Snip cutters, usually called snips or tin snips, are hand tools made for cutting thin sheet metal and other materials.
How they work: They look and act like heavy-duty scissors with short, strong blades. The leverage from the handles lets you cut through tough material by hand.
Main types:
Straight-cut snips: Yellow handles traditionally. Cut straight lines and wide curves
Left-cut snips: Red handles. Cut straight and tight curves to the left
Right-cut snips: Green handles. Cut straight and tight curves to the right
Aviation snips: Most common now. Compound leverage gives extra cutting force. Color-coded handles as above
What they cut:
Sheet metal, aluminum flashing, vinyl siding, hardware cloth, wire mesh, plastic, leather, rubber
Key features:
Compound action: Two pivot points give more force with less hand effort