The main difference between standard tin snips and aviation snips is the way in which the leverage is generated. Aviation snips have a compound action pivot system and extra linkage, whereas standard tin snips have a single pivot point.
Double pivot power
The extra linkage on aviation snips due to a second lever being incorporated, gives them an advantage over standard tin snips. The leverage is increased by the extra lever, so the size of the tool, or the force being used, does not need to be increased to produce more power.
The relationship between the effort needed to be put in and the force created by that effort is called the ‘mechanical advantage’. The mechanical advantage that aviation snips have means they can cut tougher materials than tin snips of the same size.
If we took a pair of aviation snips apart we would be able to see that they resemble a pair of scissors attached to a set of nutcrackers. This gives us two types of lever attached to each other. It is the addition of the second lever that increases the force produced by the blade.As the handles are opened and closed, the first lever moves the second lever, which in turn operates the blades.
