TS55 & fiber cement siding???

[Toolpig]

Not sure I would, but has anybody ever used a Festool saw for cutting fiber-cement siding (i.e. Hardi-Plank, Hardie-shingle, etc.).

It's pretty dusty stuff and I bet the saw would gobble up most of the dust.  I wonder about it hurting the saw and guide rail, though.

TP

 

[Brice Burrell]

TP,
  I've wondered about cutting HardieBacker (backer board for tile) with the TS saws. If Festool made a blade for cutting cement-based products I would buy one. I really don't know if if would be a good idea, the dust is not only bad for us but the saw too.

 

[neoshed]

I'd go get the hitachi cement saw on sale at the blue box rather than mess up a ts

 

[Tinker]

I had a Milwaukee 8-1/4 circular saw that lasted just about 30 years cutting masonry only.  It finally quit when it actually caught fire.  The thing was so full of dust I don't know how it could even turn, let alone power a diamond blade thru concrete.  But, i went thru nearly a saw a month for several months before I had finally found that one.  Masonry dust is extremely abraisive to any tools, especially if not made specifically for the purpose.  I would not go near anything resembling any masonry product with my ATF or the TS I expect to own eventually.
Tinker

 

[Eli]

HOWEVER, I was told that the bearings are sealed. A universal 28 or 32 tooth blade would be appropriate for soft cement panels, according to the catalogue....

 

[Roland Chung]

I've been using a Makita Cement Board Saw with good results.  Came with charger, 18 volt batteries and special blade.  I found the entry on Quicken - $140!  The nice thing about this saw is that if you don't hook it up to a vacuum, it has a reservoir that fills with the cement dust.  You have to empty it occasionally, but not much dust goes airborne.

It cuts a nice straight line, but not as clean and straight as the ts55 with a guide. 

 

[Tinker]

Painters say that putty & paint will cover everybody else's mistooks.  Cutting cement board, when is it necessary to have PERFECTLY clean/smooth cut?
Tinker

 

[Toolpig]

Ok, I'll give you an example...

I'm installing Hardie "Shingle" fiber cement panels.  The panels are 16"x48" (panels are made to look like 5 or 6 individual wood shingles).

In order to get the 5" reveal that I desire, I need to rip the panels down from 16" to 12".  I need to rip about 50 of these panels and if the cuts are not perfectly straight, clean and parallel, my course-ing will be off (and my "cussing" will be on!).

TP

Painters say that putty & paint will cover everybody else's mistooks.  Cutting cement board, when is it necessary to have PERFECTLY clean/smooth cut?
Tinker

 

[neoshed]

5" reveal ? is that a typo?

 

[cwennet]

5" reveal ? is that a typo?

In context of siding, "reveal" makes sense, but the more common term is "exposure." For example, if installing 8-1/4 Hardieplanks, then there would be a 7" exposure.

I would never use my TS 55 on fiber cement siding.  Where it is to be painted on site after install and caulking, I would simply use fiber cement siding shears - WAY less dusty (barely any dust!).  If factory painted and I were very concerned about crisp cut edges, then I'd take a fairly inexpensive Skil circular saw with a Hitachi blade.  If I needed a guide rail, I'd build some type of rail/jig out of wood.  Maybe a decent fan blowing the dust away would be good, too - that stuff puts out dust like grinding cement or sanding drywall.

 

[Eli]

that dust is really bad isht too.

 

[Toolpig]

No typo.  By "reveal" I'm referring to 5" of shingle exposed to the weather.

TP

5" reveal ? is that a typo?

 

[richard.selwyn]

I've used the TS55 to cut a fair amount of plasterboard (sheetrock) and made 20 or so cuts in cement board.  The blade did need resharpening after but the still saw seems fine a year or so on.  I do always use an extractor. 

Surely Festool must have something to say about if its OK or not?

 

[Eli]

HOWEVER, I was told that the bearings are sealed. A universal 28 or 32 tooth blade would be appropriate for soft cement panels, according to the catalogue....