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

 

Shin-Dig

 

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:

 

Someone else.

 

The best tear off tool ever invented!

 

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

 

AJC Shingo is the Best

 

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

 

I am a fan of the shingle eaters.

 

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.

 

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

Exactly! Very well put!

 

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.

 

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

 

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:

 

could be useful for some applications...

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

 

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.