PacTool SS204 Snapper Shear - Power Cutter for Fiber Cement Siding - Professional Power Tools

These work great. I used them on .42” Hardie Backer board and I’m very satisfied. No dust and very smooth and straight cut. So much better than using a masonry saw blade. Only thing but not a big issue is the cord tends to get into the cut behind you so not dangerous. Just have to take notice and move it out of the way. Leaves curly cut material (like curly fries) waste easy to sweep away. Great tool and well worth the cost. Even on small projects.

The PacTool SS404 Contractor Grade Snapper Shear has been a lifesaver for my home renovation project, especially when tackling large 4x10 sheets of fiber cement siding. Knowing the dangers of silica dust from traditional cutting methods, this tool is a safe and efficient alternative that has made the process smooth and hassle-free.A few tips from my experience:Mind your cut line – The shear removes about 1/4 inch of material during the cut. Keep this in mind to avoid cutting sheets shorter than intended. Align the cut line to the left or right of the guide, not directly in the center.Manage the excess material – The waste curls up as you cut, so periodically clear it to maintain visibility and precision.Watch your cord – The tool's angle tends to catch the power cord on the fresh cut edge, which can cause frustration. Use your free hand to guide the cord away and ensure smooth progress.Overall, this tool is a must-have for professionals and serious DIYers handling fiber cement siding. It’s reliable, effective, and worth every penny.Highly recommend!

Like most of the reviews, I've found this tool to be indispensable to working with Hardi-Plank.It makes smooth cuts with absolutely no dust provided finished side is down (that is at the bottom of the scissors), and with the help of a 6" speedi-square and a little practice you can make perfectly square cuts. The only thing needed is a little "rasping" of the cut edge to remove some of the remaining loose fibers. I just use a small piece of Hardi-Plank for that.The little curlicues of cut material make a mess but the small bits broken bits get eaten by the grass. I raked most of them up but the smaller bits disappeared into the grass in a couple of weeks.Cutting "notches" in the planks is difficult if not impossible to do neatly with this tool. For that I still use a 4.5" grinder with a diamond wheel. A little dust but nothing like you would get by making every cut on a siding job using a diamond wheel. I just hold my breath for a bit and I'm old anyway... I also still rely on the old skillsaw/diamond blade for trim boards.So back to the tool:Pros: Runs very smooth, variable speed trigger very linear. Powerful, well made - quality and performance you might expect from something like a Bosch power tool. Blades can be removed and turned around and changed side/side, the combinations giving 4 new sets of cutting edges before needing replacement. I've done the entire 3,000 sq ft house with no more wear than a little polishing action on the existing cutting surfaces.Con (only one): Like other reviewers I've found the cord placement at the bottom of the trigger handle troublesome when making long ripping cuts. I have a set of sheetmetal shears of similar design and the cutter head rotates to different positions on the drill motor which eliminates this problem - and these are from Harbor Freight and cost less than $50! C'mon PacTool!

I've had good luck with other pac tools. This one also works great. Using on Hardie siding

I am building my own home and installing cement fiber siding. I had an eliptical and full circle transom around which I had to install 1/2" Hardi-trim, as well as lap siding and Hardi-shingles. I reluctantly paid the price for this single use tool because I was getting less than satisfactory results around an oval window using just a cement fiber blade in a circular saw, not to mention the cloud of choking dust which I'm sure will cause me cancer some day. One criticism is that the information for this tool does NOT SAY it will cut up to 1/2" fiber cement. It will do this handily. On straight cuts, it's clean and faster than a circular blade. On mild arcs, it works best if you cut from left to right (imagine the blade sweeping clockwise). On more aggressive arcs, it will cut but the end result may need a good bit of clean up with a utility knife. The aggressive arcs also require a good deal more force to make the turns. These comments all relate to 1/2". With standard 5/16" fiber cement siding, this machine cuts like a hot knife through butter. Another thing; I wish I had this tool when I was balanced on a scaffold last week instead of using the circular saw. It's solidly built. I dropped it several times from many feet. It feels competent and comfortable in my hand. I own many power tools and am sick of promised performance. In this case, I would recommend this to professionals as well as those who fear the amateur but very doable task of installing fiber cement siding. Now that I'm done with my project, you can buy mine!