How Deep To Score 1/2" Hardie Cement board?

[Calihan]

Being too heavy for me to handle I need to cut a 3' by 5' by 1/2" Hardie board in half for the shower ceiling. I've scored it a half dozen times with a sharp new blade in my Stanley utility knife and have gotten approx. 1/8" through the board but still can't snap it in half. How far through the board should I score it to get it to snap cleanly in half? Is there a better tool for scoring? Thanks.

VR

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[opiethetileman]

Use denisboard then use redgaurd over that its a hell of a lot lighter too. im sure other will agree.

[Davy]

Hi VR, I would go ahead and use it since you have it. There is a special knife made for cutting backerboard. A ulitity knife will cut it, keep scoring it. A jig saw or grinder with a small diamond blade will cut it easier although will stur up a little dust.

[tilelayer]

use or muscles and a utility knife but if ya cant do it get one of these, you can get it at homed depot or lowes or anywhere http://www.masterwholesale.com/details/1058564220.html

[KWIKSIX]

Try a carbide tipped blade.

[sdaniels7114]

If you have a scrap of plywood with one good edge on it you could put the good edge right under the line you've scored and then snap it. Just make sure and yell "HIIIIYAAAA!!!" before you do it.

[Blayne]

I cut Durock for the first time about 2 weeks ago. About 4-5 hard presses with a dull old utility knife using a metal edge as a guide, maybe cutting in 1/8 inch at most did the trick. (this is 1/2 inch durock, 3x5 foot sheet. I doubt the cut was even 1/8 inch deep, probably more like 1/16th). Then, I simply slid a 2x4 under the sheet just to one side of the scored line and pushed down on both sides - pop - perfectly clean cut. You'll need to cut the fibers on the side that you don't score to finish separating the two pieces.

-Blayne

[Shaughnn]

Blayne,
Another trick for Durrock is, once you've got the piece cut, turn the cut edge down to the ground and slide it back and forth a couple of times. A sidewalk or the asphault on a street will act like a rasp and leave you a clean crumble-free edge.
Best of luck,
Shaughnn

[hoser351]

I installed a heck of a lot of wonderboard lately and I never could ever successfully score the pieces and cut it that way. I finally bought a diamond blade for my circular saw and it went very easy from there. I used a jigsaw for fine work, with a normal blade, but had to throw blades away after each electrical box was cut out.

[giarc25]

A jig saw or grinder with a small diamond blade will cut it easier although will stur up a little dust.

Dont forget about how wonderful the smell is :yeah:

[opiethetileman]

Ok I got a naughty note for saying densisheild and redgaurd. I use green baord in the shower ceiling. Not like its gonna get wet 6 to 8 feet up. If it does hell the house is gonne be washed away.

[Calihan]

Thanks for the replies. After scoring a bunch more times and no joy I resorted to using a jig saw with a course wood blade and that worked fine with little dust.

VR

[Blayne]

So has anyone worked with both Durock and Wonderboard (and I guess Hardie??) and found cutting them to be different? I assumed they would be the same, but it seems like the method of cutting I used with Durock isn't doing the trick for some people with Wonderboard.

I wouldn't care except that I still have CBU to install on my shower walls and I purchased some Wonderboard when I ran out of Durock. I assumed they would be essentially the same, but now I'm worried. I sure as heck don't want to mess with cutting this stuff on a circular saw or with a jigsaw, especially not after the ease of cutting the Durock.

Any thoughts? I guess I could just try cutting one of the 6 sheets of Wonderboard sitting on my porch and find out for myself....

-Blayne

[Blayne]

Shaughnn-

Thanks for the trick on cleaning up the cut edges. I didn't have too bad of an edge after the basic cuts, but I'll definitely give this a try next time. The less crumbs on the floor, the better.

-Blayne

[kilroy]

if you're outside an old dull carbide blade on a circular saw rips it up fast.

[Tool Guy - Kg]

Blayne,
If you are going to cut Wonderboard, I suggest getting a carbide tipped scoring tool. Wonderboard will have a utility knife for breakfast. :)