Makita JN1601 16 Gauge Nibbler

On occasion I work with sheet metal and there's no easy way to make a cut with a hack saw ,hand shears or saber saw. The nibbler makes a once aggravating job easy. The on off switch is a slider that dips so It will take me some getting use to but after I cut a few feet of metal that aggravation will pass. I have no idea how you could hurt yourself with a nibbler so a simple on/off switch would have worked. u-tube has a few videos in English with cutting demonstrations and on die and punch break down so don't sweat the Japanese operating instructions. The tool operates simple and is simple to disassemble to replace the punch and die head at some point down the cutting road.Had a problem with this nibbler on the second use. Apparently there was a machining burr left in the punch die housing or metal fell from some where inside the tool that locked up the punch die . The punch pin die became locked in the housing . I requested a return on the tool but since I was in the middle of a project I managed to get the housing off the punch pin and clean out the burr that locked up the tool . I re lubricated and the tool runs fine now . If anyone else had this same trouble how about a posting .

I bought it to cut metal mesh that goes on drywall partitions so the store can't be broken into. This machine cut it like butter. Used it all day today and it's still running. Definitely saving time on labor then using a grinder!

Xlnt for quick rough cuts. Waaaaay faster than tin snips. Versatile. NOTE - this tool has essentially one cutting speed: quick. So unless you've set up a fence, straight cuts are going to be difficult.

Best nibblers on the market. I finally replaced my one from 8 years ago. This one is almost identical to my original and works just as well. We do a lot of odds and ends work with sheet metal and this definitely fits the bill.

As the owner of a roofing company in Houston Texas. I am impressed with the nibbler. great tool for cutting metal.

Tool works fine just can't read manual.

Its cuts fast and doesn't leave sharp edges to cut you

I bought this to cut out the vents in my skirting on my double wide mobile. To my surprise when I received the skirting the sheets were a bit larger than I had planed. Well as luck would have it the tool arrived the day before. ( shipped on time ) I made the first rip cut of 16 feet and by the time I got to the end of the sheet I was a pro. I ended up cutting over 270 feet with this tool with no problems. Material I was cutting, ( Champion's ultra panels). It cut like butter.Cutting out the vents took a little planning. I used a step bit in all four corners inserted the tool and was the easiest to do with the skirting installed. I do recommend that you cut every thing in the same area as there was a lot of little half moon chips.. picked those up with a roller magnet. Did the whole project in about 6 hours.I looked at all the nibblers on line and for the price of this tool I am very impressed. great amperage, speed of cutting, cuts clean and very accurate. I have no issues. Wished that I would have purchased years ago. No more saw blades or cut off wheels for me. 5 star is my rating. Note: I have been in the trades for over 35 years and love a great tool!