Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for producing fiber-cement soffit building products. In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for producing fiber-cement soffits includes a punch assembly, a support assembly facing at least a portion of the punch assembly, and an actuator operatively coupled to at least one of the punch assembly or the support assembly. The punch assembly can include a punch plate and a plurality of punches coupled to the punch plate. Each punch can have a length and a first cross-sectional dimension generally normal to the length. The support assembly can have a support plate, and at least a portion of the support plate is juxtaposed to at least a portion of the punch plate. The support plate can include a plurality of holes arranged in a pattern so that each hole in the portion of the support plate juxtaposed to the punch plate is aligned with a corresponding punch on the punch plate.

Abstract: A method of cutting a sheet of fiber-cement and cutting machine programmed to effect such a method is disclosed. The method includes aligning a cutting plane of the sheet with at least one blade of a first cutting station. The sheet is cut along the cutting plane to sever a strip from the sheet. A plank is formed either by the act of severing the strip from the sheet or by advancing the sheet along the path to align another cutting plane of the sheet and cutting the sheet along the cutting plane with the at least one cutting blade. The plank so formed is advanced along a path to a second cutting station.

Abstract: An extended-life cutting blade is adapted for mounting on a hand-held cutting tool in multiple operative orientations. A single cutting blade may provide up to four independent shear edges, each of which has a useful life. The blade can be easily changed from an orientation adapted to cut a workpiece with one shear edge to a different operative orientation adapted to cut with a different shear edge by selecting an appropriate mount on the blade.