Drop The Utility Knife: There's A Better Way To Cut Vinyl Using A Drill Attachment

A day spent cutting metal can be a nightmare for the uninitiated. A day spent cutting vinyl siding has all the same mechanisms, but is a touch easier with manual cutting tools. So, when you discover that a power tool like Malco's TurboShear ($69.98) drill attachment is designed for metal but works for vinyl, it might be just the thing you're looking for to get through a DIY siding job. You also won't slice open your thumb with a utility knife.

The Malco TurboShear (model TS1) will work with any drill or impact driver to cut sheet metal, metal building panels, vinyl siding, ductwork, and even thicker metals. It gets 4.1 stars on 185 ratings at Home Depot (the only reviewer who specifically mentioned cutting vinyl gave it 5 stars), with 81% of purchasers recommending it. It cuts vinyl without chipping, even in cold weather, and it's very portable at 1.75 pounds and 8.5-by-8.75-by-7.5 inches. Even at $69.98, it's far cheaper than most power shears that aren't powered by a separate drill/driver. The TurboShear's cutting jaws will wear out over time, especially if used with metals, but replacement blades are available, and the replacement process is very simple.

But why not just cut vinyl siding with a utility knife? A utility knife is good for what it does, which is to cut straight lines against a straight edge of some sort. The trouble, aside from the aforementioned potential for nasty cuts, is that utility knives aren't great at making curved cuts, and can even get derailed by vinyl siding's fake "grain" when trying to cut straight. They are also slower than power shears.

The TurboShear is suitable for most vinyl siding cuts, but won't perform properly on thicker materials, like cutting vinyl plank flooring. Its adjustable jaws are just big enough to handle vinyl siding, which ranges from a minimum of 0.035 inches to 0.055 inches or more. However, the thinnest LVP flooring is 2 millimeters (0.079 inches) — well beyond the TurboShear's spec. Even with siding, Home Depot reviewers indicate that it has trouble with ribbed or corrugated panels. It can help to adjust the jaws of the TS1 to a wider setting when dealing with corrugations and the like. Just remember to adjust it back for long cuts in flat vinyl.

The TS1 is designed for metal and, as such, is quite good at cutting tight curves and square cuts in materials like 20-gauge galvanized siding or roofing. This capability translates to vinyl as well, since it's far easier to cut and therefore far easier to manipulate the shears within, and the small jaw size means that you can start cuts in a hole as small as ½ inch. Malco notes that the TS1 only makes straight cuts and cuts to the left. All shears are inherently right- or left-handed. (This is the reason for red and yellow handles in aviation snips.) The TurboShear just happens to be left-handed, but any cut in vinyl can be made left-handed by flipping the workpiece if necessary. Keep in mind, too, that both hands are required to cut without the optional drill clamp.

Of course, the Malco TurboShear isn't the only power shear game in town for cutting vinyl siding. DeWalt makes a slightly cheaper drill attachment with slightly worse ratings, while Skyshalo makes a much cheaper attachment with almost no ratings. Vevor's drill attachment is identical to Skyshalo's in that it has few ratings, but note that both have 360-degree swiveling heads and both come with the clamp that makes it possible to use the shears one-handed. This could be significant, since the Malco drill clamp costs around $30.

Malco also makes a drill attachment specifically for cutting vinyl. The TSV1 Vinyl Siding Shears have a long ¾-inch cut and are designed to handle thicker material, effectively erasing the challenges the TS1 has with corrugations. Its jaws open to a ⅜-inch bite, over 9 millimeters, which is capable of handling corrugations and the folds of nailing flange edges. The TSV1 also comes with a telescoping drill clamp ... which is a good thing, because you probably won't want to pony up any more cash after laying out $210 to $267 for the drill attachment.

To put that rather extraordinary drill attachment price in perspective, our local Home Depot stores stock two power shears with an average price of $279. However, with a wait of only one to two days, you can get your hands on a number of dedicated power shears, ranging from a $42.72 corded Wen with 4 stars to an $819 corded Makita with 4.1 stars, and everything in between. The potential value of the Malco TurboShear to DIYers depends on how critical their shear needs are and how often they come up.