While reading Toolmonger -- a great blog devoted to tools of all types -- I came across this photo of a sheet metal nibbler. It reminded me of how important this inexpensive tool has been in my garage. These sheet metal nibblers cost anywhere from 10 to 50 bucks and are readily available at parts stores and outfits such as Harbor Freight. They cut through car body sheet metal like it is butter, snipping out a 1/8" wide piece of scrap as it goes.

I've owned the same nibbler for quite a few years and the jaws have never needed to be replaced. I also found the nibbler to be much easier to control than tin snips and the nibbler leaves a relatively dull edge on the metal. The ease of control makes the manual nibbler ideal for fitting small patch panels, but yet the nibbler is fast enough to cut through long sections quickly.

The amount of force it takes to operate the nibbler is a touch more than a tin snip and unlike most metal cutting power tools the nibbler is absolutely quiet. No more fishing around in the toolbox for earplugs or aggravating the neighbor with the sound of the power nibbler.