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#179254 - 08/14/09 03:59 AM Bending rebar...
Susan Offline
Geezer

Registered: 01/21/04
Posts: 5163
Loc: W. WA
I would like to get some 20' x 1/2" rebar and bend it in an arc to form a greenhouse. I once tried to bend a 10ft length like that, and it bent sharply in the middle, which looked stupid.

Are there any special methods, tricks or relatively simple tools that will help with this?

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#179255 - 08/14/09 04:13 AM Re: Bending rebar... [Re: Susan]
Todd W Offline
Product Tester
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 11/14/04
Posts: 1928
Loc: Mountains of CA
You could make a jig but that would require welding or a jig table or some real creative thinking with wood. Jig + Heat would look the best.

Or you could use an oxy/acet torch and heat it then bend... since it's 1/2" you could probably get by with MAP Gas torch from home depot... or maybe even propane since it's not much cooler and 1/2" round rebar is not the strongest smile



Edited by Todd W (08/14/09 04:13 AM)
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Self Sufficient Home - Our journey to self sufficiency.

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#179256 - 08/14/09 04:17 AM Re: Bending rebar... [Re: Susan]
Desperado Offline
Veteran

Registered: 11/01/08
Posts: 1530
Loc: DFW, Texas
Get a conduit bender and slowly work the bend down the length of the work piece.
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I do the things that I must, and really regret, are unfortunately necessary.

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#179260 - 08/14/09 06:25 AM Re: Bending rebar... [Re: Susan]
aloha Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 11/16/05
Posts: 1059
Loc: Hawaii, USA
Susan, make sure you remember to breathe while bending and twisting the rebar.
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http://hanzosoutdoors.blogspot.com/

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#179269 - 08/14/09 10:17 AM Re: Bending rebar... [Re: aloha]
Tom_L Offline
Addict

Registered: 03/19/07
Posts: 690
Like Todd said. A small MAPP torch might be JUST enough for 1/2" rebar but it would take a long time to heat up and in fact might not work very well at all. So acetylene is your best option. Pretty much the only efficient option unless you have access to a portable gas/coal blacksmith forge.

The way I'd do it: clamp one end in a big, heavy, securely mounted vice. Mark the rebar with chalk or file a notch in the middle. Heat the spot until red hot at least, preferably bright yellow, then bend around something round and made of steel. If you need a sharp bend, heat only a localized spot. For a gentler curve heat a longer length.

That said, if you need more than one element you'll probably need a jig to ensure a consistent bend. You COULD do it by eye & hand but it takes practice and some skill to do it right.

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#179271 - 08/14/09 11:12 AM Re: Bending rebar... [Re: Tom_L]
thseng Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 03/24/06
Posts: 900
Loc: NW NJ
I humbly suggest you forget the torch.

A shape like that would normally be formed on a metal rolls. Your local welding shop or metal railing fabricator probably has one. Rebar may not run through the rollers smoothly, but mild steel round stock is cheap and chances are they already have some handy.

The DIY option is to use a stake and some string to scribe a 6' radius half-circle in the dirt. Pound in some stakes along the arc and then wrap your rebar around them. Let it spring back and guess how much smaller your next circle needs to be.

Stay on the INSIDE of the circle while you're bending and keep other people away. !
_________________________
- Tom S.

"Never trust and engineer who doesn't carry a pocketknife."

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#179294 - 08/14/09 02:26 PM Re: Bending rebar... [Re: thseng]
Stu Offline
I am not a P.P.o.W.
Old Hand

Registered: 05/16/05
Posts: 1058
Loc: Finger Lakes of NY State
Buy the tubing for a greenhouse or a canvas garage unit. Will be easier then bending rebar.
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Head Cat Herder

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#179305 - 08/14/09 03:06 PM Re: Bending rebar... [Re: Stu]
Todd W Offline
Product Tester
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 11/14/04
Posts: 1928
Loc: Mountains of CA
I missed the part where you said you wanted an arc not two large bends. Yeah, gonna be near impossible with MAP/Propane, and even oxy/acet w/out a jig will be near impossible to get the exact shape you want.

Get some 1" Square tubing .120" wall and have someone bend that for you. It should be about $1 to $1.5/ft. And if you have a big metal supplier near they may be able to bend it there for you. Then the fun is getting it home bent smile

If you were local I'd bend it for you... but I think shipping would kill that deal wink
_________________________
Self Sufficient Home - Our journey to self sufficiency.

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#179328 - 08/14/09 06:00 PM Re: Bending rebar... [Re: Susan]
MartinFocazio Offline

Pooh-Bah

Registered: 01/21/03
Posts: 2203
Loc: Bucks County PA
I've done this - for cement work. No heat needed.

What you need is a bending jig. The one we made was built out of a zillion scrap 2x4's, forming a fanned out arc in the shape we wanted to get it was like laying bricks - we used 18" lengths of 2x4 air-nailed to longer sections of 2x4's that ends of the wood were spaced at about 4" intervals.

Put your hand flat on your desk, splay out your fingers - see how there's sort of an arc formed by your finger? Bend a piece of wire over your fingers - that's the basic idea. Our arc had a section of iron pipe at one end - we stuck the rebar in there and then we simply pulled the rebar over the form - it was hard - until we got the curve we wanted. this was for a project to build a curved concrete wall for a landscaping project.

There are also tools that can be rented to do this, but they are expensive. You set the radius you want and it's got these rollers that pinch the bar and roll it through. You can do small bends and large curves.

For a cheaper and easier solution you might want to consider Conduit.






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#179331 - 08/14/09 06:01 PM Re: Bending rebar... [Re: MartinFocazio]
Todd W Offline
Product Tester
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 11/14/04
Posts: 1928
Loc: Mountains of CA
Originally Posted By: martinfocazio
I've done this - for cement work. No heat needed.

What you need is a bending jig. The one we made was built out of a zillion scrap 2x4's, forming a fanned out arc in the shape we wanted to get it was like laying bricks - we used 18" lengths of 2x4 air-nailed to longer sections of 2x4's that ends of the wood were spaced at about 4" intervals.

Put your hand flat on your desk, splay out your fingers - see how there's sort of an arc formed by your finger? Bend a piece of wire over your fingers - that's the basic idea. Our arc had a section of iron pipe at one end - we stuck the rebar in there and then we simply pulled the rebar over the form - it was hard - until we got the curve we wanted. this was for a project to build a curved concrete wall for a landscaping project.

There are also tools that can be rented to do this, but they are expensive. You set the radius you want and it's got these rollers that pinch the bar and roll it through. You can do small bends and large curves.

For a cheaper and easier solution you might want to consider Conduit.







Sweet, I new someone would have a good idea how to do it with wood smile

When we jig we use 3/8" plate table, weld on bar stock and make the jig that way. And for small # of bends or doing it in the field oxy/acet works nice smile

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