PacTool International SS504 Cordless Fiber Cement Siding Shear

This tool is for cutting products like Hardie Panel. It's an alternative to using a saw. The most important reason for choosing this tool over a saw has to do with the dust that is raised. The dust from fiber cement products has fine particles of silica, which will hurt your lungs (silicosis). The shear cuts the panel with less dust raised. The trick to using the shear is to work with the panel face down. That way the cut will look best on the exposed side.The PacTool International shear is cordless and uses a Li-Ion battery. PTI gave me excellent customer support when my battery charger died.

It worked well until the gears broke. We had been using it for only about a week and a half. If the gears weren't so cheap the product would be great. The batteries seemed to last quite awhile as well, but I did only have it for little over a week.

Works great! Was worried about not getting a clean cut with the shears. However, it cut clean and straight. The biggest positive is that it kicks up almost none of the fiber dust from cement/ fiber board.