Can I Cut Vinyl Siding With Tin Snips

Hold the siding and the carpenter s square steady with one hand.

Can i cut vinyl siding with tin snips.

Besides making clean crosscuts tin snips are the only practical option when you need to make a curved cut to fit the siding around a vent pipe or some other obstruction. Use tin snips for vertical cuts not horizontal cuts. As you re cutting the siding avoid closing the blades on the tin snips all the way so you get a cleaner cut. Close the snips about two thirds of the way.

It s better to use tin snips when you only have to cut a few vinyl strips as opposed to many since using tin strips tends to take longer than using a circular saw. Use your measuring tape to determine where you want to cut your siding and make a mark on the underside at each end. Cut along the marked line using tin snips. For clean cuts on the strip of the vinyl siding while cutting you shouldn t close the tin snips entirely.

Horizontal vinyl cuts can be a little long for tin snips so instead you can use a regular utility knife to make things easier. Instead of using a carpenter s square to help you cut straighter line you can guide the side of the strip of the vinyl siding along the edge of your working table. Wear safety goggles while you re cutting the siding. Keep cutting until you get all the way across the vinyl siding.

Hold the siding firmly while you cut it and close the jaws of the snipper only about 2 3 of the way on each cut.