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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:
 
Shingle eaters are the best
I agree the shingle eaters are the best we've been using them for years. They tend to wear out fairly quickly, has anyone had any luck resharpening the teeth back to a point? when they get worn out the tips of the teeth get flat and it hits the nail and stops instead of the nail sliding in between the teeth so you can pull it out.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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:
 
Yes

Ran into a Lowe's for some stuff and came across this Kobalt Shingle Remover.

When I looked at in detail, it was identical to a Shingle Eater only it had a bar welded into it across the top (like a bicycle handlebar) with foam grips and a hump bar in the center with a placing for your foot 3/4's of the way down.

It was black and branded as a Kobalt, but it was a Shingle Eater.

I picked it up and took it on the job and it was just as much a revelation as The Shingle Eater was when I first used it. It was a little heavier, but you didn't lift it to work it...you simple slid it under the work and pushed down with both hands. It was so much easier and I could rip up 4 shingles at the same time in one push (1 layer).

If any of you guys come across one in any Lowe's, trust me, it's worth the $39. I payed for it!

That's right...just $39. for a Shingle Eater on Steroids!

I'm trying to get a pic of it...when I do, I'll post.

Trust me boys, get it!
I JUST got back from lowes, they dont carry them anymore and cant order them.......seriously need to find a place that carries them. Bought 3 of them 7 years ago and they all dissapeared. Just got back into roofing after being off for 5 years and MUST find these shovels.
 
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