Harbor Freight Link

So I broke my nibbler after over ten years of use. The last few years I've been using it on cases to cut and/or enlarge holes.

A search through the massive Harbor Freight site found about six different types of nibblers. Check out the one in the link.....somewhat different from the one I've been using. It cuts without leaving the usual metal curl....I've never seen this type. Sounds interesting.

I prefer a nibbler over a tin snip. For me it's easier to use, and works better in confined spaces. Also it cuts thicker metal more easily. You can make perfect holes with a nibbler....with no metal chips flying everywhere.

Standard Nibbler like I've been using

Air powered nibbler

I have one just like that one.

It sucks. It's more of a shear then a nibbler. It really bends the metal out of shape, so it's nowhere as clean as a standard nibbler.

I have a Klein nibbler now. It works as expected.

There is an electric powered nibbler for sale by Micromark.com

I've been meaning to get one for awhile. Much easier for larger cutouts, I'll bet.

-Ed

Well then. There's a strong NO for new nibblers. Haha

LOL, what kind of Nibbler did you use? Mine lasted for barely a year. But it was a cheapo one like this:



I just bought this one. Feels alot more sturdy, and the blades are replaceable.



The spring and nut on the top comes off, so it can fit into smaller holes.

-Ed

Here's a few photos of a nibbler in action. The larger of the two is the one I usually use/broke. When I took those photos that nibbler was almost twenty years old now that I think about it. It was getting dull after hundreds of cuts.....mostly on automotive steel.

Edwood.....I was wondering how that new type would work without bending the metal. Guess it can't....

Man, that pneumatic nibbler requires a MONSTER compressor!

It might also introduce a lot of vibration to the case/components, unless you've stipped the former.

I was very disappointed when I got an "old style" nibbler. It really deformed the the thin case steel. I went back to using an electric jigsaw, creating the inevitable swarf, vibration & downtime.

Does anyone have any experience of Spiral Saws which seem to be coming down in price? Here is an example, although I've seen similar for less:
http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/Soft ... 1102704370

Some means of creationg a nice clean fan hole without having to remove everything from the case would be great. I hope that this doesn't tun out to be just the manual nibbler though.

I've been thinking of getting this powered nibbler.

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.as ... t&ID=81556




Detail of the cutter nozzle. Rotary cutting action.

-Ed

$140... *sigh*

If you do get one, please let us know if it works as advertised.