Rebar Comparison?

[Guest woody36]

Anybody know how Rebar would compare in

terms of strength,too a piece of Hot Rolled steel

of the same diameter?.

Thanks in advance.

Woody.

[Roark]

Woody,

Hope somebody with knowledge on this replies to you.

I saw Chuck Sipes bend a piece of re-bar in the late

60s (at the contest where Zane beat Arnold for the

Mr. Universe). Sadly, it had little meaning to me at the

time; now I would get all the details possible.

[Guest woody36]

Joe,

      Chuck Sipes is one of my all time faves,i felt

very sad when i read he'd passed away,fantastic foreams

and immense strength,i wish i could have been on the

side lines watching him perform.

Regards

Ray.

[Tom Black]

I think it is just a bit harder than hot rolled steel of the same dimension, although I've never done much of a comparison.  I have some 3/8" stock, but rarely have tried 3/8" hot rolled.  I think the steel they use in rebar is very cheap, but that they temper it a little for strength.  If you cut a piece it is grainy in the center, which I think is a sign of tempering.  I know a little about rebar, but I am definitely not an expert.

[Guest woody36]

Tom,

     Thanks for the reply,i'd have asked you personally

but i don't recall you ever having said you'd used it,

i thought some of the other elusive steel benders may have.

Best Regards

Ray.

[Tom Black]

I bent some before I started writing the Black Log.  I think it was 3/8"x 2 feet, and it didn't seem very challenging at the time.  I think someone brought me 1/4"x 7" rebar that I bent and gave back to him so I can't check on the dimensions, this seemed easier than cold rolled, harder than hot rolled, these pieces were the basis for my comments above.  One thing I didn't like about rebar is that is was hard to cut, the hack saw didn't work as well as with the hot and cold rolled steel.

[supersqueeze]

Tom - Don't cut re-bar, break it. Just score it with a hacksaw and then bend it. It will break...easily.

- Mike M.

[Tom Black]

Interesting.  My comment about the center of the bar being tempered seems to fit scoring the outside and breaking it.  Tempered steel is strong, but brittle, and easily breaks.  I happened to find my 24"x3/8" rebar today while packing for my move and bent it easily over my leg (the only way I know to bend this length of steel).  It was hard to finish off, however, because the last part springs back.  I ended up with a perfect U-shape.