Best tool for cutting sheet metal

[wr0ngway 50]

Making a sculpture out of old stove pipe,  a giant tin man with an eternal flame heart. Need to cut pieces of stove pipe,  sheet metal,  probably all about 14 -18 ga.

Using tiny sheet metal screws for connections.

[ironmike 124]

Aviation style sheet metal snips . . .

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/aviation-snips-3-pc-62157.html

 

These were a pleasant surprise, more robust than I expected . . . and inexpensive ($12 for all three - yes, you'll need all three; different cutting angles).

[wr0ngway 50]

got them, thanks! Looks like they'll work great.

I might give him the skis too, at least for the winter.

[Furbird 676]

Tin snips are fine for straight, thin metal, but for thicker metal, or already shaped metal, I use an electric angle grinder with cutoff wheels.  Air cutoff tools take a TON of air, and spin so fast that when the wheels break (and they will) they become projectiles.  The electric grinder doesn't spin as fast and the cutoff wheels are thicker.

[spicholy 596]

On 11/12/2016 at 5:36 PM, Furbird said:

Tin snips are fine for straight, thin metal, but for thicker metal, or already shaped metal, I use an electric angle grinder with cutoff wheels.  Air cutoff tools take a TON of air, and spin so fast that when the wheels break (and they will) they become projectiles.  The electric grinder doesn't spin as fast and the cutoff wheels are thicker.

Yep, this.  From an ex- tinknocker.  Use a a cutoff wheel for the round tube and snips for the flat work.