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Several people had negative things to say about these tools. Check it every 5 rows or so and sneak it back in if you have to. Simply nail one end while using the height guide to get it exact and then do the other end.
Use the hangers to hold the plank in place. (You can remove the first one before nailing too if you want to).This product works great. If they would think about what they were saying before making a statement they would realize that the answer is right in front of them.
Remove the hanger from the first end after you set the nail and remove the second hanger BEFORE you set the nail on that end. Use the guide to adjust it for the desired spacing. It works like a champ.
If you set the first line properly the entire wall should fall into place. If you were careful then it should be consistent regardless of the tolerance of the planks.
I ended up using a plain old box cutter and speed square to score and snap. As a side note, when I started the siding, I used a table-saw with a fiber-cement blade to rip and a B&D 18V cordless skillsaw for crosscuts.
For a novice, these were a life-saver. Especially the metal overlap guage set.
I bought these to help me with a garage that I was building, for the most part, by myself. Even though he uses three guys to install siding (two on scaffolding to install, one to cut) he was going to buy a set for those rare occasions when one of his guys didn't make it in.
The red plastic face gauge is ok for short runs but I would probably want something a little more accurate for long runs. My neighbor, who is a home builder, saw me using them and came over to find out what I was using.
Even with the special blade, the dust and fiber-cement particles were a MAJOR issue. (Three passes front and back) Worked like a charm, even for angle cuts.
The facing and overlap gauge set I purchased was as explained and worked fairly well. The facing gauge was a little difficult to remove but it was helpful as a second hand.
1200 square feet of Hardi Plank siding (5 inch exposure) by myself. These two tools are a must have.
This tool is an absolute lifesaver. I was able to quickly AND accurately install (80) 12' pieces of siding with NO HELP. I HIGHLY recomend this product.
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