RafterEye RE1 User manual
RE1
Penetraon-free Raer Center Locator
User’s Guide
patent pending
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Descripon
The RaerEye RE1 is designed to help rooop workers locate the centers of
structural members (raers or trusses) quickly and accurately with no need to
drill probing holes through the roof deck. It facilitates aachment to exposed
or accessible structural members in all non-ferrous roof types. The RE1’s mag-
nec eld can be read with accuracy at distances up to 5”, allowing precision
placement even when up to 4” of insulaon are present. Approximate loca-
on can occur through distances up to 9”.
The RE1 works by forming a symmetrical magnec eld around and through
an accessible raer that can be read from the rooop, directly indicang the
center of the raer.
The RE1’s clamp can accommodate raers up to 11.25” in depth or up to 7.25”
in width (up to four sistered 2x raers, 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 conned spaces and accessing
and working on a roof are hazardous acvies. This tool should be used only
by people trained and experienced in workplace safety compliance, including
fall protecon, personal protecve equipment use and other applicable hazard
migaon pracces.
WARNING: Always use cauon when drilling or fastening through a roof
deck or other surface that may contain visible or hidden pipes or wiring.
WARNING: The magnec eld within several inches of the RE1’s Magnet
blocks is powerful. Keep sensive electronic devices away from Magnet blocks.
WARNING: Some medical devices including pacemakers may be sensive to
strong magnec elds. People with a pacemaker or other sensive medical
implant or device should consult their physician before handling the RE1’s
Magnet blocks.
WARNING: Do not disassemble Magnet blocks. Magnec properes 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 aracted
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.
Instrucons for use
Two-person operaon is recommended, but one per-
son working below and above the roof deck may
complete the task. For two-person operaon, hands-
free mobile communicaon may aid in coordinaon.
Below the roof: congure and place Magnet blocks
Rotate both Magnet blocks to the same orientaon. Posioning with slots
down (Figure 2) is recommended for a stronger, easier-to-nd magnec eld
on the rooop. However, a slots-up (Figure 3) orientaon, while oering a
weaker magnec eld, provides greater reading accuracy when no insulaon is
present and roof deck and membranes are less than one inch thick.
WARNING: Climbing on ladders and working in conned spaces are
hazardous acvies. This tool should be used only by people trained and
experienced in workplace safety compliance, including fall protecon,
personal protecve equipment use and other hazard migaon pracces.
Magnet blocks (2)
Compass block
Figure 1. Assembly
Vise Grip 18SP clamp (modied)
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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 regulaons.
With clamp open, slide Mag-
net blocks upward with one
on each side of raer unl
the full length of each mag-
net block is touching the
boom of the roof deck at
the target locaon. Squeeze
clamp handle to hold in
place. If necessary, adjust
clamp ghtness so that
Magnet blocks stay in place
when clamped. CAUTION:
Do not overghten 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 raer. If the
clamp does not allow Magnet blocks to reach the boom 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 raer against the deck.
Avoid working near any large ferrous metal object, which may distort the mag-
nec eld and result in an inaccurate reading.
Aer the center has been located and marked on the rooop, move Magnet
blocks to next target locaon.
Above roof: locate raer center
From a safe posion on the roof surface below or above the target posion,
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 orientaon, as you would if using the
compass to locate earth’s magnec 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 unl the needle is
aracted by the eld produced by the Magnet
blocks below. In two-person operaon, tapping
on the roof deck may help idenfy the locaon
from the other side. Connually adjust the lt
angle of the Compass block so that the needle
rotates freely. Center the Compass block over
the place where the magnec eld’s eect on the compass needle can be seen
most clearly. If necessary, have the Magnet blocks relocated along length of
raer unl they are as near as possible to the target locaon.
Key in on raer center unl
the north-poinng (red) end
of the needle points straight
down (Fig. 5). Move in and
out of apparent center sev-
eral mes and connue ad-
jusng the Compass block’s
lt angle to conrm that the
needle is moving freely.
Coordinaon for locang a series of aachment points
-In the area where a series of aachment points will be located, make an
approximate layout, including selecng which raers will be used.
-Measure the desired distance from ridge or eave to each point.
-Agree on a sequence for locang aachment points.
-From below, idenfy the raer for the rst aachment point, measure
from ridge or eave and place clamp at desired locaon.
-If direct verbal communicaon is not possible, use hands-free mobile
communicaon or a system of knocking on the roof deck to conrm
when to move from one locaon 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 poron of their magnec 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 aenve to this before
clamping the blocks to nely nished surfaces, such as exposed raers. Keep
storage surfaces free of loose ferrous items and debris like screws or iron lings
that may be aracted to the magnets.
Keep all parts in a dry locaon. Do not submerge or expose to wet condions.
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 magnec eld at the com-
pass, protecng the magnec properes of the compass needle.
How to restore compass polarity (see also video at raereye.com)
If the white end of the compass needle is aracted to magnec north (between
the Magnet blocks) instead of the red end, its polarity has reversed. This hap-
pens under condions 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. Idenfy the locaon of
the magnet within the Magnet block. With its large, at side down and the
clamp rotaon hole up, starng from above, gradually bring the Magnet block
down, with the magnet directly over the red end of the compass needle, unl
the Magnet block is in contact with the Compass block.
3. Pull the Magnet block over the side of the Compass block in the direcon 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 repolarizaon by returning the Mag-
net block to the clamp and holding the Compass block to simulate operaon.
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Situaons requiring center correcon
1. Sistered raers
Where two raers are sistered (fastened together side-to-side), the RE1 will
cause the compass to locate the center locaon between the two raers. Since
this posion is a void, it is NOT desirable as an aachment point. Therefore, the
person marking on the roof must be instructed to locate the center of the pre-
ferred raer. In the case of two sistered raers, each measuring 1-1/2” thick,
the center of either raer would be ¾” away from the midpoint indicated. For
three sistered raers, if the center posion is void or not preferred for aach-
ment, the locaon would be displaced by 1-1/2” to an outer member.
2. Slanted raers
When locang a raer that is warped and o-plumb by no more than 10° at the
target locaon, rotate the magnet blocks to the slots-up posion (Fig. 3). Clamp
them to the raer as usual. Due to the raer’s lt, only one corner of each
magnet block should touch the boom of the roof deck. The “center” posion
idened 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 poron of
the top 2.5” of the raer. If the fastener will enter signicantly deeper into the
raer, further displacement to compensate for the skew may be necessary.
3. Distorng fasteners
An o-center ferrous metal fastener in the deck and/or raer directly within
the magnec eld may distort the eld enough to give a slightly inaccurate
reading. (It will indicate a locaon deviated from center toward the fastener.) If
fastener locaons are visible (from above the deck or below), avoid them. Usu-
ally the eect is negligible, but if necessary, either of two methods may be used
to correct fastener-caused distoron. METHOD 1. LIFT COMPASS: Start with
compass against roof and North-poinng needle end poinng 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 unl needle points straight down. This will
be closer to raer center than the posion indicated when the compass was on
the roof surface. METHOD 2. RELOCATE MAGNET BLOCKS. Aer marking a
center reading, move magnet blocks a few inches away along the length of the
raer. If readings dier signicantly, use a third nearby locaon or Method 1
to determine which reading is distorted.
Limited Warranty of RaerEye RE1
RaerEye LLC warrants the RE1 Raer Center Locator against defects in
material and manufacture for one year from the date of purchase. Seller’s sole
obligaon and your exclusive remedy under this Limited Warranty and, to the
extent permied by law, any warranty or condion implied by law, shall be the
repair or replacement of parts, without charge, which are defecve 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, transportaon prepaid, to:
RaerEye 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 addional rights that vary by state, province or naon.
The Limited Warranty does not apply to depolarizaon of the Compass. Cor-
recon of this condion is explained in the User’s Guide and at RaerEye.com.
This Limited Warranty applies only to tools sold within the United States of
America, Canada and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
RaerEye LLC RaerEye.com
511 N. Cuesta Ave, Tucson AZ 85745 info@raereye.com 520-261-2656
