Best way to cut rebar

[EddieWalker]

My first choice tool is my metal chop saw. It's a Milwaukee that cost around $170 and has a 14 inch blade. I use it for most of my metal cutting and it's very quick, clean and easy to use.

For one or two cuts, I just use a metal blade in the sawzall. The rebar really needs to be held in place with a vice for this to work well, but with effort and a raddled brain, it works.

I also have a large set of bolt cutters that will cut half inch rebar with allot of effort. It cuts 3/8's rebar easily and it's my first choice for the smaller stuff.

A torch is always going to be the easiest if you have one.

Eddie

 

[lakngulf]

Ok, mouse', you will have to tell us what you want to do with the shortened piece of rebar.

BTW, thanks for starting this thread. I have some that needs to be cut as well. I did not realize that I may have equipment in hand to do it.

 

[/pine]

Some may not realize that there are different grades of hardness in rebar like other steels...
the cross hatch pattern is different for different strengths...

Those that are used to just working with common 1/2 or 5/8 rebar may have never encountered the harder material thus the suggestions of using a angle grinder...you will wear out disks before you cut very many rods of harder rebar using a grinder or any composite blade...

FWIW...when you see a "#" designation for the size of rebar it is referring to eights of an inch...i.e., a #5 bar is 5/8 in dia....general lapping for reinforcement is 30 bar diameters...

 

[Mousefield]

Ok, mouse', you will have to tell us what you want to do with the shortened piece of rebar.

BTW, thanks for starting this thread. I have some that needs to be cut as well. I did not realize that I may have equipment in hand to do it.

Cut them into 20 inch lengths. Wife wants a hoop greenhouse over her raised tomato bed. I like my tomato's :licking: so am turning into a gardener, sort of.
Rebar goes every 2 ft on both sides of the bed, then ½ inch PVC pipe will be inserted into the rebar that is about 6 inches out of the ground. This arch will then be covered in plastic.
Up this way they get "late blight" that will damage them and so they need to be covered. Will do a thread on it when we get it done.

 

[Wis Bang]

The mason's helper had a shear mounted on a 5 foot length of 2X12 that he used to slice 'em right off...of course he was a powerful guy, used to take two brick carriers, one in each hand, and bring bricks to the mason making them look about as heavy as styrofoam...your mileage may vary. I'd grab the torch.

 

[DocHeb]

Around here, Home Depot sells 2 foot pieces of #3 and #5 rebar individually.

 

[mustangsallysdad]

I have some 1/2" X 10 ft rebar I would like to cut into 20" pieces. Have a hacksaw and angle grinder. What is the best (easiest) way and or tool to cut it?

Angle grinder with a really thin wheel...I use 4 1/2" x .045"...cuts it like butter.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I don't see the post I made to this thread yesterday....
I use my angle grinder, just cut a v grove about half way thru the rebar, then just bend and break. You can't cut with a hacksaw, at least when I tried it it just turned my blade into a smooth blade.

HD rebar prices are pretty high, but I guess you pay for the cutting. I just bought 20' sticks of rebar cheaper than what HD sells 10' lengths.

 

[UltraFlame]

I have always used a set of big bolt cutters if I don't care what the ends look like. Just place one handle on the ground and slide the rebar through and pull the other handle down.

 

[Daisy the Digger]

Yuppers, monster bolt cutters have always worked for me. These are some monster bolt cutters, though with about three feet of handle on them. Otherwise the plasma cutter would probably be fun to try or the chop saw but generally cutting rebar is done outside on a jobsite so the fun tools are usually back at the shop.