Cutting shingles

[dhermesc]

I am getting ready to start a roofing project. My hands are too arthritic to use a utility knife to cut shingles to size - anyone have another tool that works? Would an old tin snips work? I've seen the shingle cutters with the big slicer - but they are $300 to $450.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I have used an old circular saw and a dull diamond tipped blade to cut layers of old shingles. Reverse the blade, wear safety glasses, gloves and long sleeves.

I think my old craftsman radial saw would work too.

I cut all the brick for my house using the radial arm and a diamond masonry blade. I rigged up a way to spray water on the blade to keep the dust down and cool the blade. I cut hundreds of bricks with it. 25,000 bricks total on the house.

This saw is over 40 years old. I use it and abuse it.

It hurts my back more than it hurts paying my roofer.
I too have arthritis and a bad back.
My construction days are over.

It took me 5 years to double the size of my house.

 

[dhermesc]

I want to cut the new shingles as I install them.

 

[Doug - Iowa]

I have one of these drill attachments, I haven't cut asphalt shingles with it but I don't see why it wouldn't work. $60 on Amazon.

 

[circus]

Perhaps your doing it wrong. Scribe the backside with the knife and snap off the unwanted piece. Not unlike cutting glass. Perhaps a longer or larger handle?

 

[mjsnodgrass]

i worked with a guy once that took the office paper cutter home for a roofing job. worked great he said but wouldn't cut paper when he brought it back to work.

 

[sms]

I have used a big old pair of tin snips for years. Old or new they work great. Not aviation snips of course.

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 10:01:13 06/23/23) I have used a big old pair of tin snips for years. Old or new they work great. Not aviation snips of course.

What are aviation snips?

Just did a "images" search on aviation snips. Got a million pictures of what I've always called Dutchman's tin snips. Never heard them called aviation snips. I've had a right hand cut, a left hand cut and a straight cut set for maybe 60 years or so.

The strange thing was that I first used and bought my set when I started working in an aircraft building plant. Even then everyone called them dutchmans.

The right and left snips allowed one to cut circles unlike regular metal shears that were only for straight cuts.

This post was edited by Caryc on 06/23/2023 at 11:17 am.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Have fun.

 

[kencombs]

I've always used a utility knife with the hook blades. Much easier than the straight ones that you have to bear down on.
with the hook style you only have to pull. At 80 years, I have arthritis also and still use one. It may help to get one of the utility knives that are offset at an angle. They are much easier for me to pull through a shingle.

Second choice for me would be a good pair of tin shears. And keep a small container of kerosene or diesel handy to remove the tar that builds up and makes them hard to use.

 

[Brown Dirt Cowboy]

(quoted from post at 08:44:50 06/23/23) Perhaps your doing it wrong. Scribe the backside with the knife and snap off the unwanted piece. Not unlike cutting glass. Perhaps a longer or larger handle?

ust a thought but could a shingle be scribed with one of those round wheel pizza cutters and then broke apart?

 

[sms]

I guess different areas have different
terminology. I always heard them called
aviation snips, never Dutchman tin snips.

 

[Larry EC-OH]

Duct tape a utility knife to a glove.

 

[Janicholson]

Disc fabric cutters are great (From a fabric store), several extra blades would e good. (but they also require holding a handle.
My first choice would be a high school kid/relative to learn!!! Jim

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 11:25:50 06/23/23) [b:060e79ef27]I've always used a utility knife with the hook blades.[/b:060e79ef27] Much easier than the straight ones that you have to bear down on.
with the hook style you only have to pull. At 80 years, I have arthritis also and still use one. It may help to get one of the utility knives that are offset at an angle. They are much easier for me to pull through a shingle.

Second choice for me would be a good pair of tin shears. And keep a small container of kerosene or diesel handy to remove the tar that builds up and makes them hard to use.

That would be a linoleum knife. This thing comes in very handy when using a brush hog in very high weeds. Sometimes the weeds will start to catch and build up on the mower shaft. This is just the thing for fast removal of those tightly wrapped weeds.

This post was edited by Caryc on 06/23/2023 at 01:21 pm.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 14:45:00 06/23/23) I guess different areas have different
terminology. I always heard them called
aviation snips, never Dutchman tin snips.

ame here

 

[PDRuff]

find an old paper cutter,

Untitled URL Link

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 13:44:56 06/23/23)

(quoted from post at 14:45:00 06/23/23) I guess different areas have different
terminology. I always heard them called
aviation snips, never Dutchman tin snips.

ame here

Try this link. https://en.termwiki.com/EN/Dutchman_shears

Come to find out there is an old company Named Dutchman Metal. They sell roofing metal and tools.

 

[Stephen Newell]

The problem with using sheers is they would dull after about a half dozen cuts since they are made to cut sheetmetal. You might get one of those roto razor type cutters and cut the shingles from the back side.

 

[Leroy]

Never either name, just tin snips.