Universal metal scissors – cricket attachment for drill

Short description

This is a removable mechanism that is installed on a standard chuck of an electric hand drill. It is designed for cutting flat and corrugated metal sheets:

• Composite aluminum sheet up to 2 millimeters thick
• Galvanized profiled sheet up to 0.8 mm thick
• Copper, brass up to 1.5 mm thick

In appearance, the cricket drill attachment resembles a cylindrical steel blank, with “fingers” sticking out in both directions. A cylindrical blank is a body through which torque is transmitted from the drill to two cutting surfaces. “Fingers” are paired dies in direct contact with the metal workpiece. The tool comes with a plastic threaded handle-holder, which is screwed onto one of the paired cutting surfaces.

In addition, a spare die and punch, as well as a hex key, are supplied with the nozzle.

Pricing policy regarding nozzles

Drill attachment Cricket

Drill attachments are inexpensive, so they are quite accessible to all segments of the population.

The above “Cricket” costs approximately 1,500 rubles.

The amount may vary depending on the region where the sale takes place - the cost may be more or less.

The drill attachment for cutting metal tiles, the price of which reaches 2,500 rubles, may be imported, so do not be alarmed.

There is no need to say that a foreign product is better - the domestic manufacturer is not inferior in quality or functionality.

If we consider other devices in the role of metal cutting, then the pricing policy is slightly different. For example, the most budget option would be a hand-held metal file. Its price depends mainly on the convenience and quality of the case.

More expensive in comparison with this device is a circular saw with an attachment. The device itself is quite expensive; the nozzle for metal tiles costs approximately 1,000 rubles.

The remaining devices vary in price at the same prices as the above attachments and devices.

Application area

The attachment is widely used for cutting thin sheet metal. Its design is specially designed to perform both straight and curved cuts. Having certain work skills, you can perform figured sawing along a complex trajectory.

Unlike an angle grinder or metal scissors, a “cricket” is capable of cutting from the center of the workpiece without creating through cuts.

The cutting attachment is especially in demand for roofing work and installation of fences. It's all about the material. Mostly profiled sheets are used, which are perfectly cut using this tool.

Benefits of using drill attachments

Drill attachments, when compared with such a popular tool for cutting metal as an angle grinder, have a number of advantages.

1. The cut performed is of high quality.
2. When using a drill attachment for cutting metal, there is no need to purchase additional consumables, which significantly saves money.
3. The use of such an attachment ensures high productivity of the cutting process.
4. Drill attachments are highly versatile.
5. Due to the fact that this tool is equipped with a special handle, the cutting process with its help is very convenient.
6. These attachments are suitable for both electric and pneumatic drills.
7. The convenience of these nozzles both in use and in maintenance is undeniable.
8. With the help of such tools you can make cuts of almost any configuration.

Despite the simplicity of the design of such attachments, their use requires certain skills and dexterity from the user.

Positive properties

The cricket drill attachment is widely used due to a number of positive properties. It outperforms some power tools in its performance characteristics.

• Mobility. It is small in size, much smaller than the grinder. The attachment is easy to install and remove from the drill, making work easier
• High level of autonomy. The “cricket” has two full-fledged cutting matrices. If one fails, you can use the other. In addition, the tool comes with a third spare
• Maintainability. There are no complex mechanisms in its design; there is practically nothing to break. The cutting part is supplied as a ready-made unit, which is easy to install on site
• Speed ​​of work. Numerous tests show that the performance and sawing speed of the attachment are significantly superior to those of an angle grinder. Metal shears cannot be compared at all
• Cutting quality. According to this indicator, the “dragonfly” has no competitors. Due to the translational movements of the matrix, the edge of the metal in the cutting area remains smooth. There are no burrs on it. The metal does not heat up, the protective polymer coating of the profiled sheet does not burn. Zinc protection is not destroyed. While in the process of sawing with a grinder, the edges of the sheet are charred, burrs remain on them
• No collateral damage. Working with an angle grinder involves the formation of sparks that fly over a considerable distance. If a galvanized profiled sheet is processed, sparks burn out the protective coating. During use, the metal will become covered with brown spots of rust. Sawing with the dragonfly attachment takes place in the complete absence of sparks. No rust problems
• Ergonomics. Handle holder makes working with the tool convenient and safe

Features of using drill attachments

The attachments, with the help of which a conventional electric drill is transformed into a device for cutting metal, are essentially a punch (cotter pin). Making numerous reciprocating movements in the internal cavity of the matrix, such a punch pierces a metal sheet, forming a cutting line on it, the width of which is 3.1 mm. When using attachments, a targeted effect is applied to the processing area, due to which the protective layers on the surface of the metal product fully retain all of their functions.

The working part of the cutting type nozzle

Using the drill attachment, you can cut metal sheets of the following thickness:

• made of aluminum - up to two millimeters;
• made of copper, brass, sheet iron, zinc and galvanized steel - up to one and a half millimeters;
• made of stainless steel - up to eight tenths of a millimeter.

The reciprocating motion of the punch, which is the main working body of the nozzle, is imparted by the rotation of the electric drill chuck. It should be borne in mind that such an attachment can effectively cut a metal sheet only if it is used in conjunction with an electric drill, the chuck of which rotates at a frequency of at least 2700 rpm.

Examples of cuts with a nozzle of galvanized sheet (0.55 mm) and aluminum (2 mm)

Safe work rules

Practically do not differ from standard measures when working with sawing tools:

1. Do not saw while holding the tool with one hand. This may cause it to bounce;
2. Before starting work, check the rigidity of the handle holder. To do this, it is turned clockwise until it stops.
3. It is allowed to work only in protective glasses and gloves;
4. It is recommended to cut the sheet away from you, and not towards you;
5. Do not work with a faulty tool. These include: a loose drill chuck, a ground sawing matrix, a loose handle holder

Manufacturers

Products from different brands are similar to each other. The main difference is in the thickness of the sheet that a specific model can cut. The price directly depends on this.

There are several companies worthy of attention on the Russian market:

• Anchor
• Corvette
• Sparky

Using scissor attachments on a drill greatly facilitates roofing work, installation of metal fencing, and other manipulations with sheet material. Convenient combination with a hand drill allows you to reduce the cost of purchasing expensive specialized tools. The finished product is neat and of high quality.

Popular models and areas of their application

Modern models of drill attachments allow cutting sheet metal not only in a straight line. Using such a convenient and easy-to-use device, you can also make shaped cuts, which is often required when installing roofing structures, ventilation ducts, as well as gutters and other elements of the drainage system.

Using such attachments on a drill, cuts can be made in almost any spatial position. An equally important advantage of these attachments is that they do not require preliminary setup.

This attachment turns the drill into electric scissors that work on the principle of cutting, not carving.

Among the most popular models of drill attachments for cutting metal presented on the domestic market are the following:

• "Cricket" (from);
• Sparky NP 1.8L;
• EDMA NIBBLEX;
• ACCO YT-160A.

Perforated scissors-attachment for electric drill EDMA NIBBLEX for cutting metal and plastic

The differences between models of drill attachments do not lie in the principle of their operation, but in the maximum thickness of the metal being cut and a number of other technical characteristics. Modern models of drill attachments allow you to obtain smooth and neat cuts with sharp, even and uncrimped edges. In this case, the protective coating applied to the surface of the metal sheet is not damaged and fully retains all its functions.

"Cricket"

One of the popular attachments for a drill, which is a compact nibbler (nibbler), is a device called a “Cricket”. This attachment, which allows you to obtain an even and neat cut, can be used for cutting both flat and profile metal sheets.

The “Cricket” scissor attachment is designed to operate from a pneumatic or electric drill (screwdriver) with a power of at least 420 W

Using the Cricket scissor attachment, you can cut not only metal sheets, but thin-sheet products made of polycarbonate and other polymer materials. At the same time, the thickness of the products for cutting which these compact nibblers can be used can be up to:

• 1.5 mm – for steel sheet material;
• 1.2 mm – for stainless steel;
• 2 mm – for copper and aluminum, as well as polymer materials.

Using the “Cricket” drill attachment, you can cut sheet material in horizontal and vertical planes, as well as make internal cuts on the surface of the sheet.

“Cricket” works on the principle of nibbled scissors

It should be borne in mind that in the place of the sheet from where the internal cut will be made, it is necessary to pre-drill a hole.

“Cricket” is a good drill attachment for cutting metal tiles and corrugated sheets. When using this device for cutting metal, the surface of these materials is not deformed, and the cut itself is smooth and neat. The Cricket attachment can easily cope with such complex tasks as artistic cutting and creating large-diameter holes in sheet material.