TS55 and Roof Shingles?

[greenMonster]

I need to cut about 15' in a roof with a single layer of shingles, other than jacking up the blade on nails...is this a really bad idea on any other component of the saw?
If not, are there any good demo type blades that work with the TS?

 

[BJM9818]

I would be worried about getting the tar from the shingle thrown up inside the body of the saw.  I'm not saying it would hurt it but if you get black streaks all over the saw that wouldn't make me happy.  I'm sure you have a old circular saw you can throw a few $5 blades on and finish the task.  Even if you don't have one, I would rent one or pick up a used one on eBay. 

I don't baby my tools but when you pay Festool prices you have to fight the urges to use it for certain jobs that you know are a bad idea.

 

[Kev]

I would be worried about getting the tar from the shingle thrown up inside the body of the saw.  I'm not saying it would hurt it but if you get black streaks all over the saw that wouldn't make me happy.   I'm sure you have a old circular saw you can throw a few $5 blades on and finish the task.  Even if you don't have one, I would rent one or pick up a used one on eBay. 

I don't baby my tools but when you pay Festool prices you have to fight the urges to use it for certain jobs that you know are a bad idea.

Exactly - I've always got a clunker nearby ... for exactly that sort of job. I consider my Festools "fine woodworking" tools and keep them pristine - too pristine at the moment unfortunately ..  [embarassed]

 

[barnowl]

I would be worried about getting the tar from the shingle thrown up inside the body of the saw.  I'm not saying it would hurt it but if you get black streaks all over the saw that wouldn't make me happy.   I'm sure you have a old circular saw you can throw a few $5 blades on and finish the task.  Even if you don't have one, I would rent one or pick up a used one on eBay. 

I don't baby my tools but when you pay Festool prices you have to fight the urges to use it for certain jobs that you know are a bad idea.

Exactly - I've always got a clunker nearby ... for exactly that sort of job. I consider my Festools "fine woodworking" tools and keep them pristine - ..  [embarassed]

+1

I've cut through a roof before.

Makes a mess of the saw.

There's no way that I'd use a TS-55 for that job.

 

[Zacharytanner]

It makes me twitch just thinking about it...Get yourself a clunker to do that job.

Frank

 

[Holzhacker]

Don't do it!
This is not a blade issue. It's a nightmare of a mess issue. You'll spend hours afterwards crying cleaning the goo off of your lovely 55.
Growing up we always had one saw dedicated to cutting roof shingles / openings for dormers. Once a particular circular saw got too beat, too squirrely for regular use it got set aside for this task. I currently still have an older wormdrive just for cutting roof shingles. It just sits in the shop waiting for a roof opening.
Go to the flea market or local pawnshop and find an old wormdrive or POS and use it. The money will be well spent.

 

[monte]

Ouch.
I just woke up and checked into fog.
Maybe I'm still sleeping and this is the beginning of a nightmare.

.

 

[PeterK]

Yea go to the big box and get the lowest cost skill saw for these crap jobs. You will cry after you do this job with your TS.

 

[greenMonster]

Oh right...the whole singles-are-made-out-of-tar-thing [embarassed]

 

[duburban]

do it!!!

 

[tbellemare]

I have a cheepo Ryobi that I bought at the BORG about ten years ago to cut Hardi and construction lumber. I could have gotten a better saw but it works fine for those tasks and I would not hesitate to throw it at a roof. I wouldn't consider using a Festool saw.

Tom

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I agree with Marcus.  Why get the TS 55 full of crap?  Especially if you planned on using it on good wood projects, you'll basically contaminate them with tar, asphalt granules and resin.  The base plate will get all scratched up from nails and you'll wipe out an expensive blade.  I don't know anyone who sells a "demo" blade for the TS 55.

 

[richard.selwyn]

I assumed the question refered to wooden shingles  :-\
I use my old ATF55 for cutting sheetrock. I used the TS to cut some wood with nails in the other day with a special blade, but I suppose tar would be rather messy. Seeing that a descent blade for a TS55 costs more than a cheap circular saw buying the latter seems a good option

 

[SteveC]

At least use the guide, it'll keep bottom of the saw clean and you'll get a straight cut.

 

[BrianP]

I'd carefully peeled back/remove the shingles to identify the the size of my repair (I am assuming it is a repair).  The last time I repaired a roof was just last month with a break in weather.  I peeled back the shingles and exposed the rotten sheathing around two vents, got in the attic and drilled a small hole next the the trusses, got back on the roof and blazed through it with my PS300 flush to the trusses.  Scabbed on some 2x4 to the trusses and nailed on the sheathing.  Size of the repair was just at 6'x 4'.  I considered plunge cutting with my skilsaw but the jigsaw made quick and accurate work of it all.

I'm not a pro-roofer, but patience made for an excellent repair.  Unless I was in a hurry/emergency, I would definitely peel back the composite shingles before cutting.

My 2 cents, Brian