Pneumatic Sheet Metal Fabrication Cutting Tools

• Pneumatic shears, double cuts and nibblers are all pneumatic cutting tools that are engineered for sheet metal fabrication. Air-powered shears and double-cuts have cutting blades on the top and bottom of their jaws. When the trigger is pressed, the jaws move in a scissor-like fashion to cut light gauge sheet metal. Nibblers remove a small piece of metal each time the top blade slips past the lower blade. The cut resembles a smooth bite mark--hence the name nibbler.
  
  

Pneumatic Multipurpose Cutting Tools

• A pneumatic cut-off tool, reciprocating saw and jigsaw have interchangeable blades that can be used to cut materials other then metal. Specialty blades are available that allow these pneumatic tools to cut through wood and plastic.
  
  

Powering Pneumatic Cutting Tools

• The air compressor is the heart of every pneumatic tool. Without the proper air compressor, the pneumatic cutting tools will not function properly. Pneumatic cutting tools need the correct pounds per square inch (PSI) to rotate at the speed necessary to cut your material.
  
  Also important is the air dryer, which removes condensation from the air line. Condensation forms when the humidity in the air is placed under pressure. Without the air dryer, the condensation will travel to the pneumatic cutting tool and gum up the tool's lubricant.
  
  

Pneumatic Cutting Tool Maintenance

• Daily lubrication will help ensure that your pneumatic cutting tools will perform trouble-free. No matter how well the air dryer works, there will always be a slight amount of condensation left in the compressed air. Tool oil is designed to keep the condensation from jamming the pneumatic cutting tool. It is important to use tool oil designed for air tools. Other types of oil will cause a sludge buildup that can impair the tool's operation.
  
  

Pneumatic Cutting Tool Safety

• Air tools have safety guards that are put in place to protect you from the equipment. Pneumatic cut-off tools have thin composite wheels that can shatter and cause serious injury. Along with equipment guards, it is important to wear the proper safety gear.
  
  Safety glasses combined with a protective face shield offer protection for your eyes and face from debris that becomes airborne while cutting. To protect your hands, wear leather gloves. Cloth and denim gloves do not offer the proper amount of protection from pneumatic cutting tools. If the air cutting tool should kick toward you and brush your hand, the injury would be severe. If the cutting tool contacts the leather glove, the tool will simply slip away from your hand.