What Is a Reinforcing Bar (Rebar) Cutter?
A rebar cutter is a type of tool that uses electric motors or hydraulic pressure to cut rebar used in reinforced concrete structures. There are two types: one that compresses and cuts the rebar with a block-shaped blade, and the other that cuts it with a rotating blade.
The methods are:
- Manual type: The structure is cut by pushing in the handle and applying force.
- Manual hydraulic type: The structure that amplifies the force by using a hydraulic pump to transfer the manual energy to the block-shaped blade to cut the reinforcing steel bars.
- Electric hydraulic type: A structure that uses electric energy to activate the hydraulic pump to cut the rebar with a block-shaped blade.
- Electric chip-saw type: The structure is designed to cut the rebar with a blade (chip saw) rotating at high speed.
Uses of Rebar Cutters
Rebar cutters are cutting tools specialized for cutting reinforcing steel bars used in reinforced concrete structures. Rebar is a building material that requires cutting as it is manufactured in long bars and coils.
Rebar cutters specialized for rebar are used to quickly, efficiently, and safely cut rebar of various thicknesses. In addition, rebar cutters do not produce sparks when cutting, so they are sometimes used at rescue sites such as traffic accidents.
How to Choose Rebar Cutters
Rebar cutters are selected mainly from the following three perspectives:
- Rebar hardness (SD) and diameter (D)
There are various types of rebar, which are measured in terms of diameter thickness (D) and hardness (SD).
It is necessary to check the cutting capacity in catalogs and other sources before purchasing. Especially for hardness (SD), a higher value indicates increased hardness, and there is a possibility that the material may not be cut. Therefore, it is crucial to verify whether the rebar cutter can handle the specific hardness level of the material in question. - Manual and electric The prices are in the following order: manual < manual hydraulic < electric hydraulic < electric chip saw. Electric is good if efficiency is important, and manual is good if cost performance is important.
Considering the workload and speed, the electric one is overwhelmingly more efficient. When using it for work such as on-site, it can be said that electric power is better from the viewpoint of workload. If you don’t have a lot of work for DIY purposes, a manual is enough. - Uses
The choice depends on whether bending or crimping after cutting is required. You need to choose flexibly depending on the application. If bending is required, the manual type is better. If crimping after cutting is required, an electric chip saw, which does not require post-cutting processing, is the most efficient.
Also, if noise cannot be made at some sites, a hydraulic type must be used.