Which tool is commonly used for aircraft sheet metal work?

The tool commonly used for aircraft sheet metal work, specifically for cutting and shaping, is the sheet metal snip. This tool is designed to make precise cuts in thin sheets of metal, which is essential when fabricating or repairing aircraft components. The design of sheet metal snips allows for a clean and controlled cut, which is vital to maintaining the structural integrity and appearance of the aircraft.

In sheet metal work, accuracy and efficiency are key, and using specialized tools like snips ensures that the technician can achieve the desired shape and size of the metal parts with minimal wastage. Other tools, such as a drill press, are more suited for drilling holes, while wrenches, including torque wrenches, are intended for fastening and loosening bolts and nuts, respectively, rather than for cutting or shaping metal. Thus, when it comes to the specific task of cutting sheets of metal, sheet metal snips are the preferred and most effective tool.