Match the cutter to the material before comparing ratings. The Makita JS1602 and DEWALT DW890 are corded metal shears. DEWALT DWASHRIR and REXBETI REX028 are attachments that need a compatible powered host. Fanttik and WORX are rotary cutters for flexible soft materials. These six picks cover different jobs, with their material limits and power requirements kept explicit.
Quick picks
These are research-based editorial picks from current product records and model documentation. Choose the material and cutting path first.
Fanttik C10 Pro Cordless Rotary Cutter for Cardboard and Soft Materials
Choose the C10 Pro for cardboard, carpet or fabric when you want two speed settings and powered reverse. Its manual limits it to flexible soft materials up to 10 mm. A USB-C cable is supplied, but the 5 V charger is separate. It cannot replace a metal nibbler.
- 10 mm soft-material limit
- Two speed modes and reverse
- USB-C cable; adapter separate
The manual permits straight and curved soft-material cuts. It gives no minimum turning radius, and the fixed frame limits access compared with an orientable nibbler head.
Two speed modes, a powered reverse switch and a battery display provide distinct controls. Reverse is a function, not a guarantee against jams.
The cutter has its own rechargeable power and supplied USB-C cable. The manual requires a separate 5 V charger, with 5 V/2 A specified.
DEWALT DW890 Corded 18-Gauge Swivel-Head Metal Shear
Choose the DW890 when you want a corded shear with variable-speed actuation and a rotating head. DEWALT specifies turns of 5-1/2 inches or larger and a curled waste strip. Check the material rating and mains nameplate before purchase; its broad-radius role differs from the compact Makita JS1602.
- 360° swivel head
- Variable-speed trigger and lock-on
- 5-1/2 in minimum radius
DEWALT documents a 360-degree swivel and a minimum radius of 5-1/2 inches. The broad radius is a limitation for tight curves.
The model-matched manual documents variable trigger actuation and a lock-on button. Raw speed figures are not used to infer cutting performance.
The selected offer includes one corded shear with its own motor. It needs a matching mains supply; no separate drill or battery platform is required.
Makita JS1602 Corded 16-Gauge Metal Shear with Barrel Grip
Choose the JS1602 for a corded shear with a documented 30 mm minimum cutting radius and a small barrel grip. The manual ties capacity to material strength, including 1.6 mm steel at 400 N/mm². Its fixed operating speed and mains cable are the main setup tradeoffs.
- 30 mm minimum radius
- 3.3 A corded motor
- Blade set and wrench included
The manual specifies a 30 mm minimum radius for sheet cutting. This is a documented turning provision, not a measurement of cut quality.
Makita specifies a small barrel grip, lock-on slide switch and thickness gauge. There is no variable-speed selection or reverse cutting.
The tool includes its motor, blade set and hex wrench, requiring a suitable mains supply rather than a separate drill or battery system.
WORX WX082L.2 4V ZipSnip Rotary Cutter with Charger and Two Blades
The selected WX082L.2 offer includes the cutter, charger, two blades and a storage bag. Its supplied WX082L/WX082L.X manual limits soft materials to 6 mm; the listing instead says 1/4 inch. Follow the supplied manual and confirm the exact tool limit. It has simple on/off control.
- Manual: 6 mm soft-material limit
- Integrated 4 V max battery
- Charger and 2 blades supplied
The fixed rotary head serves sheet and packaging cuts. A minimum turning radius is not documented, so tight-curve performance receives no credit.
The manual identifies separate lock-off and on/off switches, and the listing adds a battery indicator. Speed selection and reverse are not documented.
This exact .2 offer includes the integrated-battery cutter and charger. No separate drill, battery pack or charging adapter is specified as an extra requirement.
DEWALT DWASHRIR 18-Gauge Shear Attachment with Quarter-Inch Hex Shank
This attachment turns a compatible 18-20 V drill or impact driver into a shear. The quarter-inch hex shank and 360-degree head are its main provisions. Check the fit of your host tool first; the package contains one attachment and supplies no motor, battery or charger.
- 360° swivel head
- 1/4 in hex shank
- Separate compatible driver needed
The maker listing specifies a 360-degree swivel head and flat/corrugated sheet applications. It does not provide a matched minimum radius.
The attachment has no independent speed control. Activation and speed provision depend on the compatible host you supply.
The selected package is a single shear attachment. You must supply a compatible drill/impact driver plus its power source and verify the fit.
REXBETI REX028 Double-Head Drill Nibbler Attachment
REXBETI specifies a double-head nibbler for a separate 1,500-3,000 rpm drill. Its own listing gives material-specific thickness limits and a 12.5 mm minimum radius. Those are seller figures rather than independent test results. Confirm host fit and the supplied accessories before ordering.
- Double-head nibbler attachment
- Seller: 12.5 mm minimum radius
- Requires 1,500-3,000 rpm drill
The maker listing states straight, curved and circular cuts plus a 12.5 mm minimum radius. This seller claim does not establish a tested advantage over Makita.
There is no independent speed selector on the attachment. The stated 1,500-3,000 rpm describes the required drill, not measured cutting performance.
The attachment needs a separate compatible powered drill. Confirm your host drill and its power supply before purchase.
Core specifications compared
| Rank | Product | Mechanism | Published material limits | Cut access | Controls | Power and selected package |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fanttik C10 Pro | Rotary soft-material cutter | Flexible soft materials up to 10 mm; no wood or metal | Straight and curved cuts; fixed BowGuide frame | ECO/MAX, forward/reverse, battery display | Built-in 7.4 V power; USB-C cable, 2 blades and bag; separate 5 V/2 A adapter |
| 2 | DEWALT DW890 | Metal shear producing a curled strip | 18 ga shear rating; material/grade-specific stainless and aluminum limits: — | 360° swivel; radius 5-1/2 in (about 140 mm) or larger | Variable trigger and lock-on; official page also describes speed settings | Own 5 A corded motor; one shear; match supply to nameplate |
| 3 | Makita JS1602 | Metal shear | Steel 400 N/mm²: 1.6 mm; 600: 1.2 mm; 800: 0.8 mm; aluminum 200: 2.5 mm | 30 mm minimum cutting radius | Fixed speed; lock-on slide switch; thickness gauge | Own 3.3 A corded motor; blade set and hex wrench; mains required |
| 4 | WORX WX082L.2 | Rotary soft-material cutter | Manual: flexible soft materials up to 6 mm; listing: up to 1/4 in (about 6.35 mm) | Fixed rotary head; straight-cut role; radius not specified | On/off trigger, lock-off switch, battery indicator | Integrated 4 V max battery; charger, 2 blades and storage bag |
| 5 | DEWALT DWASHRIR | Drill/impact shear attachment | Maker listing: up to 18 ga material; material-specific stainless limit not stated | 360° swivel; listed for flat and corrugated sheet | Actuation depends on the separate driver | Attachment only; 1/4 in hex; compatible 18-20 V drill/impact driver required |
| 6 | REXBETI REX028 | Double-head drill nibbler attachment | Seller: carbon steel 1.8 mm; stainless 1.2 mm; aluminum/copper 2.0 mm | Seller: straight, curved and circular cuts; 12.5 mm minimum radius | Drill-driven; no independent speed control | Attachment only; separate 1,500-3,000 rpm drill required |
These are published limits, not BTG measurements. The WORX manual says 6 mm; its selected listing says 1/4 inch, about 6.35 mm. Follow the supplied manual and confirm the exact tool limit. The general 18-gauge DEWALT ratings do not establish an equivalent stainless-steel or aluminum capacity. A dash marks a material-specific value the checked source does not provide.
Choose the material before the mechanism
For sheet metal, start with the alloy, strength and thickness. Makita’s JS1602 manual makes the distinction concrete: its steel limits are 1.6 mm at 400 N/mm², 1.2 mm at 600 N/mm² and 0.8 mm at 800 N/mm². Treating all three as a universal “16-gauge steel” rating would lose the condition that matters.
The REX028 listing gives separate limits for carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum or copper. Those figures come from the seller’s own product page; we did not locate a matched manufacturer manual or independent cutting test. Confirm the intended material and host fit before buying. Its stated 12.5 mm turning radius is a seller specification, not proof of a tested advantage over another tool.
For cardboard, carpet, leather or fabric, the Fanttik and WORX cutters have a different purpose. Fanttik’s manual limits the C10 Pro to flexible soft materials up to 10 mm and explicitly excludes wood and metal. WORX specifies flexible soft materials up to 6 mm in its supplied WX082L/WX082L.X manual. Neither thickness should be read as a sheet-metal rating.
A swivel head does not define the turning radius
The DW890 head swivels through 360 degrees, but DEWALT still specifies a cutting radius of 5-1/2 inches or larger. Makita gives the JS1602 a 30 mm minimum radius. A head’s orientation and the room its cutting geometry needs are separate checks. Use the documented radius when planning a curved sheet cut.
DEWALT also describes the DW890 as removing a 7/32-inch strip that curls away from the cutting area. Allow for that removed material in the job. We have not measured edge finish, distortion or scrap width on any of these tools, and the ratings do not promise burr-free cuts.
Check the power and the selected package
DWASHRIR is one shear attachment with a quarter-inch hex shank. DEWALT says it works with most 18-20 V drills and impact drivers, which still leaves a fit check for your particular host. REXBETI specifies a separate drill operating at 1,500-3,000 rpm. That number describes the required drill; it is not a cutting feed rate and cannot be compared directly with strokes per minute on a corded shear.
The corded DW890 and JS1602 supply their own motors. Check the actual nameplate, plug and power requirements of the selected unit. The JS1602 manufacturer package includes the shear blade set and hex wrench. The DW890 offer specifies one shear; do not assume an accessory kit from another model is included.
For a self-powered soft-material cutter, charging hardware separates the two offers. The WX082L.2 listing includes its charger, two blades and storage bag. Fanttik supplies two blades, a cable, blade replacement key and bag, but its manual says the charger is separate. It specifies a 5 V/2 A charging input. Its advertised reverse function is useful to know about, but the manual also describes material jams; it is not a jam-free guarantee.
Blades, maintenance and work preparation
Match replacement blades and other cutting parts to the exact model. Makita identifies blade set 191383-0 for the JS1602. Confirm REXBETI’s supplied accessories and replacement-part route rather than assuming a spare punch, die or circle guide comes in the selected package.
Read the supplied instructions before use, secure the work and keep hands clear of the cutting area. Disconnect the relevant power source before blade changes or maintenance as the model instructions require. Follow the tool’s material limits and protective-equipment guidance. This comparison does not assess workplace certification, electrical installation or suitability for roof work.
How we chose and scored these tools
We screened 24 offers from the original Shears & Nibblers category, retaining low-cost drill attachments and soft-material cutters in the research pool. The final six products represent five listing brands. We checked the selected US product identities and packages, read available manufacturer documentation and kept source conflicts visible. We have not used these tools or measured comparative cutting performance.
Each card uses the same three editorial dimensions: Cut access (40%), Control options (35%) and Power setup (25%). Cut access covers documented cutting paths and head geometry within the intended material family. Control options covers speed, direction and activation controls. Power setup covers the tool or charging equipment you must supply. The one-decimal Editorial Rating is their weighted average.
These scores compare documented provisions. They do not rank motor output, cutting speed, edge quality, reliability or the hardness of material a tool can cut. A higher-rated cardboard cutter remains the wrong choice for sheet metal. The two 7.8-rated attachments are tied after rounding; choose their mechanism and host requirements rather than treating the list order as a measured performance difference.
Sources and specification notes
DEWALT DW890 specifications and its Type 3 manual support the swivel, minimum radius, curled strip and variable actuation. We omit the raw speed number because it is not needed for this comparison. Material-specific stainless and aluminum limits remain unfilled.
Makita JS1602 product details and its instruction manual provide the strength-specific material table, 30 mm radius and supplied blade set. Fanttik’s C10 Pro manual provides the soft-material restrictions and separate-charger requirement.
The WORX supplied manual names WX082L and WX082L.X, states that the suffix variants share the described model design, and gives the 6 mm limit. The selected WX082L.2 package is verified separately on its own product page. DEWALT DWASHRIR and REXBETI figures come from their selected maker listings, with no borrowed kit contents. Prices and availability can change; confirm the selected offer before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cardboard cutter replace a metal shear?
Choose the tool for its documented material. The C10 Pro manual explicitly excludes metal and wood, and the WORX manual specifies flexible soft materials. A 6 mm or 10 mm soft-material depth says nothing about metal-cutting capacity.
Does 360-degree swivel mean it can cut a tight circle?
Check the minimum radius separately. DW890 has a 360-degree head and a stated 5-1/2-inch minimum radius. JS1602 has a documented 30 mm minimum radius. We have no matched minimum-radius figure for either rotary cutter or DWASHRIR.
Do the drill attachments include a powered drill?
The selected DWASHRIR and REX028 offers are attachments. Supply a compatible powered host, and check its fit and operating requirements. REXBETI specifies a 1,500-3,000 rpm drill; DEWALT specifies compatibility with most 18-20 V drills and impact drivers.
Final verdict
For a corded metal shear, choose DW890 for variable actuation and a swivel head, or JS1602 when its documented 30 mm turning radius and strength-specific capacity table suit the sheet. DWASHRIR is the shear attachment to consider for an existing compatible driver. REX028 covers the drill-nibbler role, with seller-specified limits that need a material and host check.
For flexible soft materials, C10 Pro offers two speed modes and reverse with a separate USB charging adapter requirement. WX082L.2 is the simpler charging kit. Keep its manual’s 6 mm limit in view when comparing the listing’s quarter-inch wording.