Replies

1. 
   WayneL5 | Jul 14, 2005 04:40am | #1

   There have been lots of posts about this.  You could get lots of answers right away by checking the archives.

2. 
   Woodbutcher | Jul 14, 2005 05:34am | #2

   Wayne was right,   Do a search and you will find tons of info.  

   My own advice is use the shears.  I recently did a job with a friend of mine who bought that goofy saw with the vacuum and that expensive fiber cement blade and let me tell you-it still throws tons of dust in the air.  I brought my shears and we used them for the job,  He wasn't too happy with himself for spending all that money on the saw after he had seen the shears in a side by side comparison. 

   You will still need a saw for the 1" trim boards, but in comparison you are only cutting a little bit of that, and just a cheap old circ. saw (wear a mask!) works fine for what little bit you have to do.

1. 
   nikkiwood | Jul 14, 2005 06:12am | #3

   Which of the shears do you recommend?********************************************************
   "I tend to live in the past because most of my life is there."
   -- Herb Caen (1916-1997)

1. 
   Woodbutcher | Jul 14, 2005 06:16am | #4

   Mine are Kett,   I've also used "snapper" brand.  Both work well,   I would advise you to look for ones with reversible jaws, (I don't think mine are) You get twice the lifespan out of the jaws that way for the same price.

1. 
   Woodbutcher | Jul 14, 2005 06:20am | #5

   As far as other specialty tools,  A siding nailer is awfully nice to have,  unless you are planning to blind nail it.  In that case a roofing nailer works just fine.

   I also recently discovered those little clips that they sell.   It hooks on the last row of hardi plank and holds the end of the one you are installing.  This way you can put it up by yourself while someone else is cutting.  I think they only cost about $10.00 or so.

2. 
   nikkiwood | Jul 14, 2005 06:53am | #6

   Thanks....................********************************************************
   "I tend to live in the past because most of my life is there."
   -- Herb Caen (1916-1997)