Best Roof Ventilation Tool?

[Mary Ellen]

Putting together the budget for next year. Time to replace the old, tired, inefficient chain saw we have been using for ventilation holes. What tool should we be looking at as a replacement?

Most common roof is asphalt shingle. Most common decking is plywood. Very few industrial style rubber roofs. This is a small bedroom community. Average 3-4 structure calls per year?

What tool would you recommend to get the job done right, done reasonably fast and that can be operated safely with training?

Thanks

[Jolly Roger]

We have Stihl 026 chain saws. After a fire, we simply replace the chain. Chains are about $10-15 each, so it's not like it's that big a deal. We tried the $200 chains, and found they are not one bit better than the inexpensive sets. We have the Stihl circular saw also. (I forgot the model number). We have metal and concrete cutting blades. The nice part about buying from the same company is for maintenence, everything is identical except for the cutting devices themselves. Same spark plugs, same fuel ratios, etc.

My $0.02

Jolly Roger

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Let's not let the honor, tradition, and pride of the fire service erode away.

[This message has been edited by Jolly Roger (edited 11-28-2000).]

[ArmyTruckCompany]

Have used a lot of different combinations, and have observed a lot of different combinations...For chainsaws, the absolute, best, no questions asked saw out there is the Cutters Edge- I forget the model number. It uses a Husqvarna motor, specially "tweaked" for fire dept use, and also has additional air filtration so that the motor does not "choke" in hostile environments. With this, purchase the BULLET chain. The reason the person in the previous post had back luck with the expensive chain is because that model Stihl will not propel a chain fast enough for FD use, hence the thrown teeth. The Cutters Edge saw can do this. Another good chainsaw combo is the Stihl 038 Magnum with the Cutters Edge 12" chain and bar. (Bullet chain again...)

For circular saws, again, no questions- the Partner K700A....Not as big and clumsy as the K-1200, less weight and just slightly less horsepower. The blade- "The Warthog." You will use it once and throw rocks at everything else you have ever used. You will never use anything else again until something better comes out.

Personally, I dont like the Stihl circular saws- WAY too heavy in my opinion. Good luck!!

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"Loyalty above all else, except honor."

[snowmankw77]

I just used a new Stihl saw that was designed for ventilation on the fire ground and i thought it was an exellent saw. I took it down through a simulated roof making the normal 4x4 cut in a matter of seconds. I don't remeber what the model number was though. I will find out and post it unless some one else knows the saw that i am talking about

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Matt Briskey
Eastern Garrett County
Station 80

"What's in it for me?

Hard Work
Injury
Possible Death
A deep and abiding feeling of personal satisfaction found in few aspects of life"

"Nobody ever called the fire department when they did something smart!!"

[This message has been edited by snowmankw77 (edited 11-28-2000).]

[bfd1071]

Pitched roof??? How about a pickheaded axe? A good roof man will cut a hole in no time with a good axe. Chainsaws .....not an a pitched roof.

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** The opionions are mine and mine alone, they are not that of my dept or the local**

[SFD-129-3]

Our truck runs with the Cutters Edge D8 chainsaw and the Stihl circular. The Cutters edge cannot be beat. If you have used one after struggling with a Stihl that was meant for cutting firewood, you will never be without one. The are expensive up front and the chains have to be sent back to be sharpened correctly, but they save you valuable time on a roof.

[Capt68]

Hey BFD ever try a sledge hammer they work pretty good compared to an axe, try it sometime. Nothing bad just something neat you might like ... Ryan

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62 Engine 67 Truck ... The Pride of the West Side

[GBordas]

I agree with BFD1071. The overall best tool is a pick-headed axe. We go to the roof with several tools; a partner saw (K-12)is the way to go for cutting all around, not just for venting roofs. In addition to the tools and saw, we carry a kit for the saw which carries different types of spare blades for different roof materials along with a wrench to change out the blades quickly and efficiently. (It is a lot easier maintenance than a chain-saw). But if the saw should ever fail,... Guess what? We've got our axes!

Be safe
GB

[This message has been edited by GBordas (edited 11-28-2000).]

[MFD636]

Small community? Tight budget? Head down to your local hardware store & pick up a cordless reciprocating saw (commonly known as a "saws-all").It's lightweight,low maintenance,easy to use,and fast! This is the tool of choice on my dept. for wood/shingle roofs. It also comes in handy at auto-X scenes.

[Detroit Fire]

Way to go Boston nothing like a good Pick Head Axe or a good 20lb sledg these are all we use in Detroit. They are light, never stalls if smoke gets in the carb. and easy to replace if stolen.

[This message has been edited by Detroit Fire (edited 11-28-2000).]

[Jim M.]

I hate to go against tradition, but isn't a saw of some type much safer to use on a pitched roof than an axe? I think I remember a study showing fewer injuries. Anyone else think the same way?

[bfd1071]

Bringing a saw to a pitched roof seems a little more dangerous then an AXE. A Axe has no moving parts. If you should slip on the rood, what is the first thing you do? You grip tight whatever you have in your hand, the trigger to the saw. On a Pitched roof, I'll take the axe over a high speed saw.

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** The opionions are mine and mine alone, they are not that of my dept or the local**

[Jim M.]

bfd1071; I'm sure you see many more fires than I do. I agree with your comment about the spining saw being a dangerous tool but, what has your experience been as far as your personal stability on a pitched roof? I think I'm less likely to fall if I'm leaning forward making a cut vs. the up and down momentum of my torso swinging an axe or a sledgehammer. My body seems more stable. Just a thought. Wish I could remember where I read what I think I remember reading about relative safety.

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Remember, it IS as bad as you think and they ARE out to get you!

[fireman703]

I have never been one to follow tradition for traditions sake. I try to think out of the box. If I was a contractor and had to put in a skyligtht what tool would I use. Portable, lightweight, safe. My choice is a sawzall that has both battery and electric cord capabilities. I go to the roof with a pickhead axe to start the hole and if something happens to the sawzall. With the right blade put in for the job, I will have a large hole cut quickly. I can be in many different body positions on the roof ladder to accomplish this. The tool is lightwieght and fast. I dont want to stand on any roof if I can help it. In my earlier days I partially went through a roof into a burning attic. I now try spread out my weight on more than my feet and be very stable with little movement. I use the cord on MVA's and other cutting jobs where a cord is not a hinderence.

[SFD-129-3]

Anybody want to race? I'll take my saw, you take your axe, and we'll see who cuts a 4'x4' and on the ground first. Any extra time on a roof isn't a good thing. Cut your hole and get off there. The Cutters Edge also has the depth guage and blade cover so you can lean it into your cut without coming into contact with any of the blade.
I wholeheartedly feel the chainsaw, properly used, is the safest and quickest metheod ever. Do you really want to swing an axe to make a trench cut?

[This message has been edited by SFD-129-3 (edited 11-30-2000).]