Pneumatic nibbler cutting steel - GIF

**Toolmaker51** · Jan 12, 2020, 05:04 AM

The used market will have shears, and nibblers. The brands we know, many made such tools. There is another form too, Trace-A-Punch by Heck. Difference is the nibbler is stationary and inverted. Operator steers panel through cutting area. IF a work table, adjacent and of proper height to the die is used, surprisingly easy. Carpeting, the tight woven tile material, on table stop lets sheet slide and dampens good part of the noise. When cut progresses, the ends 'shudder' with their own racket, but outfeed arrangement fixes it.

**Tooler2** · Jan 14, 2020, 06:50 PM

I have a little Makita with round die so it cuts out tiny sharp crescents that are a nightmare to deal with. I have a bigger Milwaukee that cuts 1/8 with a nice square punch, very impressive tools , lists for about 900$

**old kodger** · Jan 14, 2020, 08:15 PM

Yeh, I have to admit, the crescent moon punchings from the Makita get into EVERYTHING, mostly the bottoms of your boots, making you "klink" when you walk.

**tonyfoale** · Jan 15, 2020, 03:39 AM

Originally Posted by old kodger

Yeh, I have to admit, the crescent moon punchings from the Makita get into EVERYTHING, mostly the bottoms of your boots, making you "klink" when you walk.

That is the big downfall with the small nibblers. Sometimes I avoid using mine for a small job simply because of the cleaning up afterwards, those bits get everywhere.