I was wanting to replace some rotting siding on my house with Hardie siding. I would be using the 4x8 Hardie Panel because it matches the rest of my siding in that part of the house. The installation instructions give the following methods to cut the panels:

quote:

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Use one of the following methods:
a. Best: i. Score and snap
ii. Shears (manual, electric or pneumatic)
b. Better: i. Dust reducing circular saw equipped with a
HardieBlade® saw blade and HEPA vacuum extraction
c. Good: i. Dust reducing circular saw with a HardieBlade saw blade
(only use for low to moderate cutting)

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Since it is a panel, I will be having to make long and precise cuts to fit it around a door and a window. I think scoring and snapping it would be pretty difficult to get a good cut. I don't really want to spend $170 to buy a dust reducing saw since I would only need it for this one project. I have heard that using a regular circular saw produces a ton of dust and should be avoided. Does anyone have any experience and suggestions?

For just a few cuts I would get a cheapo ($20) carbide tipped blade for your circular saw and a dust mask. Make the cuts outside to keep the dust out of your house/garage.

If you were doing this on a regular basis then invest in the dust control equipment, but IMHO it's not worth it for the small exposure you'll have to the dust on this job.

Best option, for one panel, just buy the cheapest wood blade and throw it away. I am in construction it won't hurt the hardie but the blade will be worn out and will not be able to be used for wood again.
You will be able to get a couple of cuts, if you need a new blade for your table saw just ruin the one you have and buy a new table saw blade.

The project will actually be five panels.

Score/snap is nice, but you run into problems with any non-straight cuts.

The table saw is nice too, but you ruin the blade and the dust works like a grinding paste inside your saw motor. That, and you have all the issues with breathing in the dust...

Having used all three methods, I recommend the electric shears. You can get a cheap pair at Harbor Freight (or Northern Tool) for less than the cost of a saw blade $50. It's easy to make all kinds of cuts there isn't any dust to deal with, and you end up with a new tool when it's all said and done.

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[This message has been edited by Anagrammatic Nudist (edited 1/19/2010 3:07p).]

You can buy a hardi blade for a circular saw. They are just scaring you on the dust. Don't breath on while curing (too much) and you won't get white boogers.

Yes, Sasappis, I think that is the tool you would use to score it. The thing I don't know about is how you would make right angle cuts with that method. Because of the position of the window and the door, I would have to make those kinds of cuts in at least four of the panels. I guess I could make the shorter cut with a saw and score the longer cut.

Opie, I saw metal shears at Northern Tool for $60, but the "fiber cement shears" were $200. Would metal shears work? It seems to me that they both use the same concept and I don't see why it wouldn't work unless the metal shears do not open enough to cut the siding.

[This message has been edited by jamesf (edited 1/19/2010 6:22p).]

[This message has been edited by jamesf (edited 1/19/2010 6:23p).]

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5/R-100665540/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

spend the $20 and thank me later

Yeah I saw that too. I may just get that and a good dust mask and hold my breath when I cut.

Harbor Freight and Home Depot will both have the better respirator masks ... use one of those, and you don't even have to hold your breath when you cut. (Actually, safest way is to breathe in through the mask while you're cutting. If it's fit properly, this seals it to your face best.)

I wouldn't use any kind of fibercement, particularly an 80 lb panel that's brittle and doesn't hold paint.

Nevermind, if you got to have it match, then disregaurd.

I've put up quite a bit of the stuff at my place. I used a circular saw with the blade made for cement fiber board for most of it. I found that running the saw "backwards" greatly reduced the amount of dust. Also found a grinder with a carbide blade was handy for smaller intricate cuts.

I've used all the methods you listed but ultimately prefer the scissor-style shears because the dust issue decreases by 90%. Very easy to make good clean cuts without a lot of extra work from your arm. They are expensive though and might be a bit slow for your liking. Good tool if you're doing it a lot and/or you love your lungs.



[This message has been edited by tifire85 (edited 1/22/2010 1:37a).]