RE

I have used Shingle eaters, 4 tine pitch fork and shin-go. All three tools are quite good tear-off tools but shin-go is best for pulling nails. You should go for it.

 

could be useful for some applications...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c75tZzRkD9I

 

Depends on multiple factors. The main ones being the condition of the existing shingles, number of layers, time of year ( temperature ), type of decking ( plywood or planks )., length of nails used on last install, etc. In the winter, on a 1-layer tear off I prefer the regular old flat bottom spade shovels. They dont tear up the shingles allowing me to tear off the roof neatly and take up all the nails along the way with most of the nails staying in the shingles helping with the nails on the ground problem. In the summer i like to start at the bottom and pull the shingles up in big chunks by hand if possible and then come back and beat the nails down or pull them out with the teeth style newer tear off tool. If that doesn't work well then I will use TWO 4 prong pitch forks, starting at the ridge and getting underneath the old felt paper. On a multi-layer sometimes i tear off all layers at once and other times one layer at a time depending on how it comes off. If doing 1 layer at a time i use the teeth shovels to remove the nails after removing the top layer or else the next layer wont come off worth a poop! Tearing off is only half the battle with clean up being the other half. Every time i tear off a roof and upon finishing a side look back and see no trash on the roof or ground and no nails sticking up I just smile and holler SHINGLES boys!!! :whistling:

 

For one or more layer comp.shingle roofs, one of these;http://compare.ebay.com/like/150812709222?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar.
For wood shakes, a four tine garden fork. Like this;http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3107746&cagpspn=pla

 

The shin-go is what iv'e had the best experience with. The fiberglass hand makes it lightweight yet fairly strong and durable. For multiple layer tear-offs the "shingle hog" is an awesome air powered tear-off tool. You can check it out at www.theshinglehog.com. It work pretty well for one layer roofs as well.

Like anything though a tear-off bar only works as good as the guy who is using it.

 

the very best tear off tools cannot be purchased,as they are
"Will,And Determination"

Exactly! Very well put!

 

I use Shin Gos and Red Rippers. I like the Shin Gos because I can replace the teeth part and the angled part that is rubbing across the roof. I've had them in metal, wood, and fiberglass and they last from longest to shortest in that order. The metal are a little heavy and the wood ones are perfect.

Most of my guys seem to like the Red Ripper. They're great when they're new and nice and light. My one complaint is when you wear them out, I either have to grind new teeth out or just buy a new one. I guess most are like that if you can't replace the teeth portion of it.

 

We use the same angle grinder we use for cutting our reglets, but change to a metal blade, sharpen, works ok. Soft Chinese steel = disposable tools.

 

I bought two razor bars from my old boss and love them. I'll be buying more in the future! You'll break a sweat but they are so fast it's worth it.

 

I am a fan of the shingle eaters.

 

The shin-go with fiberglass handle. I have 2 of the shortys as well, handy little buggers.

 

AJC Shingo is the Best

 

We use a couple of AJC Shingo wooden handle tools with college students attached.

 

Someone else.

 

The best tear off tool ever invented!

 

SWIM of course :laughing:

Seriously ... they've got a shovel at one of our suppliers with a straight, long fiberglass handle. I don't like the T handles, or metal handles because of impact - goes straight to the elbow and I'm not 20 anymore. That, and a pitch fork.

Thankfully, I don't own either, most of my "tear off" is done with a wonder bar :laughing:

 

Shin-Dig

 

red rippers mostly, on cedar tears we use a leaf spring from a vehicle weld a handle on it and slide it between the strapping and lift the spring does all the work, works like a charm when ya figure it out..:thumbup:

 

that woprks great have used them before

 

red rippers for years

 

"THE ROOFING GOD"

{ so you kinow the very best tear off tools cannot be purchased,as they are
"Will,And Determination" }



my words exactly.......:thumbup:

 

aND i WOULD USE A SHINGLE EATER FROM THE BOTTOM UP.WHICH PULLS SEVERAL COURSES AT ONCE WITH THE NAILS,AND ANY STRAGGLERS WOULD BE ELIMINATED WITH MY 20 OZ. estwing hammer---but what do I know,only been doing this for over 30 years,and I don`t sell tools like some here seem to-but just so you kinow the very best tear off tools cannot be purchased,as they are
"Will,And Determination"
and not for nothing,but I went to help a friend in Indiana,they used shingos,and I of course brought my shingle eaters--before long the guys were asking if I had more,and yes a few of them used the shingle eaters,Asked if they liked them ,they said HELL YES,Why don`t you use them?,,because these are what the boss buys

 

This pic gives you some idea of what i'm up against. Battens are 2" wide.

 

Those narrow battens look tough for a fork, not enough surface to ride on. My first choice ripping that one would be Shin-dig. Second would be Shingo.

 

Only use pitch forks. It's tough to find thin wide tines but now we just buy them and put them on the grinder before they gon the roof.

I wished you could still get the good ones.

I have toothy shovels too. They work great for pulling nails. As far as ripping shingles? Way slower than a pitch fork!

 

Tines that are thin AND wide? I have either maximized that concept, or went totally opposite, not sure which.


Anyhow, If you like the forks, it may be worth your while to have a look at this thing. It gives long strokes on rough deck, and has several cool tricks for dealing with the debris.

The "good ones" may be gone, but perhaps now you can get better ones. It took over twenty years practice to get the tool running just right. It would be nice to see some of my fellow roofers benefit from those lessons.

 

I use a flat garden spade and then go back over the area with a claw hammer to pull the nails. I want something better for the wood shingle tear offs, most of them here are fixed with narrow crown staples which are a pain to remove from the battens after the shingles are off. I use a cats paw for this which works but isn't ideal, slips off the staples too easy and frequently sends them flying all over resulting in a big cleanup that at times includes the neighbours properties!
Any recommendations? Anything I get will have to come from the US as they're not available here in NZ.

 

Wooden shingle stapled to slat, Hmmm...

Provided that the slats were at least 3 1/2 inches wide, I'd pull out the power stripper. Those staple jobs can be pretty tough depending on the specifics.

The staples will still need to be dealt with. A (welder's) grinder will make short work of them, but may pose a fire hazard. Be careful. I usually use either end-nips, or just bend them over with a hammer, depending on who's looking :whistling:

 

We found shingle eaters are the best for shingles so we can remove nails as we go save you from coming back, we use wood forks for wood shakes.

 

I hate using them for tearing off shingles personally. Yes it seems like less work so you don't have to go back and pull nails, but I find we tear off more per push with the pitch forks and it's not at all that time consuming to follow with the eater to get the nails. Nothing's worse than constantly smacking the nails with the eater when you're trying to rip.

 

4 Prong potato fork.

I like the four prong potato fork to remove the shingles, then we come back with the shingle eater to get the nails.

 

I like the four prong potato fork to remove the shingles, then we come back with the shingle eater to get the nails.

If you like the potato fork, it might be worth taking a look at Razor Bar. Not limited by tooth length, it has infinite penetration for long strokes on rough deck. Its tempered steel teeth tend to self-sharpen and will deliver high performance for many tear off jobs.

Nice looking brake btw.