Nibblers are a must-have tool for people who deal with metal works and sculptures. They provide precise and intricate cutting without any mess. It reduces the manual effort required and complete the job quickly. Nibblers are available in a diverse range. To choose among them is not an easy task. To choose the best nibbler for your requirements, consider the below factors…
Capacity: Nibblers come in capacity range between 8 to 10 gauges. You have to choose this based on how much powerful nibbler your project needs. Strokes: It represents the capability of adjusting while coming with different materials. The ideal option ranges between 1300 to 1400 strokes. Higher number is suitable for cutting thicker materials and lower number is suitable for thinner materials. Cutting Radius: The minimum cutting radius for conventional nibblers is one-inch and for bigger-sized models, it is four inches. This is based on the hole size you are trying cut and material you are going to work on. Power Type: Nibblers are available in corded, cordless, pneumatic and attachments. Based on your requirements and preference, you can make the choice.
For further clarification, we recommend checking out the detailed “Buying Guide” mentioned below. To help you out, we have shortlisted the Best Nibblers using the same information and testing several products. A detail review of each product is also mentioned below.
Best Nibblers Table
7 Best Nibblers Reviews
1. VEVOR Nibbler
VEVOR is one of the leading brands manufacturing premium tough tools and equipment, including this electric metal nibbler. This 380W electric metal nibbler has the excellent cutting capability and a user-friendly 360-degree adjustable design. With its large stroke, the nibbler can make clean, fast, smooth, and precise cutting of various materials like aluminum, steel, plastic, metal plate, glass, copper, pipes, or sheet metals. The ergonomic, lightweight, and slim body design of this nibbler will aid in easy gripping and handling. It is made of durable, efficient, premium materials that are equipped with a powerful copper motor of 380W that operates at an 1800 RPM speed to withstand high temperatures and cut various shapes smoothly without any burr. Its 360-degree adjustable cutting blade guide is quite helpful in cutting curves, straight lines, and circles, whereas its air outlet provides proper ventilation and heat dissipation. It comes with all essential accessories that include a wrench, replaceable block, spanners, and toolbox/storage case to carry around easily, and also to repair/replace the cutting blade for efficient cutting performance. The cutting thickness will be 0.07 inches/1.8mm. It comes with a 1-year warranty against manufacturing defects. Best Features:
Electric nibbler with a power rating of 3.5 amps Comes with a 1-year warranty 380W powerful motor with 1800 RPM speed Includes complete accessories. 360°adjustable user-friendly cutting blade
Pros:
Humanized design for easy handling Excellent cutting capability Suitable to cut various materials in different shapes Budget-friendly electric corded nibbler Great performance and easy-to-use design
Cons:
No information on its warranty. No instructional manual is available.
2. Makita Nibbler
We have yet another nibbler model from Makita since it offers a wide range of options to the user. But unlike the previous one, this is a cordless model. Makita’s XNJ01Z nibbler is present in the 2nd position in this article as it is one of the only cordless nibbler models available out there. Since it has a small and compact design along with a lightweight construction, its cordless design makes for a great portable option for many users out there. Even though it is cordless, it offers very similar performance to the previous model. You get an 18-volt battery system in this nibbler that is quite powerful for a cordless power tool. This battery allows you to easily cut 16 gauge metal sheets using this nibbler if needed. And just like the previous Makita power tool, you get a 1-year long warranty with this cordless nibbler. Although its build quality is not as good as the corded model mentioned earlier. Best Features:
Electric nibbler with power rating of 18 volts Gauge rating of up to 16 gauge 1-year long warranty Decent battery life for portable usage
Pros:
Small and compact design with lightweight construction Great performing 18-volt battery system for 16 gauge metal Long battery life for continuous portable usage
Cons:
Build quality could have been slightly better Not the most affordable option out there
3. Ingersoll Rand Nibbler
Ingersoll Rand is a brand of power tools that mainly deals with pneumatic products, just like its nibblers. The Ingersoll Rand EC3000 pneumatic nibbler can be another great option if you are looking for a powerful pneumatic model. This is possible due to the reason that it has an air pressure rating of 90 PSI. When combined with its 4 CFM airflow rating, you get decent performance from this nibbler for easily cutting metal sheets. Another great thing about Ingersoll Rand is that it offers a 1-year long warranty. You also get a pretty good build quality with this nibbler that is to be expected at the given price tag. This nibbler is made for cutting 18 gauge sheet metal with a 6 feet per minute cutting rate for ease of use and saving time. Best Features:
Pneumatic nibbler with cutting rate of 6 feet per minute Gauge rating of up to 18 gauge 1-year long warranty Air pressure rating of 90 PSI Airflow rating of 4 CFM
Pros:
Great build quality with a long warranty period Offers decent performance for cutting 18 gauge sheet metal High cutting rate of 6 feet per minute
Cons:
Expensive for a pneumatic nibbler
4. Astro Pneumatic Tool Nibbler
Just per its name, Astro is another brand of pneumatic power tools that also makes a decent nibbler model. Astro’s 727 ONYX pneumatic nibbler is yet another great pick if you want a powerful nibbler. It offers very similar performance to the other pneumatic nibblers mentioned in this article. In other words, you get the same air pressure rating of up to 90 PSI, along with an airflow rating of 4 CFM with this nibbler. Just like most other nibbler models out there, Astro also offers a 1-year long warranty with its nibbler. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the build quality as it leaves the user wanting for more. As for its gauge rating, you can use this pneumatic nibbler for cutting 17 gauge sheet metal that is slightly better than other models mentioned above in this article. Best Features:
Pneumatic nibbler with easy to use controls Gauge rating of up to 17 gauge 1-year long warranty Air pressure rating of 90 PSI Airflow rating of 4 CFM
Pros:
Offers high gauge rating of 17 gauge High-performance pneumatic nibbler Easy to use design
Cons:
Average build quality Does not come with any accessories
5. Metabo HPT Nibbler
Metabo is one of the reliable brands when it comes to power tools. They have wide product range that include saws, sanders, planers, drills, nailers, and several others. Their HPT CN16SA is shortlisted as 5th position in our list of best metal nibblers because of its good quality and affordable price range. It is equipped with 3.5 Amp motor which ensures intense power that cuts through flat and corrugated metal sheet. It has a small grip circumference which assures maximum control and comfort. As it is a downward punching, it will reduce the chipping on work piece. In order to assure safety, it comes with one-touch quick-off slide. It has an amazing cutting speed of 5.7 feet per minute. Best Features
5 Amp motor Small grip circumference Downward punching Cutting speed of 5.7 feet per minute 3-position indexing die holder
Pros
Affordable price for the quality Good performance Easy to use design
Cons
Warranty detail not specified Double Headed Nibblers
6. Rexbeti Nibbler
Rexbeti is a brand of nibblers that makes both power tools and related accessories that generally have a high user rating. This Rexbeti drill attachment has a high user rating because of the various features that you get with this nibbler attachment. As per its name, it is not a standalone power tool but a nibbler attachment made for your existing power tools like a drill. You can use this attachment with any drill of your choice that works between 1500 RPM to 3000 RPM without any issues. Even though this is an attachment, you get a 1-year long warranty with it. This is quite handy to have since you can face some wear and tear while cutting 14 gauge sheet metal using this nibbler that is quite high compared with other options in this article. It even allows you to cut with high precision using its 360 degree double cutting head. Best Features:
Nibbler attachment made for existing drills Gauge rating of up to 14 gauge 1-year long warranty Great build quality for peace of mind
Pros:
Works with 1500 RPM to 3000 RPM drills Uses HSS cutting blades for high precision 360 degree double cutting head
Cons:
Not a standalone nibbler power tool
7. Dicfeos Nibbler
Dicfeos is another brand of nibbler accessories and attachments that makes a nibbler attachment for your existing power tools for cutting metal. The Dicfeos nibbler attachment is another nibbler attachment that works quite similar to the previous option mentioned in this article. Just like that one, Dicfeos’ nibbler attachment works with your existing drills. This allows you to cut 14 gauge sheet metal if needed with high precision. Since you get a 360-degree cutting head, you can move. However, you like for intricate operations. One benefit of going with this Dicfeos nibbler attachment is that you get a 2-year long warranty with it. When combined with its great build quality, you can expect this nibbler to easily last for a long time, even if you are cutting hard and strong sheets of metal using it. Although, the price of this nibbler attachment is slightly high for an attachment. Best Features:
Nibbler attachment made for existing drills Gauge rating of up to 14 gauge 2-year long warranty Great build quality for longevity and reliability
Pros:
Works great with most drill models 360 degree head for intricate jobs High gauge rating of 14 gauge
Cons:
Slightly expensive nibbler attachment accessory
Factors to Consider While Purchasing a Nibbler
Though it is a simple device, don’t overlook the importance of analyzing and market research before making the purchase. If you are not aware of how to choose a nibbler, then the below buying guide is very helpful. Here, we have provided a detail explanation of every factor to help you make the right choice according to your budget and requirements.
1. Capacity
It represents the cutting capacity of nibbler or maximum thickness it can cut through. Before analyzing this feature, it is better to think what type of materials you will be working on. Some projects may not need a highly-powerful and costly nibbler. Based on your regular working requirements, you can choose the capacity. Usually, nibblers come in capacity range between 8 to 10 gauges. You can check the package or specifications for the information on the capacity.
2. Strokes
This is a must-have feature that every nibbler should have. An ideal nibbler is capable of adjusting while coming with different materials. The strokes per minute usually vary based on the material used. Thicker materials need less strokes per minute while thinner gauge need higher strokes per minute. Once you have figured out the working material, you can choose the ideal nibbler while required strokers per minute for a smooth finish. Usually, the ideal option ranges between 1300 to 1400 strokes. You can further choose between them based on the material you are using.
3. Cutting Radius
This is another important feature to consider while purchasing a nibbler as it represents its working efficiency and how tight the radius cuts will be. As per the experts, minimum cutting radius for conventional nibblers is one-inch and for bigger-sized models, it is four inches. This is based on the hole size you are trying cut and material you are going to work on.
4. Power Type
In the market, you can come across several types of nibblers which differ based on power requirements. Most of the nibbler models are pneumatic while others are electrically enabled. Some of them are also available as attachment nibblers. As the name implies, these nibblers can be fixed to the existing power tool. And because of this action, electric and pneumatic nibblers are more powerful and reliable. When it comes to power rating, corded tools come withing the range of 4 amps to 5 amps and cordless models come with 12 to 20 volts. For pneumatic nibblers, the power rating comes with in a combination of air flow and air pressure like 4 CFM and 90 PSI. Usually, higher power ratings lead to proper performance in both the cases.
5. Durability and Replaceable Cutter Head
While choosing a nibbler, make sure the cutter head has durable construction and it should be capable of replacing it based on working purpose. Usually, users prefer a nibbler that is capable cutting a wide range of metals. But you will mostly use it for cutting the sheet material that doesn’t lose its cutting edge quickly.
6. Versatility
Usability of the nibbler is also an important consideration while purchasing a nibbler. So, you may have to consider to go for a cordless or corded one. You should also consider whether you have to cut in straight lines or circles. And finally, also consider how it is going to fit into the existing toolkit – whether to use the batteries also available with you or go for a drill attachment instead of separate nibbler.
7. Price
When it comes to costing, nibblers vary based on the features, quality and brand. Usually, high quality ones are a bit expensive. However, they are durable and last long. Low-quality ones are available at a cheaper price range. But they may not last long and prone to damages. So, choose based on your budget.
8. Warranty
No matter what the product is, it is always important to check out the warranty duration. It protects your investment against any defects or repairs in this duration. If the product doesn’t come with warranty, then it is better to avoid purchasing it. While most models out there come with a 1-year long warranty, others might have a 2-year long warranty. Other than the warranty, you should look out for nibblers that have a sturdy and strong build quality. This is simply due to the reason that models with a long warranty and sturdy build quality generally last for a long time.
Different Types of Nibblers
Nibblers are available three different types that include pneumatic, nibble shears and punch&Die. We have mentioned a clear description for your reference.
Punch and Die Nibbler: This conventional nibbler is mostly held below the metal sheet that is supposed to be cut. It slowly nibblers into the metal material when the pressure is applied from the top.
Nibble Shears: Compared to conventional nibblers, nibble sheers are a bit different as they are hold perpendicular to the metal sheet while cutting. For operating this model, user has to keep the handles together. This intuitive approach makes the unit completely different from others.
Pneumatic Nibblers: Air or pneumatic nibblers punch holes in the metal sheet using air pressure. They are the most expensive option and need more elements for operating.
Conclusion
While there are a lot of ways of cutting a metal sheet, nibblers are most likely the option for you if you want to cut metal sheets with high precision. In fact, there are a lot of nibbler options out there that are ideal for different requirements. We have even mentioned some of the best nibblers in this article, along with their major features and options. Not only that, but you can even find a detailed buying guide related to nibblers. In other words, you can easily differentiate between the various nibblers present in this article. Although, if you are still confused and cannot pick the perfect nibbler for you, we are here with some of our favorite recommendations:
The Makita Nibbler is one of the most powerful options present in this article. It comes with a highly powerful 5 amp electric motor that offers a gauge rating of 16 gauge along with a 1-year long warranty for peace of mind. If you just want an accessory for converting your existing power tools into a nibbler, then you can go with Dicfeos Nibbler attachment. This attachment is quite strong and allows you to work with 14 gauge metal sheets if needed. Another great thing about it is that it comes with a 2-year long warranty. Astro Pneumatic Tool Nibbler is the cheapest nibbler power tool model present in this article that makes for a great option for users on a budget. Despite being an affordable tool, it offers decent performance with its 4 CFM and 90 PSI power rating that results in 3500 RPM motor speed.
Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. You can also post any questions down there if you have any! Comment * Name * Email * Website
Δ
