Home made shingle tool.

[Copymutt]

Got a reroof coming up. Gathered Ice & Water shield etc. This is an ancient double course of asphalt shingles overlaid with Propanel. Obviously need a shingle ripper.
My version vs. Amazon. Must have taken 45 minutes.

 

[readhead]

What are you putting back on?
I can probably make you a pretty good deal on metal.

 

[cgrutt]

Is that welded at 90 degrees to handle? If so, not sure how you intend to use it. I have several shingle rippers and really prefer the Home Depot orange ones that use a similar head pattern as yours but the handle is at a much different angle and is not nearly as wide. Good luck with it I'd be interested to know how it works out.

ETA this style I have a smaller hand held one too which works pretty good.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I agree that the handle angle is wrong.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If the roof is 3 or 4/12, I can the reason the OP made it 90°.

Use your boot to set it in place and pull back on the handle, much like pulling a nail with a hammer.

Work standing up vs. bent over.

 

[Copymutt]

What are you putting back on?
I can probably make you a pretty good deal on metal.

Relaying the Propanel w/ new gasket screws. The big issue is an idiotic flat valley that holds 2’ of snow that melts & eventually finds its way through roof Into the attic & then wets the insulation.

 

[Copymutt]

Area is 3/12. should be good angle for leverage. Standing on the roof to remove, not from below. Not looking forward to the job, pushing 74 yrs., but still capable.

 

[Copymutt]

Thanks Redhead, outside of oxidation the original is sound. I see you’re no longer in Grandview. Working out of home or new location?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

If the roof is 3 or 4/12, I can the reason the OP made it 90°.

Use your boot to set it in place and pull back on the handle, much like pulling a nail with a hammer.

Work standing up vs. bent over.

The problem with the angle is that you cant get the handle under the shingles. I've ripped a fair amount of shingles, and lots of times you can get a big swath coming up if you place the shovel strategically under the shingles, including the handle. Makes quicker work.

 

[cgrutt]

The problem with the angle is that you cant get the handle under the shingles. I've ripped a fair amount of shingles, and lots of times you can get a big swath coming up if you place the shovel strategically under the shingles, including the handle. Makes quicker work.

Exactly. Also at a 3:12 pitch the handle would need to be approx 105 degrees when flat on the deck just to be standing straight up. Much easier to work from top down, drive the ripper and handle under and lift up a good section of shingles at a time. That's actually why I prefer the style posted above I have a few of the other claw style rippers but they don't work that great IMO.

 

[jar944]

We always just used a #2 coal shovel with d handle.

 

[Riverrat]

When you install shingles does the green side go up or is that just when you are laying sod?

 

[readhead]

Copy, tried to retire in ‘21 but it didn’t stick. I’m working out of my shop at home where all this started twenty five years ago. Still selling sheds, chicken houses, sheet metal and metal buildings. I am also detailing structural steel for some of the local fab shops.

 

[Fixr]

Area is 3/12. should be good angle for leverage. Standing on the roof to remove, not from below. Not looking forward to the job, pushing 74 yrs., but still capable.

Wait. 74? Not only no, but HELL NO! That's why there are roofers in their 20s. We may still be strong and way smarter than the kids, but our bones are made of chalk and we heal at geological speed. That's a terrible risk/benefit equation.

Save that kind of risk for jumping out of windows to escape a jealous husband.

 

[Copymutt]

I’ve aged well. Know my comfort zone. I’m a couple yrs. away yet from swearing off ladders.🫣

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The reason " our bones are made of chalk and we heal at geological speed. ", is because you stopped being physical and started letting 20 year olds do the hard work.

 

[Fixr]

I’ve aged well. Know my comfort zone. I’m a couple yrs. away yet from swearing off ladders.🫣

That's what they all say from their hospital beds. I'm not talking about swearing off ladders. I'm talking about all the other risks of doing roofing, especially involving large metal panels with lots of wind sail area. It's a job for young folks with worker's comp coverage, not old bulls with a pride problem.

 

[Fixr]

The reason " our bones are made of chalk and we heal at geological speed. ", is because you stopped being physical and started letting 20 year olds do the hard work.

What a crock of ****. Talk to an orthopedic surgeon about osteoporosis. Strong muscles don't compensate for calcium loss. You can still be very strong and yet be fragile. I'm not talking about hard work. I'm talking about hard falls. We don't have flexible bones like the young folks do.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

What a crock of ****. Talk to an orthopedic surgeon about osteoporosis. Strong muscles don't compensate for calcium loss. You can still be very strong and yet be fragile. I'm not talking about hard work. I'm talking about hard falls. We don't have flexible bones like the young folks do.

You do you...

 

[Fixr]

You do you...

Yeah. I'll stick with medical science instead of arrogant stupid macho hubris. Or, if you claim that bone embrittlement can be prevented by continuing hard physical labor, can you also prevent skin drying, thinning and wrinkling the same way? How about cataracts?

Our bodies deteriorate with age. Joints mechanically wear out. Bones lose flexibility. Hearing fades. Etcetera. Keeping in shape slows that down, but claiming it isn't inexorable is a cruel and stupid lie.

That said, being lazy and quitting is a really stupid way to crumble and suffer early. Just don't run toward the headlights in order to prove that you are tougher than a new truck.

 

[Copymutt]

That's what they all say from their hospital beds. I'm not talking about swearing off ladders. I'm talking about all the other risks of doing roofing, especially involving large metal panels with lots of wind sail area. It's a job for young folks with worker's comp coverage, not old bulls with a pride problem.

Only fools ef w/ steel panels on windy days, just like I don’t burn ditches on windy days.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

That said, being lazy and quitting is a really stupid way to crumble and suffer early.

So you got my point...
I'm only 61, have had both knees replaced, suffer from some fairly severe arthritis in most of my joints. As long as my body is willing, I'll be up on that roof doing tearoffs and shingling. Same with any other job that needs doing. When I can't is when I'm stop doing that stuff.
I'm not saying for you to do anything. Its your body and you know what you're capable of. And what risks you're willing to take. But to just give a blanket statement that someone is too old at 74 is B.S.

 

[speed bump]

I'm not sure how yours is going to work it's missing a couple of things.

First is I don't think it's stiff enough without any ribs or bends. Could be wrong but when I use mine I work it along pulling every nail I can and trying to get 10-20 shingles at a shot. Definitely would bend flat bar but you probably won't have that problem because it won't slide under more than a row.

The handle angle is going to make it interesting. If I can I work down, which means you would be reaching over and leaning the wrong direction. Or you are intending to work up which means that you are between the material and the ground which also a bad position.

My personal suggestion if buying a roofing spade for $20 at the pawn shop isn't in the cards is: take a square point shovel, cut some teeth if need be and weld on a hinge point if needed. I've done a lot of roofs with just a square point and it works but I don't regret buying a roofers spade.

 

[red]

Area is 3/12. should be good angle for leverage. Standing on the roof to remove, not from below. Not looking forward to the job, pushing 74 yrs., but still capable.

Good for you, doing your own roof!
I just hired a roofer to do my roof, cause it's too high and too risky and I'm a few years younger.

 

[rust in the eye]

You're gonna wish it were straight(er)

 

[readhead]

I went by to see Jim and the roof in person. It is a low slope and a pretty tame job. He is in fine, fit form and ready to take this on. We are working on a solution that I think will be pretty easy. More to come.

 

[2oolhound]

Not looking forward to the job, pushing 74 yrs., but still capable.

Way to go at it! This is inspirational.

When I was young I used to say it took 3 weeks to go out of shape and a week to get back in shape. It's opposite now and I think after 3 weeks of R&R we may never get fully back to how we were. I'm with everyone on here that says keep at it, that's what keeps us in tune.

 

[Copymutt]

Winter is giving up here, so started a few projects. Hanging Smartside on the garage when I realized winters joint pain disappeared. Must be a use it or lose it cure. Good to be sble to reach again.

 

[Garage25]

Great job. Had to actually make an account to say that. Nothing wrong with making your own tools. No it's not computer drafted tested bla bla. But if it pulls shingles n nails easily, score. I've made several tools should have patented. Used to be all metal n wood stuff. Recently started dabelilng in plastics. Old sks but what you gonna do lay down n die. Hate to see someone putting someone down for wanting to do their own work.. or disrespect their concepts. Anyways hope it went well

 

[Beerhippie]

I worked with an "old-timer" doing building and remodel well into his seventies. I helped him build his own log home starting when he was 72. Fragile? Ever build a full-cope log home?

Besides, he taught Tae Kwon Do at his local dojo with a fifth-degree black belt--I sure wasn't going to tell him he was too fragile to do the job!

I do agree that that handle is far too steep. I've stripped a lot of roofing, both with a flat shovel (misery) and purpose-made tool and the handles were more like 30 degrees from the flat.

Remember to always face the edge!