Now that I bought 5/4 Hardie trim boards I have read that there are some complaints about them. What are they?
Hardie says that shears or scribing are the best way to cut Hardie boards? Is that true? Do you just scribe and snap like DW? I did buy a cheap sidewinder and blade for cement board to cut with.
Thanks
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The trim boards suck because they chip easy and are brittle. Hard to nail too.
I use Cedar or Azek for trim w/hardie.
The siding planks I cut with shears , tho' I have a blade for rips ( in a cheapo table saw), and I use a diamond wheel in a grinder for notches and curves.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"
Jed Clampitt
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<Do you just scribe and snap like DW?>
Yes. If you just need an approximate length you can scribe one side and snap it off a bit ragged. There's a video somewhere on the FH site about that. He actually snaps it off in the opposite direction of the scribe if I remember right, which doesn't work with my hands for some reason, but each to his own.
If you want a clean cut, scribe both sides with your speed square a couple of strokes with the knife on each side and it snaps off as neat and clean as you could ask for - ready to paint the end.
I do use the 5/4 hardie trim boards although I'm going to try a job with azek or palite coming up shortly. I pre-assemble corners on the bench with pl400 and galvanized 16ga gun nails, then install with 16ga also. Make sure to fill and paint those fastening points. If the corner is going to be in a high traffic area I'll use trim head screws for assembly and installation instead. If my climate were wetter or more corrosive I'd probably switch completely to ss trim head screws for that stuff.
j
Return the hardie trim, get miratec, lp smartrim, azek, all are eaiser to work with and last just as long. I didnt find the score and snap method to be worth a dam, too ragady (?)
The shears were a little dissapointing too it left it a little messy also. Cleanest method as far as cut was skill saw with cement siding blade, but man is it dusty. The shears work good for long rips. I think next time Im going to give the shears a better shot.
Shear from the back side, slicker than snot.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
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Thats what I was thinking to try, Thanks
Thanks guys for the info.