell HRC scale is typically used to determine the hardness of steel. Snips usually fall between HRC 56 and 65.

As the hardness approaches 65, the snips are more able to work through harder material, such as thicker steel. You will also be paying a premium for those hard snips. 

It's important to consider the type of metal you'll be cutting through when selecting a pair of snips. The hardness that approaches 65 may not be necessary for thinner tin sheets or other types of softer metals. However, if you plan on cutting stainless steel or harder metals, a hard pair of snips is necessary.

Metal roofs are known for their longevity and recyclability, making them an eco-friendly choice. During cutting, be sure to collect metal scraps and recycle them appropriately. Not only does this reduce waste, but it also contributes to sustainability in your roofing projects.

Blade Type

Another consideration when cutting hard metals is the type of blade on your snips. 

Serrated blades are great for gripping and slicing those harder metals, such as stainless steel. These blades also work best for thicker or layered sheets of metal and generally require less force to create a cut. 

Smooth blades are ideal for soft metals, such as zinc, copper, or aluminum. If serrated blades are used to cut through softer metals, they will leave a rough edge where the blades stick to the metal. These rough edges often become a liability down the line, and tears in the metal often occur at these edges. 

Accordingly, serrated blades work well with thicker metals, because they cut more easily and will not distort the material as much. 

Specialty Snips

There are a number of specialty snips for unique circumstances.

Pelican snips, for example, have a slight handle offset, and long blades for creating long, straight cuts. Because of the offset, your hands are removed from the material. These snips aren't ideal for curves, as the blades are long and the offset handle makes the angle of the cut more difficult to control. 

Circle snips are gently curved and typically have smooth blades to create a well-proportioned and consistent radius. These curve-cutting snips are perfect for carving out and finely detailed eave. 

Air Shears

Suppose you are cutting in bulk with a thicker-gauge metal. You could grab your handy pelican snips or serrated blade snips and go for it. However, air shears may be the right way to go in this case.

Air shears use a highly pressurized stream of compressed air to cut metal. Typical air shears on the market can handle relatively thick sheets of metal and often work on harder metals as well. Many air shears come with an offset handle, to assist with angled cutting and cutting at an awkward angle.  

Some air shears include a variable speed trigger. This allows the cutter to control the speed at which air is forced from the shear. There are also air shears with head swivels to improve cut precision. With a variety of different available features, air shears can vary dramatically in price. 

Snip Type Best For Advantages
Aviation SnipsCurves and tight spacesNarrow blades, precise cuts
Offset SnipsLong, straight cutsHand clearance, can still be used for wide curves.
Pelican SnipsLong, straight cutsOffset handle, reduces hand fatigue
Circle SnipsDetailed curve cuttingConsistent radius, good for detailed eave

Corrugated Metal and Nibblers

I know what you're thinking: "What about corrugated metal? How would I use snips to cut that?" And it's a great question. 

The problem with cutting corrugated metal is that it isn't flat. In order to cut it with snips, you would have to cut up, down, and right angles. It doesn't make sense. This is when nibblers apply. 

Nibblers typically use a punch and die mechanism, meaning the tool literally punches the metal with a protruding blade at a fixed linear point. Accordingly, nibblers do not create the smoothest of cuts. When using a nibbler, be mindful of the semi-circular shavings that the tool creates as it cuts. 

These metal pieces are sharp enough to injure, often causing scratches in flooring and other surfaces with which they come into contact. It's important to ensure the shavings are contained in the workspace when possible. Many users employ magnets to keep their workspaces nice and tidy. 

Maintenance and Care for Metal Snips

Proper maintenance is crucial to ensure your metal snips remain effective and durable over time. Here are some tips to keep your snips in top condition:

  • 1 Clean After Each Use:
    After using your snips, it’s important to clean them thoroughly to remove any metal fragments, dust, and debris. Metal shards left on the blades can dull them over time and even cause rust. Use a soft cloth to wipe the blades and handles after every use.
  • 2 Regularly Sharpen the Blades:
    Sharp blades are essential for clean, efficient cuts. Over time, even high-quality snips will lose their edge, particularly when cutting through hard materials like stainless steel. Regularly inspect your snips for dullness. If the blades feel less sharp or you notice rough, jagged edges on your cuts, it's time to sharpen the blades.

    For serrated blades, sharpening requires extra care. Use a round file that matches the serration pattern, ensuring you sharpen the entire length of the blade without altering the serrations. If you're unsure how to sharpen serrated blades, it may be best to take them to a professional.
  • 3 Oil the Pivot Points:
    The pivot point is where the handles of the snips come together and allow the blades to move smoothly. Over time, friction can cause wear and tear on this area, making the snips harder to use and less efficient. To prevent this, apply a few drops of light machine oil or tool lubricant to the pivot point regularly. This ensures smooth operation and reduces the risk of the snips becoming stiff or difficult to handle.
  • 4 Store Snips Properly:
    Proper storage is key to protecting your snips from damage. After cleaning and oiling your snips, store them in a dry, secure place where they are protected from moisture and other environmental factors that could cause rust. Hanging them on a tool rack or keeping them in a toolbox with a fitted compartment ensures they won’t get knocked around or damaged by other tools.

    If you frequently use your snips outdoors or in varying weather conditions, consider storing them in a rust-resistant case or pouch when not in use. This provides an extra layer of protection from humidity and moisture, both of which can cause corrosion.
  • 5 Inspect for Damage and Replace When Necessary:
    Regularly inspect your snips for signs of wear, such as chips in the blades, rust, or loosening at the pivot point. If you notice that the snips are no longer cutting efficiently, it could indicate that they need repair or replacement. Continuing to use damaged snips can lead to poor-quality cuts, injury, or damage to your roofing materials.
  • 6 Avoid Using Snips for Improper Tasks:
    While it might be tempting to use your snips for tasks beyond their intended purpose, such as cutting non-metal materials or prying open containers, doing so can damage the blades and reduce their effectiveness. Metal snips are designed specifically for cutting metal, so using them for other tasks will dull or bend the blades. Stick to the right tools for the job to ensure the longevity of your snips.

The Right Choice for You

When shopping for metal cutting tools, there's a lot to consider. Will you be cutting straight lines or curves? Which kind of metal are you cutting? Are long, straight lines your goal, or are you finely detailing your eaves or roof edges? No matter the task, there’s a pair of snips suited to your needs.

To enhance your toolkit and take your skills to the next level, check out our blog on Mastering Vise Grip Tools for Roofing and Metalworking to learn more about these versatile tools.

Ready to find the right snips for your roofing project? Explore our selection of high-quality snips and metal cutting tools designed to meet the demands of any roofing job. Contact us now for expert advice or to place an order!

Posted in Metal Roofing, Metalworking, Roofing Tips, Roofing Tools