How to Sharpen Tin Snips

Tin snips are useful for cutting thin gauge metal such as aluminum or in metal artwork. Serrated tin snips grasp metal. Use an automatic grinder or mill file to sharpen tin snips. An automatic grinding machine is the fastest method.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Automatic Grinder

1. Wear earplugs and safety goggles or a face shield when you sharpen tin snips with an automatic grinder.
   
2. Protect your hands with work gloves when you are handling the blades of tin snips.
   
3. Open the jaws of the tin snips wide. Most likely, it will be necessary to take the tin snips apart by removing the rivet or nut, bolt and spring.
   
4. Choose a coarse wheel and put the wheel on the automatic grinding machine according to the manufacture's directions. Turn on the machine to sharpen tin snips.
5. Roll the tin snip blade against the wheel without changing the location of the blades in relationship to the wheel. Individually roll each of the two blades' edges at about an 87-degree angle, but don't grind the faces.
6. Hone the edge of the blade to remove metal shavings. Replace the rivet and tighten it slightly with a rivet set, or put the tin snips' nut, bolt and spring on and carefully adjust the tension.
7. Test the tin snips on scrap metal to see if the blades cut easily.
   

Hand Sharpen with a Mill File

8. Use the precautions and instructions in Steps 1, 2 and 3 above.
   
   
   
9. Follow the angles on the slanted cutting edge of the tin snip blades when you use a mill file.
   
10. Inspect the cutting edges for chips or nicks and remove them with the mill file. Sharpen all of the edge on each blade.
11. Set your hone on a hard surface when you hand sharpen tin snips. Match the angle of the snip's blade to the hone stone, and polish the slanted side of the blade.
12. Polish the second blade with the hone.
13. Put the tin snips back together and test the cutting ability after you sharpen the tin snips.
    

Tips & Warnings

• Tightening the tension too much makes tin snips difficult to squeeze and use to cut.
• Don't use filing equipment made for sharpening kitchen knives, garden tools or scissors.

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