Even the most highly qualified professional and top-tier specialist needs to be equipped with durable and reliable tools.

The same applies to sheet metal shears, which are available on the market in several basic types.

Shears for straight and curved cuts

Sheet metal shears usually come in right-cutting, left-cutting, or center-cutting versions. Choosing the right type for a specific application is very important, as center-cutting shears are primarily designed for straight cuts, while the other two types are intended for cutting curves.

Left-cutting shears are best suited for left-turning curves (cutting from right to left), while right-cutting shears are used for right-turning curves (cutting from left to right).

Basic classification of shears

In general, shears can also be divided into universal, shape-cutting, and through-cutting types. The latter are needed when the sheet must be cut through the middle, for example. Shape-cutting shears are suited for more intricate operations—the small head makes it easier to cut complex shapes. The most common type is the universal shear, useful for almost any cutting task.

Additionally, we can distinguish between traditional and lever-action shears. Lever-action shears are suitable only for simpler tasks and are often used to cut entire sheets into smaller pieces. Their main advantage is that they require less force to be applied to the handle.