DeWalt Bullnose Aviation Snip

Why these bullnose snips earned a place in my pouch

On my HVAC bench and up on roofs, I reach for bullnose snips when I need short, decisive cuts that don’t wander. After several weeks with these DeWalt bullnose snips, I’ve come to appreciate how deliberately they balance bite, control, and comfort for everyday sheet-metal work in the 18–22 gauge range.

Build and ergonomics

The first impression is stout without feeling clumsy. At 9.25 inches long and about 0.4 kg, the snips feel planted in the hand. The forged steel jaws are short and broad, typical of a bullnose profile, which translates to leverage and stability when you’re trimming hems, nipping corners, or cutting through stiffer stock. The blades are serrated, and that choice matters: the serrations hold onto the workpiece so you don’t skate across a galvanized surface as you squeeze.

The handles are where these snips quietly shine. The reduced span makes a noticeable difference over a day—less splay means a full, confident squeeze without overstretching the hand. With gloves on, I could still lock in a strong grip without the “pinch point” fatigue I get from wider-spread handles. The grips themselves are slightly tacky and shaped well; they don’t twist in the hand when you bear down.

Two user-facing details add up on the job:

• Flush hardware around the pivot means the tool glides along the sheet without snagging a fastener head. That’s especially helpful when I’m running the jaws parallel to a standing seam or sliding across a duct face to finish a line.
• The external latch is quick to operate with the thumb and easy to find by feel. It’s glove-friendly and doesn’t require two hands. The trade-off is that any external latch can brush against other tools in a bag; mine hasn’t accidentally latched mid-cut, but I can see it happening if you store it crowded with bigger steel tools.

Fit and finish are solid. The pivot came tight from the factory with no side play, and the cutting action was smooth out of the box. After a few days of use on galvanized and aluminum, I didn’t see any micro-chipping or dull spots along the serrations.

Cutting performance

These are straight-cut snips, and they behave like it. The short, bullnose blades bite cleanly and hold a line without “walking” off the mark. They’re not for sweeping, continuous shears across a 4-foot panel—that’s the realm of long-cut snips—but for the work I actually do most often, they’re spot-on: starting notches, trimming flanges, cutting out register openings, and cleaning up ends around fasteners.

Materials I cut cleanly with predictable results:

• 22-gauge galvanized duct: Straight lines stayed straight with minimal curl in the waste piece. The serrations helped keep the sheet from creeping with each bite.
• 20-gauge mild steel strap: Requires a deliberate squeeze, but the leverage is there. I used shorter bites to avoid twisting the cut edge.
• Aluminum flashing and coil stock: Easy cutting; the serrations prevent slip, though you will see a tooth pattern on the cut edge in softer aluminum.
• Expanded metal lath: The snips chewed through without the jaws slipping off the knuckles of the mesh, a task that can defeat non-serrated blades.

I also tested gentle arcs on galvanized. The snips handled gradual curves fine, but this is not the tool for tight radii or scroll work—use left/right offset snips for that. With the straight pattern, your hand sits closer to the sheet than with offset snips, so knuckle clearance is less generous. Gloves are smart here, especially when you’re running along a sharp edge.

Edge quality is very good for serrated blades: no tearing, no ragged “shallows,” and surprisingly little distortion on the keeper side of the cut, provided you keep the sheet supported. You will see faint serration witness marks on softer metals; a quick pass with a file or deburring block cleans that up if appearance matters.

Control, visibility, and feel

Bullnose jaws mean your line of sight isn’t obscured by long blades. I could keep my scribe line in view almost the whole time, which made it easier to sneak up on a finished edge. The bite depth is predictable, and the compound action gives a smooth load curve through the cut—no sudden jump as you come through.

Two small technique notes that helped:

• Support the offcut so it peels away from the blade path. That reduces pinch and keeps the keeper side flatter.
• Use shorter, overlapping bites on thicker material. It keeps the cut straighter and reduces the risk of twisting the jaws mid-squeeze.

Durability and maintenance

Forged steel jaws and a clean, tight pivot are promising for longevity. After cutting a mix of galvanized, aluminum, and some mild steel strap, the edges still felt crisp and the serrations remained grippy. As with any snips, avoid cutting screws, wire, or hardened materials—they’ll notch any blade, serrated or not.

A drop of oil at the pivot after a dusty day keeps the action smooth. I also wipe the blades with a light rust inhibitor if I’ve been working in damp conditions. The grips are resistant to shop grime and wiped clean without getting slick.

The snips carry a 1-year limited warranty. While I didn’t need support, it’s worth noting the warranty isn’t as long as some hand-tool lifetime policies. That said, the build quality suggests they’re made to work long past the warranty period if you use them within their intended gauge range.

Where they fit in a kit

Compared to a standard straight, long-cut snip, these bullnose jaws trade reach for power. That makes them the better choice for:

• Cutting heavier sections within the stated 18–22 gauge window
• Short, controlled cuts near edges and corners
• Trimming hems, notching, and working around fasteners where longer blades tend to flex

Compared to left or right offset snips, these don’t keep your hand as far above the sheet, and they’re not optimized for tight curves. I keep all three patterns on the truck, and I reach for the bullnose when the job asks for leverage and accuracy more than sweeping cuts.

Small nitpicks

• The external latch is handy but could snag in a crowded pouch. A holster or a dedicated slot in the bag helps.
• Serrated blades leave a slight tooth pattern on softer metals. If you need pristine, show-side cuts in aluminum, plan on a quick deburr.
• Straight pattern equals less knuckle clearance than offset snips. Gloves are a must around fresh cut edges.

None of these are dealbreakers; they’re trade-offs inherent in the pattern.

Safety and use tips

• Stay within the recommended gauge range to protect the edge and your hands.
• Score or mark clearly; these snips track a line well if you can see it.
• Keep the sheet level with your cutting hand and lift the offcut, not the keeper.
• Deburr the cut if it’s a finished edge—faster now than fixing slices later.

Verdict and recommendation

I recommend these DeWalt bullnose snips for anyone working regularly with sheet metal in the 18–22 gauge range—HVAC techs, roofers, siding installers, and general contractors alike. They’re comfortable over long sessions thanks to the reduced handle span, they bite with confidence, and the flush hardware plus serrated jaws make real differences in everyday tasks. While they’re not a replacement for offset snips or long-cut patterns, they fill their role exceptionally well: short, powerful, straight cuts with good control and minimal fuss.

If you want a dependable, ergonomic straight-cut bullnose that won’t fight you as the day wears on, this is an easy addition to the kit.