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When installing standing seam or modified standing seam roofing I usually cut through the ribs with a metal cutting disk then connect with a good pair of hand shears. Plunging the cutoff disk is tricky to keep on the valley cut and sometime burns slightly. Has anyone discovered the ultimate way to make these cuts.
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R.H.
If you flip the sheet over and mark and cut from the back side it's easier than wrestling with the ribs, but still not fun. . .you could also clamp a straight edge to guide the saw shoe assuming your using a disk in a circular saw. I once tried the backwards carbide blade trick that the aluminum boys do but the noise was unbelievable!!!. . also some warranties are void if you don't remove the ground edge shards and burns with a file. . . supposedly the shards/burns promote rust???
*The guys who do my metal use the Kett 14 ga. power shears. Just speced a job with 40' pans that will be installed with the aid of a boomtruck. Metal fascia will be run first from a manbasket.
*You're brave! 40' sheets? Hope it isn't windy up there. The usual rule of thumb for metal building roofing is about 30' or so.I tried the backwards saw blade number, used a non-carbide blade, so it was almost as noisy. Don't forget to un-reverse the blade when you're done. I didn't and burnt up my wife's Craftsman sidewinder, cutting posts. Wondered why it wasn't cutting very well...
*I have been using the cordless Panasonic and B&D mini circular saws. The Panasonic is designed for it and works a little better. The B&D did pretty well with a regular wood blade though. Both running forward. No burning, though the panasonic made more heat - the panel ends would all oil can when I was about halfway accross, but flattened after cooling.I didn't have to do any valley though. I don't like the idea of the heat/grind generated with these methods. The system I am using (pan & batten) would have you hem the cut edge under before install and hook it on an offset termination strip fastened the length of the valley flashing. Thus no exposed cut edges.-Rob