Mon-Fri from 09:00 to 18:00,
A detailed buying guide: how to choose a pneumatic metal shear or nibbler.
This section covers pneumatic metal shears and nibblers that use compressed air to cut sheet steel, aluminium, galvanised sheet and profiled sheet along straight and curved lines. They are used in car body repair shops, in making ventilation ducts and HVAC systems, and in roofing and sheet-metal work. Air shears are light and compact, cut without sparks or heating the edge and carry no risk of electric shock, but they need an electric or petrol compressor with matching air delivery.
Blade-type shears give a clean straight cut and gentle curves with no waste, while a nibbler punches out the metal, turns tight radii easily and cuts profiled sheet. A nibbler leaves a narrow strip of small chips but does not bend the sheet edges. Read what pneumatic tools are and how they work and electric shears or nibbler: how to choose by metal thickness, cutting radius, and cut type.
Most models cut mild steel up to 1.2–1.6 mm and aluminium up to 2 mm, while the permitted thickness for stainless steel is about 30–40 % lower. Stroke rate is usually 2000–3500 strokes per minute, and the higher it is, the faster and smoother the cut. On mains-powered versions: how to choose electric metal shears.
Air shears and nibblers consume about 110–200 l/min and run continuously on long cuts. The real delivery of the compressor should exceed this consumption by at least 20–30 %. Read how to choose an air compressor and how to calculate compressor air delivery.
The rated working pressure is 6.2–6.3 bar: if it drops, the blade slows down, stalls in thicker metal and crushes the edge. Set the pressure with a regulator and check it at the tool under load. See how to choose compressor working pressure.
Most tools have a 1/4" inlet thread for a EURO, ORION or RAPID quick coupler. Use a hose with an 8 mm inner diameter, and for body work a light, flexible polyurethane hose is more convenient. Read how to choose an air hose and quick couplers.
The vane air motor and blade mechanism are sensitive to moisture and rust, so fit a filter-water separator and regulator in the line. If the line is not used for painting, add a lubricator; otherwise put a few drops of oil into the inlet every day. Read how to prepare compressed air: condensate, filters, regulators, and lubricators.
Choose a model with a light body (about 1–1.5 kg), a trigger with safety lock and rear exhaust, while a swivel head makes curved cuts easier. Metal edges and chips are sharp, so safety glasses and gloves are essential. See how to choose safety glasses and how to choose work gloves.
Disconnect the air before changing the blade, punch or die, and do not exceed the rated thickness so as not to damage the mechanism. Blades, punches and dies, vanes and seals are wear parts, so choose a model for which they are available. Read how to use pneumatic tools safely and how to choose spare parts for pneumatic and hydraulic tools.
At ToolsArmenia you can compare pneumatic metal shears and nibblers by type, cutting capacity, stroke rate, air consumption and weight and choose the right model for your sheet-metal work.
There are no products to list in this category.
