How to Cut Shingles With a Metal Cutting Saw

Place safety goggles over your eyes, leather gloves over your hands and plug your ears with industrial-grade earplugs. The nature of a metal cutting saw can be quite abrasive, thus safety precautions must be taken to protect your hands, ears and eyes.

Gather the shingles you wish to cut. Make clear markings on the shingles as to where you wish the saw to travel. This is imperative to ensure each shingle is properly trimmed.

Position the metal cutting saw so it is at a comfortable level. You should not have to reach up or bend down to maneuver the blade.

Secure the shingle or shingles to the sawing platform using the clamping jaws. While leaving the saw off, lower the cutting blade to ensure it is properly aligned with the markings on the shingle. If the alignment is correct, tighten the clamping jaws around the shingle.

Start the metal saw, and gently lower the blade so it comes in contact with the shingle. Do not put excessive force on the blade, and use extreme caution during this step.

Proceed in lowering the cutting blade until the blade fully cuts through the shingle. Because metal cutting saws are extremely sharp, it will not take much pressure or time to fully cut through roofing shingles.

Turn off the metal cutting saw once the blade has cut through the shingle. Slowly raise the blade into its resting position and inspect the cut on the shingle. If the cut is precise, continue until all your shingles are cut.