Best cutters for cutting HC without much effort

[hayley3]

Okay...I bought these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QXSY3M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and didn't really like how they worked...just wanted to share my experience to help someone else. They cut great but it's hard to maneuver them as you cut. It was very difficult and frustrating cutting a 24 inch piece. There is a bolt on the side which you remove to change the blade and it got stuck on the hc often.
I can't buy a duplicate dremel which I"m sure would work.
I have no workbench so I have to cut laying it on the ground thus using my jig saw is out.
So I purchased this: https://www.harborfreight.com/3-in-high-speed-electric-cut-off-tool-63023.html thinking it would be similar to a dremel but less expensive.

 

[aart]

They cut great but it's hard to maneuver them as you cut. It was very difficult and frustrating cutting a 24 inch piece.

I hold up the HC with my left hand as the right hand cuts.
Using some gallon jugs of water to hold things in place can help.

 

[hayley3]

My previous snips worked great but these were too bulky. I wish I had taken a video.
I had a concrete block holding the HC on one end but the snips are 1 1/4 inches wide where the bolt is and with each snip they wound up underneath the HC and I'd have to pull them down and then back and then up to do the next cut.

I forgot to say these snips are monster in size. I laid them next to a regular sized pair of pliers for reference.

 

[jsr5]

Any home improvement store will have them by the siding and trim coil. There's a few different styles. The good ones like the ones above are really light with replaceable blades


These are a little cheaper

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They also make a compound cutting version of these that is a lil easier yet and less handle movement. several brands. We always called rm tin snips not sure if that is right ought to be at a harbor freight near sheet metal type supplies.