Replies

1. 
   JulianTracy | Aug 11, 2009 06:25am | #1

   This may be a dumb question, but isn't ANY cut in siding kindof like a cut in Laminate flooring - it'll never be seen as it'll be covered in trim of some sort?

   Having made that point, seems like a small cordless saw with the blade backwards would give a nice straight cut, might want to make sure it's a warm day though.

   JT

1. 
   habilis | Aug 11, 2009 05:02pm | #3

   Sorry, guess I didn't emphasize production enough(scoring w/ razor too long and difficult with laps). As far as trim goes; yes, the cut will be covered by trim when one is facing the door. But, since the trim is not contoured to the laps, when viewed from the side, an ugly cut will look......, well, ugly. Reversed blade is a frontrunner.

1. 
   frammer52 | Aug 11, 2009 05:07pm | #4

   Go to harbor freight and for $40 get a muti-master cutter.  Works great on vinyl!!!

1. 
   Dam_inspector | Aug 11, 2009 07:53pm | #5

   Now they are $29.99!

2. 
   MSA1 | Aug 11, 2009 02:17pm | #2

   Try scoring with a razor.

    

   Family.....They're always there when they need you.

3. 
   Sawdaddy | Aug 12, 2009 02:59am | #6

   Screw a shooter to the siding and run your circ saw down it backwards. Don't turn the blade backwards, just pull the saw backwards. Makes a perfect cut. The shooter keeps the blade from plunging into the building itself. Just be careful pulling that saw in reverse. Obviously, cutting like that makes the saw wanna jump. It's not too bad in vinyl or aluminum though.

   
   

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   Edited 8/11/2009 8:00 pm ET by Sawdaddy

4. 
   ms | Aug 12, 2009 02:58pm | #7

   Pete,
   I use a plywood blade.
   Mark

5. 
   Sasquatch | Aug 13, 2009 04:10am | #8

   I would temporarily screw a board down on the wall.  Actually, it would be two boards screwed together to make a kind of shooting board.  The idea is to use the larger board, say a 1X6X8, to serve as a base for the saw.  Screw a 1X1X8 on that board at one edge.  With your circular saw, cut off the unneeded part of the 1X6, using the 1X1 to guide the saw.

   Essentially, you are creating something like the saw guide for a Festool, only out of wood.  So you take this guide, screw it to the sheathing under the siding, and use the appropriate blade to cut the vinyl or aluminum siding.  Others have suggested using a wood blade mounted backward, or a plywood blade.  That's your choice.

   Use a MM or other brand vibrating tool to finish the cuts.  I would cut to just a little less than the depth of the siding and zap it with my MM.  Do this for each vertical or horizontal cut, and you can avoid destroying the siding or the sheathing.

   How can you understand God if you can't understand people?  How can you understand people if you can't understand yourself?
1. 
   habilis | Aug 13, 2009 05:44am | #10

   Sasquatch,
   Thanks. A clear, well thought out answer that presents solutions I've used. Since I'll have a few different guys doing this it helps to clarify my thinking. I asked the question to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

6. 
   Bkcbuilder64 | Aug 13, 2009 04:46am | #9

   Diamond blade in my angle grinder for aluminum...works on vinyl too.

1. 
   habilis | Aug 13, 2009 05:46am | #11

   Putting that in misc. hands for production turnaround scares me.