5 of the Best “How-To” Work with Rebar Videos

Posted on June 5, 2013

One of the most common construction materials, rebar, is regularly used by contractors in a number of applications. Rebar, also known as reinforced steel, is durable and works to keep concrete structures in place over the course of time. Without it, the stone would crack and break due to changes in the weather, namely temperature. Although bridges and buildings are where rebar is mostly in effect, it has many other uses as well. If you are planning on making something with rebar, here are some helpful videos for doing so safely and correctly.

Since these steel bars are manufactured in long strips, they need to be appropriately cut and bent before they can be installed. Knowing how to do to this and having the right equipment on hand, such as a rebar cutter or rebar bender, is thus always essential. Luckily, these clips are informative and engaging. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, there is bound to be something you can take away from these videos.

5 informative rebar videos that will help you get the job done:

Short and to the point, this clip shows you how to tie rebar pieces together. The man in the video is using a piece of wire and what appears to be a metal rod. Although many contractors will weld the metal, this is a safe and effective alternative for some small jobs. Simply wrap the wire at each intersection and twist the rod around a few times to make the bond.

In this clip, we are shown how to cut pieces of rebar with a saw. There are a number of ways you can size this metal (torches, hand saw with vice, cutting edge saw etc.), but this is one of the most effective for getting a clean cut and for when you are handling multiple pieces.  It is difficult to tell quite how much the man in this video is cutting, but the bundle appears to hold at least a dozen. According to him, the first step is to secure the metal and band both ends, so that it doesn’t move during the cutting process. Mark the rebar where you plan to cut and band these areas as well. As you can see, the saw is being constantly doused with water to keep it from seizing up during the rebar cutting process.

After you have cut the rebar you will need to bend it, and this is where this video comes into play. The people in this clip are using a hickey bar (and a lot of elbow grease) to create a 90 degree angle. Unless you have a vice, this is not something you can do on your own. Have one person stand on the rebar while the other bends it to the correct angle. Make sure to wear gloves and protective eyewear as demonstrated.

In this video, we see another great rebar cutting tool. An electric rebar cutter like this one can make short work of a large job. It is portable and makes clean cuts in just four seconds! It is definitely a worthwhile investment and will pay for itself if you have plenty of sticks to size.

For a job without power or when working in spaces where an electric device won’t fit, a manual rebar tool like the one in the video by Benner Nawman is a must-have. A rebar bender can be used to quickly bend pieces or rebar with ease.

For more information on which tools are best for your rebar project, contact BN Products or view our professional rebar tools for more information.