Big help - many thanks for taking the time to share your experience with HardiePlank cutting - much appreciated!

I bought a 4.5” diamond cutoff wheel at Harbor Freight cheap. Been using it for at least five years. Fits on a angle grinder. Have to cut free hand but it works great. I leveled some concrete floor high spots a few weeks ago and then cut a flange of aluminum off a sliding glass door and then sided a 12x12 shed today. All James Hardie plank. Still works like new.. I cut 12 8” planks in less time than this video. Cut on the finish side, not the back or it will leave fuzzies on the finish.

Good job walking through what you tested and your thoughts and your preferred method and why.

The dyablo is the best one , all we do is siding ,new construction. The last for months ive gone up to 6 months on one but you really have to take care of it make sure all you cut is fiber cement it it will last you alot. Nice video!

Thanks for the Bosch tile jigsaw blade tip. Haven't heard this anywhere else. I'll be cutting Hardibacker for a shower surround tomorrow and this is a great tip!

I plan to buy a few pieces of fiberboard siding to make some small raised beds for flowers and herbs. I have never used any of this material but I'm aware of the problem with cutting and drilling. So I did a search for "How To" and your video showed up. You have answered my questions as to how to cut it. I have a jig saw so I'll get a few of the diamond blades and be ready to make my garden beds. You did a great video and provided excellent information. These are the type of "how to'" videos that I like to watch. You've got a new subscriber so I'll check out your other videos too. And BTW, that view is absolutely beautiful. I live in north Georgia and it's beautiful here but we don't have those kind of views. Take care and thanks very much for sharing your video. My name is Alfred.

To help with focus, like when you needed the camera to focus on the jigsaw blade, hold your hand or some paper right behind the object to focus on (blade). It will help the camera autofocus. Loved the tip never would have looked at jigsaw blades for Hardie.

Going to try your jig saw tips on cutting a double layer 5/16" (5/8th) panel into an 7' arch. I always use the circular saw on straight cuts with a guide.

This just answered my question. I have this Hardy board siding to install this week and I have to scribe against stone. I was hoping the diamond blade would work.

I've been installing fiber cement siding, shingles, paneling, and trim as a GC in CA since 2001. The best method, and i have tried all the methods found on KZread, and even methods not seen, but the best method, hands down; for all considerations, including speed of operation, dust free, minimum waste, and accuracy of cut, is the shear, or guillotine tool. And it also works great on floating floor products. There are several makes on the market, and they tend to be expensive, but they pay for themselves on the first day.

@TheHandsOnChannel

4 жыл бұрын

I've never used one but If I were doing this for a living I'd defiantly give it a look. How much are they roughly?

@marksheffield80

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheHandsOnChannel There are different sizes. And different makes. You can get the small ones used for under a hundred and fifty, And the large ones go up to. 500 bucks.

@TheHandsOnChannel

4 жыл бұрын

@@marksheffield80 Thanks

Thank you for the honest and experienced knowledge.

I have used a Formica cutter - that curved tool with a single carbide tip. You can drag them along your drywall square or other straight edge. They stay sharp forever and give you a deeper gouge than a utility knife. You do have to go over the score two or three times and if you push really hard, it can swerve away from the straight edge. However, if you start with one or two light strokes, the groove will hold the tip for you. Then you just bend it like sheetrock.

Excellent. Thanks for the Bosch blade tip, I have to cut a few pieces for a repair. This is the 1x6 heavy board I am using to repair a hole in the crown of the wall where squirrels have made a hole and are entering the attic. It's the old heavy cedar 1x material up there now, but I can't find it anywhere. This hardie should blend in well, but dang it's heavy! Might also resaw a 2x6 rough cedar boards on my table saw. Decisions decisions. It's about 17 ft up there, is my biggest problem. Thanks!

I have cut A lot of hardy plank siding in my day... And have used all of these techniques... Very good video very informative.. Kudo's brother

After doing a number of planks with a Diablo Hardie Board blade I bought a Norske Tools siding and flooring cutter. No dust at all. Doesn’t do rip cuts though. I got a special blade for my circular saw for that.

I use a strop to keep the blades sharp. Almost never have to replace my blades. If you do it regularly it only takes about 10 seconds to hone them.

I'm a Scot/Australian expat now retired in Thailand and I just cut a couple of thick cement fiberboards for my driveway gate, which have a tendency to break of where the lower fixing screws secure them to the metal framework. I used a 4 inch Bosch tile cutting disc in my angle grinder. Just a couple of cuts, so hard to gauge the longevity of the disc. Thanks for your trial and error video using different methods. It will surely help some folks make the right choice of cutting tool and save some cash in the process.

@TheHandsOnChannel

5 жыл бұрын

Great idea thanks for sharing.

Thanks, just what I needed. Great work.

@TheHandsOnChannel

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

Definitely helpful and love the aluminum foil on the antenna

@TheHandsOnChannel

5 жыл бұрын

LOL when you're out in the remote areas every little bit helps.

Me personally i like the dewalt grinder with a diamond blade it will las forever it's very dusty and take some practice to cut but. very accurate once you manage your skills

@TheHandsOnChannel

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I bought a grinder disk but never used it since I liked how the jigsaw cut and was less dusty than the circ. saw, but to each his own. Your way is probably faster, but since we were off grid and no showers available we had to keep dust as low as possible.

For about $50 I bought a shear that you can use with any drill. Makes virtually dust free cuts. And can cut most shapes. I’ll try the jigsaw blade with it for tight corners.

@TheHandsOnChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Wow thanks. When I was shopping for the hardy board shear it was pretty expensive.

@moki888

2 ай бұрын

Would you be able to do the long cuts with those shears?

I used a hand held tile saw. The blade was around 5" in diameter and had no teeth. Diamond maybe. Worked great.

@TheHandsOnChannel

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing.

Very surprised no mention made of masonry cutting wheels for circular saw and (my choice) angle grinder. The angle grinder ones are very thin and combined with the grinder's high rpm's may be the best bet.

Thanks for saving me time!

Very helpful thanks.

Thanks for the info.

Have you tried a regular framing blade? They work great for me

@MTBhardtale

4 жыл бұрын

You should Buy a DIABLO hardie blade you can get them at home depot , 800+ cut's per blade 😈

Hi, I’ve been doing commercial Siding for buildings and hotels in Portland Oregon, honestly don’t know why I’m here lol for. We use the Diablo blades with the carbonite or diamond covered tips and they last for a whole 3 pallets of siding. We also use A Mikita Saw cutter with a makita vacuum hose attachment. This way it collects all the dust. Hope I maybe Helene’s someone. Bye

@markwilliams4573

4 жыл бұрын

Good advice, vacuum extraction

The Only positive about Using Skillsaw, (we Use Warm Drive 7 1/4 blade) Is tht you can Cut 4 or so at the time (bunk cuts)

I know this job is done by now but Hardieplank or whatever cement board can be attached to ICF forms which have either metal or plastic webbing by using an air nailer with the proper nail.. James Hardie cement board installation documents cover it in an appendix.

@TheHandsOnChannel

2 жыл бұрын

I tried some ring shank nails to see if they had enough holding power but I wasn't impressed. If I weren't in a high wind area nails might have been okay but I wanted the extra grip of the screws.

Thanks for the video! And double thanks for not dubbing in some crappy music!

@TheHandsOnChannel

4 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!

I bought a used Makita Fiber Cement shear and it works great. Than for the butt end cuts when you need an exact fit for joining to boards I use a 12inch mitre saw portable station with a carbide blade. Between the two I have done my whole house. I changed the carbide blade once. Cost me $30 and $100 for the shears. The shears are really the way to go. Fast clean no dust just curls of the fiber cement it took out everywhere. Also you are not suppose to counter sink screws or nails in fiber cement. It takes away from its strength. Just tight to the surface. I can't imagine how long it would take to drill and screw it up. A set of the clamps and a siding nail gun with stainless steel nails is a ton faster and more secure.

@TheHandsOnChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks I'll check out the makita. Unfortunately I had to use screws because this house is ICF. It took a really long time to hang it but it worked great. No apparent problems from countersinking the screws flush. I would have preferred to use a different material like steel, but this is what came with the house.

Got to go with Diablo Hardie blades, its $45 per blade, but last longer.

@joshwinegard9600

4 жыл бұрын

Yup 5 or 6 house out of 1 first time u hit a piece of wood its toast

very helpful!

What about the Malco guillotine?

organic dust mask, you can sharpen stanley blades in one min. medium stone.

What about the shears?

@_BAD_MERC_

5 жыл бұрын

@marco belli I have been looking everywhere for a masonry router bit WITH a bearing on the end. So far I am apparently the only person that needs to plunge a router but to make my cutouts. No luck so far.

NO CAULKING IN THE FIELD UNLESS A CUT EDGE.... a TON IS 2000 POUNDS ABOUT 190 PANELS. ARE YOU SURE?

thanks

@TheHandsOnChannel

3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

I use an angle grinder with a diamond blade. I just finished a 14 square job with one blade.

@TheHandsOnChannel

5 жыл бұрын

Great tip, thanks.

@williamweckel8140

5 жыл бұрын

@@TheHandsOnChannel Your welcome. I will add that the diamond blade I used was used to begin with. Lol. It's still a little dusty cutting with this method but I'm not dumping a fortune in blades...

@markwilliams4573

4 жыл бұрын

@@williamweckel8140 Youll be dumping a fortune in medical bills soon if you carry on like that

4inch grinder with a tile or masonry blade.

@markwilliams4573

4 жыл бұрын

Dont do this, whatever you do dont do this

@jesussalgado1390

4 жыл бұрын

Use diablo james hardi approved

Yeah but two packs of 100+ razor blades. You’ll need em. Regardless the method your going

@TheHandsOnChannel

2 жыл бұрын

I agree, we went through so many razor blades.

You don't countersink hardie board lol

@TheHandsOnChannel

4 жыл бұрын

You normally nail it on, but since this is ICF screws were the only way. It worked great, thanks.

*I have to put some siding on a shed. I got some 4x8 sheets of siding for a very good price so ill need to cut it. This video give good tips on the best way to go about It* DexterousX

Lighting is the enemy of a useful video

Hardie does not recommend a counter sink as it will cause a structural hold issue. They recommend roofing nails that are flush to the material. Thanks for the cutting tips otherwise.

@TheHandsOnChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks and yes I'm aware of Hardies recommendations. I tested several holes/pieces before installing and it works great. Just don't over drill the countersink. I had to install it this way because it's an ICF house, (it has plastic studs) so I couldn't use nails. BTW I wouldn't recommend installing Hardie on ICF. It's a great product but it was very labor intensive. It's better suited to wood frame construction (with nails). We only used it because it was partially installed and the materials came with the purchase of the house.

@al8134

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheHandsOnChannel What kind of screws did you use for this application? Would it work for a wood installation as well if you countersink them slightly. My hammering skills at elevations have much to be desired

@TheHandsOnChannel

2 жыл бұрын

@@al8134 I used deck screws and they would work for your application. They say you can use a nail gun to install on a wood frame. The nails are quite a bit faster to install.

Edit your video make it 30 seconds or less that's all you have to say

@TheHandsOnChannel

3 жыл бұрын

LOL make your own video bud.

If you don't show the cutting process you aren't believable.

@TheHandsOnChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback. I have several videos where I actually make cuts using these methods. If you want to see more, search my channel for hardie board siding installation videos.

@ricoludovici2825

Жыл бұрын

@@TheHandsOnChannel I love these sofa-pilots who want to tell you how to do the job you did and they didn't or can't. 😁

This is yiur 1st video I ever saw, not sure if you are a pro or not. But id say your tools there Barrely quilify for a Homeowner set, Definitely not Pro Grade. Ymmv

@TheHandsOnChannel

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah the skil saw is a homeowner grade but I've had good luck with it for 20+ years. The jigsaw was a gift (defiantly not pro grade) but it works good enough for my needs. I don't use them daily though.

@team2146

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheHandsOnChannel I install Hardie siding/cittage lap for a living, out here people use Skillsaw to cut hardie, years ago when i started, the guys i started with used shears. (No dust) im thinking about giving the Makita Hardie Shears a try). They Do Make awsome hardie blades for jigsaw, but i can only find em in specialty stores like Frankling Building Supply here in Idaho. Or in Western Tool

@ctrader6

4 жыл бұрын

@@team2146 Scenario: Instead of piecing Hardie around a framed window opening, I want to install a whole sheet over the framed opening, and then flush cut to the framing to remove the Hardie. I know this is done cutting wood with a flush cutting router bit, but can I do the same cutting Hardie? I welcome your thoughts and comments. Thank you very much.

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