Greetings,

I’ve been lurking here for a while, but this is only my second post. Great site and great info. I have a question:

I’m remodeling my house and replacing 2 bathtubs. (And a LOT of other stuff.) I’m going to tile the surrounds. I want to use 1/2 backer board. Also, I have some hardiplank siding that was butchered by the installer. There is at least 1″ of wave in some places, and this was supposed to be a great outfit. So I plan to redo it myself. Looks like 1/4 inch siding. Hardi recommends the Makita cementboard saw + Hitachi blade or shears for cutting the siding.  ( You can also score and snap the backerboard, but I’m worried about clean cuts on the siding. I don’t trust scoring tools for this.)

I’m totally new to this kind of work, but spent 20 years as a Lincoln Mercury AC/Electrical/Trim mechanic, and after using various brands ended up buying nothing but Snap-on Tools, even though they are grossly overpriced, because they had that little extra something the others didn’t have. I’m a computer guy now, but I’ll never sell the Snap-ons even though resale on them today is 5-10 times my investment and they’re worth more than my house, because I still use them once in a while. I bought a set of Stabila levels and have Starret squares on the way based on the feedback here – The point being I’d rather buy the best tool for the job and have it if I ever need it  again, even for a one off.

I’ve read posts here about the Porter Cable shears, and someone said they use them for 1/2 backer. However, PC says 5/16 is the max cut.

I could cut the backerboard using a grinder and diamond blade, (or buy the Makita) but I like the idea of dustless shears since this is a one off and much of the work will be done inside with no real time limit. (Unless I have to buy the saw and do it all outside.) I’ve also read the shears cut smoother, and some of the siding requires VERY small pieces, and it seeems the shears would be better for this, since I’d be in NO hurry – I figure it will be like when I first started doing auto trim and it will take me forever compared to a pro – I learned with the trim it takes years to learn which corners can be safely cut, and even longer to get fast or even acceptably quick and still end up with a job a fanatic who is going to pick the job apart with a magnifying glass will be happy with. Lincoln owners are even more finicky than I am, andf that’s saying a LOT.

I found the Porter Cable shears new in box at a local Home Depot for $100 (reg 200) so I picked them up in case they were keepers. However, the box says 5/16 max cut and not 1/2″. Reading the Hardie material I picked up, they recommend the Snapper shear, but the Snapper website makes no mention of cut depth, so I don’t know if they could handle 1/2 inch either, and the posts I read seemed to like the PC. Anyway, I’m just wondering if the PC can really handle 1/2 inch as I read here, or if not, if the Snappers can. (The PC jaw width doesn’t look like 1/2 will work, but if someone’s done it, there must be a way around the limitation.)

However, I’m not rich and can’t see buying both the PC or Snapper AND the Makita. I’m pretty much having to buy everything all at once – I don’t even have a NORMAL circular saw yet – and it looks like buying all these tools will be more expensive than hiring the job out to a regular contractor – but based on past experience I figure I’d be better off doing everything myself, because after all the years of having to do almost perfect work on auto trim I demand it from others because I know it can be done, and even though I’ve offered to pay extra for the “perfect job” it scares most people away because it’s obvious I’m going to be INCREDIBLY picky. I explain I was a dealership mechanic at a dealership that won numerous awards for the service and say “I want the kind of job you’d expect on your new car so tack some extra into your estimate” and I never hear from them again. I don’t blame them – there’s so much work in Houston TX for people with no clue what is right, accepting a job from someone like me me is probably a money loser and a headache for most of these guys. The only ones I’ve found willing to do that kind of work are (a) VERY busy and (b) usually work for VERY rich people who can afford labor rates that are way out of my league. I willing to pay more than usual, but there are people in this town that don’t care WHAT it costs or how long it takes to get a 100% perfect job, and if someone screws up a miter on a piece of zebrawood they can just discard it and try again. Whereas if I take 45 minutes setting up a cut on a piece of $20 trim no one loses.

Besides, if I do it myself I’ll learn how, and can keep trying till I get it right, since all the labor is mine and I can buy some cheapo material to practice on. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of this kind of work, and wanted to learn. I’ve seen old school carpenters build perfect cabinets with just a wormsaw, a tape and no guides, but I know I could never do it even after they explained it to me. You have to have a real touch, and it takes a LONG time and a lot of experience to get it, if you ever do.

Anyway, I’d prefer one tool to handle both the backer and the siding. Like I said, I’d prefer the slower shears if they can handle the backerboard, because of the comments here about the clean cuts – otherwise I’ll just buy the Makita. I don’t think a grinder and blade could handle some of the fine cuts for the siding, and if I have to buy the Makita anyway I’d rather use it on the backerboard too. But I’d like to avoid buying the Makita if I can because of the small (maybe 100) cuts max I’ll have to make.

So: Will the PC (or Snapper) handle what I need? WILL either cut 1/2 inch backer? Or should I just buy the Makita and be done with it, dust and all?

Thanks in advance…