You don't have to be a tinsmith to cut sheet metal successfully. With the right tool and a few simple techniques, you can make almost any cut with ease. A simple rule of thumb is when cutting long, straight cuts use tinmans shears, while it’s easier to cut curved shapes with aviation shears as they’re designed more for leverage and manoeuvrability. The 'NO NIP' feature on our tinsnips and jewellers snips prevents a users palm from being 'pinched' when the handles come together, whilst still delivering that sharp neat cut. But remember like all shears including garden shears the best way of keeping the shears cutting edges sharp is by maintaining the cutting edges with a file, a few strokes of a file will keep the cutting edges sharp for the next time you need them.