What method would you recommend for cutting fiber-cement siding? Does the score and snap method work well enough, or should I deal with the dust and cut with a circular saw?
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Buy a PC shears. Or maybe Malco, I think they have a cheap snip that goes onto your drill that is the same as the PC & Kett(?) shears for less money.
Score & snap is going to leave a nasty ragged edge.
Diamond blade creates enough dust to pizz of a neighbor 3 houses down wind.
Joe H
You definitely don't want to go with the "score and snap" method. In fact, I've never heard of that being a usable method for FC siding.
You'll want to use either shears or a good fiber cement blade in a circular saw. If you use a saw, wear a good dust mask or get good at holding your breath. :)
I went through this last winter. did a big job and bought the shears. shears worked ok but were slow and hard to get right on in terms of accuracy. nice when it came to no dust.
In an effort to speed things up I made a quick cut sled for the circular saw and used a FC blade. Worked great but beat up the saw and I hated the respirator.
I have slight asthma and the respirator actually triggers it.
I think If I had to do it again (hope I never do) I would buy a cheap chop saw and a vac hook up and cut away. If the saw dies, big deal. It will be quicker, cleaner, etc.
By the way, use a siding nailer, don't hand nail. Also get the cement board clips that maintain the reveal and support the siding as you nail it. the boards are floppy.
Good luck
Jason
"it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."
Bozini Latini
i've done both circular saw w/FC blade and shears and in my opinion, the shears win hands down. the dust from FC is nasty and avoiding it is your best bet. I had no problems cutting accurately with the shears.
An old chop saw with a diamond blade for most cuts will be through the piece before the dust gets too bad - hold your breath!
Long rips with a fc blade are nearly impossible - I cannot hold my breath long enough.
The shears are nice, but I did an entire house and left them in the van.
A few years ago when we started using fiber cement siding, we bought PC shears, and a Makita 5057B fiber cement saw with dust collection.
I think we only used the saw a couple of times, and use the shears for everything. The shears are quite accurate, and have even used them to rip a 12' board no problem. I even use the shears for the Hardi backer board for tile work.
The Hardi folks at the JLC Live demonstration used a Makita circular saw with a cement board blade and a flexible hose from the dust port run into an empty 5 gallon bucket with the lid on. This was indoors with about thirty people watching. There was almost no dust coming out of the bucket and no one seemed bothered by it at all.
CUTTING CEMENT FIBRE BOARD WE USE A TABLE SAW WITH A DIAMOND BLADE. THE TABLE SAW ALLOWS FOR ACCURATE AND FAST CUTS. YOUR TALBE SAW SHOULD HAVE SIDE AND OUTFEED EXTENSIONS TO EASILY HANDLE LONG LENGTHS AND HARDIE BACKER BOARDS. TO CONTROL THE DUST WE USE A SHOP VAC WITH A HEPA FILTER AND ABOUT TWO INCHES OF WATER IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SHOP VAC. THIS CONTOLS ALMOST ALL OF THE DUST. THERE IS A SMALL AMOUT OF RESIDUAL DUST THAT ESCAPES. WE SET UP A STRONG FAN AND DIRECT THE DUST AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. ALSO WEAR EYE AND EAR PROTECTION ALONG WITH A GOOD DUST MASK.