RafterEye RE1 User manual

RE1
Penetraon-free Raer Center Locator
User’s Guide
patent pending
2
Descripon
The RaerEye RE1 is designed to help rooop workers locate the centers of
structural members (raers or trusses) quickly and accurately with no need to
drill probing holes through the roof deck. It facilitates aachment to exposed
or accessible structural members in all non-ferrous roof types. The RE1’s mag-
nec eld can be read with accuracy at distances up to 5”, allowing precision
placement even when up to 4” of insulaon are present. Approximate loca-
on can occur through distances up to 9”.
The RE1 works by forming a symmetrical magnec eld around and through
an accessible raer that can be read from the rooop, directly indicang the
center of the raer.
The RE1’s clamp can accommodate raers up to 11.25” in depth or up to 7.25”
in width (up to four sistered 2x raers, for example). Oversized or non-square
structural members can be accommodated by removal and manual holding of
the magnet blocks.
WARNING: Climbing on ladders, working in conned spaces and accessing
and working on a roof are hazardous acvies. This tool should be used only
by people trained and experienced in workplace safety compliance, including
fall protecon, personal protecve equipment use and other applicable hazard
migaon pracces.
WARNING: Always use cauon when drilling or fastening through a roof
deck or other surface that may contain visible or hidden pipes or wiring.
WARNING: The magnec eld within several inches of the RE1’s Magnet
blocks is powerful. Keep sensive electronic devices away from Magnet blocks.
WARNING: Some medical devices including pacemakers may be sensive to
strong magnec elds. People with a pacemaker or other sensive medical
implant or device should consult their physician before handling the RE1’s
Magnet blocks.
WARNING: Do not disassemble Magnet blocks. Magnec properes of inter-
nal components may cause injury if allowed to come into direct contact with a
person or animal.
WARNING: Keep all tool components out of reach of children.

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Components
Assembly
To assemble, slide one Magnet block onto each of the
clamp’s two pressure feet from the side (Fig. 1). The
magnet and pressure foot will be mutually aracted
and will snap into place when fully inserted. The Mag-
net blocks can be rotated on the pressure feet. To
remove, rotate as in Fig. 1, pull to separate pressure
foot from magnet, and slide o.
Instrucons for use
Two-person operaon is recommended, but one per-
son working below and above the roof deck may
complete the task. For two-person operaon, hands-
free mobile communicaon may aid in coordinaon.
Below the roof: congure and place Magnet blocks
Rotate both Magnet blocks to the same orientaon. Posioning with slots
down (Figure 2) is recommended for a stronger, easier-to-nd magnec eld
on the rooop. However, a slots-up (Figure 3) orientaon, while oering a
weaker magnec eld, provides greater reading accuracy when no insulaon is
present and roof deck and membranes are less than one inch thick.
WARNING: Climbing on ladders and working in conned spaces are
hazardous acvies. This tool should be used only by people trained and
experienced in workplace safety compliance, including fall protecon,
personal protecve equipment use and other hazard migaon pracces.
Magnet blocks (2)
Compass block
Figure 1. Assembly
Vise Grip 18SP clamp (modied)
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WARNING: Working on a roof is hazardous and can be fatal to yourself
and others. Do not work on a roof unless you are trained and equipped to
do so safely and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulaons.
With clamp open, slide Mag-
net blocks upward with one
on each side of raer unl
the full length of each mag-
net block is touching the
boom of the roof deck at
the target locaon. Squeeze
clamp handle to hold in
place. If necessary, adjust
clamp ghtness so that
Magnet blocks stay in place
when clamped. CAUTION:
Do not overghten clamp;
excessive pressure may dam-
age Magnet block internal components.
Make sure both Magnet blocks are touching the roof deck or are the same dis-
tance from and parallel to it, and that they are ght against the raer. If the
clamp does not allow Magnet blocks to reach the boom of the roof deck, they
may be clamped as close as possible to the deck, assuring that the magnet
blocks are oriented parallel to the deck, or they may be removed from the
clamp and held manually on both sides of raer against the deck.
Avoid working near any large ferrous metal object, which may distort the mag-
nec eld and result in an inaccurate reading.
Aer the center has been located and marked on the rooop, move Magnet
blocks to next target locaon.
Above roof: locate raer center
From a safe posion on the roof surface below or above the target posion,
hold the Compass block with one of its long, narrow sides against the roof sur-
face (Fig. 4). Do not hold it in the at orientaon, as you would if using the
compass to locate earth’s magnec north. Doing so will cause the compass
Figure 2. Slots down
(stronger eld)
Figure 3. Slots up
(greater precision)

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needle to reverse polarity. With the compass
facing you along the plane of the roof, move
the Compass block from side to side and up
and down the roof slope unl the needle is
aracted by the eld produced by the Magnet
blocks below. In two-person operaon, tapping
on the roof deck may help idenfy the locaon
from the other side. Connually adjust the lt
angle of the Compass block so that the needle
rotates freely. Center the Compass block over
the place where the magnec eld’s eect on the compass needle can be seen
most clearly. If necessary, have the Magnet blocks relocated along length of
raer unl they are as near as possible to the target locaon.
Key in on raer center unl
the north-poinng (red) end
of the needle points straight
down (Fig. 5). Move in and
out of apparent center sev-
eral mes and connue ad-
jusng the Compass block’s
lt angle to conrm that the
needle is moving freely.
Coordinaon for locang a series of aachment points
-In the area where a series of aachment points will be located, make an
approximate layout, including selecng which raers will be used.
-Measure the desired distance from ridge or eave to each point.
-Agree on a sequence for locang aachment points.
-From below, idenfy the raer for the rst aachment point, measure
from ridge or eave and place clamp at desired locaon.
-If direct verbal communicaon is not possible, use hands-free mobile
communicaon or a system of knocking on the roof deck to conrm
when to move from one locaon to the next.
Figure 4. Compass block
Figure 5. Red compass needle down = center
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Storage and Maintenance
The RE1 is designed for years of maintenance-free use. However, certain care
measures will help ensure long, safe and trouble-free service.
Keep magnets below 80°C (176°F) at all mes. Magnets allowed to reach this
temperature may lose a poron of their magnec strength. Since working envi-
ronments may include direct sunlight and hot surfaces, when not in use, store in
the shade and not in an enclosed space that may get too hot.
Using a slightly damp cloth or paper towel, remove any iron-containing mate-
rial that may collect on the magnet blocks. Be especially aenve to this before
clamping the blocks to nely nished surfaces, such as exposed raers. Keep
storage surfaces free of loose ferrous items and debris like screws or iron lings
that may be aracted to the magnets.
Keep all parts in a dry locaon. Do not submerge or expose to wet condions.
Store the compass at least 12” apart from the magnet blocks and laying at in
the same plane. This will maintain a weak or neutral magnec eld at the com-
pass, protecng the magnec properes of the compass needle.
How to restore compass polarity (see also video at raereye.com)
If the white end of the compass needle is aracted to magnec north (between
the Magnet blocks) instead of the red end, its polarity has reversed. This hap-
pens under condions of normal use. To reestablish correct polarity:
1. Lay the Compass block face up on the edge of a at, stable surface.
2. Remove one of the magnet blocks from the clamp. Idenfy the locaon of
the magnet within the Magnet block. With its large, at side down and the
clamp rotaon hole up, starng from above, gradually bring the Magnet block
down, with the magnet directly over the red end of the compass needle, unl
the Magnet block is in contact with the Compass block.
3. Pull the Magnet block over the side of the Compass block in the direcon the
red (north) needle points. As it nears the edge, twist it so that the same side
that faced down now faces the red end of the needle from the side. Slide the
Magnet block down the side of the compass block, then away.
Repeat steps 1-3 two or three mes. Test repolarizaon by returning the Mag-
net block to the clamp and holding the Compass block to simulate operaon.

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Situaons requiring center correcon
1. Sistered raers
Where two raers are sistered (fastened together side-to-side), the RE1 will
cause the compass to locate the center locaon between the two raers. Since
this posion is a void, it is NOT desirable as an aachment point. Therefore, the
person marking on the roof must be instructed to locate the center of the pre-
ferred raer. In the case of two sistered raers, each measuring 1-1/2” thick,
the center of either raer would be ¾” away from the midpoint indicated. For
three sistered raers, if the center posion is void or not preferred for aach-
ment, the locaon would be displaced by 1-1/2” to an outer member.
2. Slanted raers
When locang a raer that is warped and o-plumb by no more than 10° at the
target locaon, rotate the magnet blocks to the slots-up posion (Fig. 3). Clamp
them to the raer as usual. Due to the raer’s lt, only one corner of each
magnet block should touch the boom of the roof deck. The “center” posion
idened by the Compass block on the roof deck will be suitable for a fastener
to enter perpendicular to the roof surface and remain in the center poron of
the top 2.5” of the raer. If the fastener will enter signicantly deeper into the
raer, further displacement to compensate for the skew may be necessary.
3. Distorng fasteners
An o-center ferrous metal fastener in the deck and/or raer directly within
the magnec eld may distort the eld enough to give a slightly inaccurate
reading. (It will indicate a locaon deviated from center toward the fastener.) If
fastener locaons are visible (from above the deck or below), avoid them. Usu-
ally the eect is negligible, but if necessary, either of two methods may be used
to correct fastener-caused distoron. METHOD 1. LIFT COMPASS: Start with
compass against roof and North-poinng needle end poinng straight down
perpendicular to roof surface. Gradually li compass straight upward 1-2”
above the roof surface. If the needle moves le or right as the compass is
raised, relocate compass in mid-air unl needle points straight down. This will
be closer to raer center than the posion indicated when the compass was on
the roof surface. METHOD 2. RELOCATE MAGNET BLOCKS. Aer marking a
center reading, move magnet blocks a few inches away along the length of the
raer. If readings dier signicantly, use a third nearby locaon or Method 1
to determine which reading is distorted.
Limited Warranty of RaerEye RE1
RaerEye LLC warrants the RE1 Raer Center Locator against defects in
material and manufacture for one year from the date of purchase. Seller’s sole
obligaon and your exclusive remedy under this Limited Warranty and, to the
extent permied by law, any warranty or condion implied by law, shall be the
repair or replacement of parts, without charge, which are defecve in material
or manufacture and which have not been misused, carelessly handled, or mis-
repaired by persons other than the Seller. To make a claim under this Limited
Warranty, you must return the complete tool, transportaon prepaid, to:
RaerEye LLC
Customer Service
511 N Cuesta Ave
Tucson AZ 85745
IN NO EVENT SHALL SELLER BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUEN-
TIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LIABILITY FOR LOSS OF
PROFITS) ARISING FROM THE SALE OF THIS PRODUCT. This warranty may pro-
vide you with addional rights that vary by state, province or naon.
The Limited Warranty does not apply to depolarizaon of the Compass. Cor-
recon of this condion is explained in the User’s Guide and at RaerEye.com.
This Limited Warranty applies only to tools sold within the United States of
America, Canada and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
RaerEye LLC RaerEye.com
511 N. Cuesta Ave, Tucson AZ 85745 info@raereye.com 520-261-2656