Cedar Siding Gauges One Pair

I've been using these gauges to install 1x8 cedar bevel siding (about 500 s.f. so far) and overall they do work, but needed a bit of modification first (-1 star) and could use a re-design (-1 star).The modification is to cut off most of the tang (see 1st picture) that goes behind the board, and you'll likely have to use an angle grinder because the tang is stainless steel (regular cutting tools will go dull trying to cut through it). The reason why this needs to be done is to make it easier (more like "possible"!) to remove the gauges without cracking the just-installed board they were supporting (and note that this is assuming the board has only been nailed along the top edge; you do the face nailing, if required, after removing the gauges).The first design change I feel would be helpful is to make the hook/tang a simple inverted "U" shape, instead of the existing "M" shape. This is because the M profile has *2* places where the hook can rest on the top edge of the bevel siding (see "1" in the 2nd picture) which can result in inconsistent reveal spacing.The second design change is more in the "really needs to be done" category, rather than "would be helpful", and that is to get rid of the flange on the back of the height-adjust cam (see "2" in the 2nd picture) because it is just thick enough for the board to rest on it, and the bevel allows the board to ride up onto it, especially when first nailing the opposite end. I've learned to double check that the board is actually resting on the cam body before I start nailing, but only after installing a couple of boards cock-eyed because of this.All that said, these gauges do make adjusting the reveal height very easy as well as actually make it possible to install siding by yourself, so are worth the price paid and why I gave them 3 stars despite the aggravating and somewhat inexplicable flaws.

Just received a pair of these Solosiders for Cedar siding. Tucked into the instruction booklet is a slip of paper with the following info: "If you have trouble with the wood splitting, try using a smooth nail with a blunted tip (just to get the tool out) or you could drill a pilot hole."While the manufacturer states these are for cedar siding, the top end "hook" looks deep enough for smartside or hardie planks. Surely, it hooks over the top edge of cedar clapboards (i.e. the board's thin edge), but when the new board is nailed a problem is created. Removing the solosider without splitting/cracking the new, just nailed board can be extraordinarily difficult and time consuming.Looks to me like the manufacturer needs to reconfigure the "hook" to have a much thinner cross section more in line with the shape of a beveled cedar clapboard. These don't save time, they waste it.That said, solosiders are nicely fabricated products made in the USA.

These are a 1 time use product. They work ok but broke one towards end and other is so loose wouldnt hold board at right height.

These siding gauges could't make a job any easier. I highly recommend them to anyone doing siding.

These work great. I sided two buildings with them.