Source: TOOLS OF THE TRADE Magazine
Publication date: January 1, 2004
By Mark Clement
Roof Mates' Shingle Saw is the best thing to happen to roofing tools since hook blades. It cut everything I tested it on–in every application– better, faster, and cleaner than with any other cutting tool I've used. Invented by career roofer Rob Garrett for cutting straight rake lines in thick, tough architectural shingles, it makes lightning-fast work of slicing up shingles for starter strips and caps. It's also a lifesaver for cutting rakes and valleys. The Shingle Saw not only cuts shingles, it cuts time, easily shaving hours off a single roof install.
Power Source. The saw is air-powered, so there's no extra cord to drag up to the roof or battery to keep charged. It spins a proprietary, asphalt-hungry 3-inch blade with a 7/8-inch depth of cut. That means it can gang-cut architectural shingles three at a time. You have to go a little bit "slow" with the saw so it won't bind three at a time. Individual shingle cuts are a snap.
Like most constant-draw pneumatic tools, the Shingle Saw uses lots of air, so it's way too hungry for a 4-gallon compressor. I ran it off a
25-gallon unit, and it cut starter strips, caps, and bundles of half shingles off 75 feet of hose with no problem.
Cutting Action. One of the best things about the saw is using it to cut a nice straight line on rakes.
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