How can I extend the life of my Midwest snips?

Midwest aviation snips are an essential tool for many metalworking projects, and like any tool, they need to be appropriately maintained to ensure they continue to work effectively. One of the key ways to extend the life of your Midwest snips is to re-adjust the blades when they become dull or misaligned. Here are the steps to follow to adjust your Midwest snips:

  1. Loosen the locknut on the blade adjustment screw. This will allow you to turn the screw without the locknut getting in the way.
  2. Unlock the safety latch, freeing the handles. This will allow you to move the handles freely, which is necessary for the next step.
  3. Hold the handles together in one hand, and use your other hand to turn the head of the adjustment screw clockwise. Tighten the adjustment screw just enough to hold the handles in this position.
  4. Holding the locknut in place, turn the adjustment screw head counterclockwise just enough to allow the handles to spring open. You may need to repeat this step a few times to get the right amount of tension on the blades.
  5. Finally, tighten the locknut on the adjustment screw to secure the blades.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your Midwest snips are properly adjusted and continue to cut effectively. Regular maintenance and blade adjustments will help extend the life of your tool and ensure that it performs at its best for years to come.

Video tutorial: