Cropping steel bar

[chunkolini]

Morning all,
I do a lot of work that involves using steel bar up to 10mm, for years I have used a big pair of bolt croppers mounted in a vice, these are sadly on their last legs and have run out of adjustment. I even ground out the 'V's in the mechanism that link the jaws to get a bit of extra life out of them. I want something manual not powered as I am often nipping tiny bits off the ends to get things to fit into gaps.

What does anybody reccomend? My next job fingers crossed will involve loads and loads of bits of 12mm bar so I need something fairly substantial. Biggest bolt croppers? gurt big bench shears with cropping facility like the K6 version of these http://www.barbenders.co.uk/index.php click on the image of bench shears to link to the product.

Note I need a decent pair of bench shears anyway so it might be good to combine the two.

Cheers all, Chunko'.

 

[English Steve]

I have a set of bench shears which I also use for round bar when needed. They work well, but I would suggest you go for the next size up from the one you think you need as some of the manufacturers are a bit optimistic with their sizing.
I have this one, and would need arms like Popeye or a long extension on the handle to cut 12 dia bar.

 

[Sam]

Thats the one they have a hole in the side for round the one I have is Ketona K3 with a 750mm long handle.I shear a lot of 12mm round and it does the job well . Or if you are lazy one of these will do the trick.

 

[English Steve]

Your shear looks a bit more substantial than my Clarke one Sam.
We are in the process of installing a second-hand Geka at the moment, similar to your Kingsland - boy have I got a few jobs in mind for that once it's in

 

[Robotstar5]

A friend who worked in rebar manufacture used something similar to this

View attachment rebar cutter02.bmp

Try searching rebar shears

 

[Hitch]

You can get cordless ones aswell, i think Hilti and Hitachi do them, cutters and benders all in one unit also.
Occasionally see them on ebay.

 

[Hitch]

Just had a look, substantially more expensive than the bench shear type

 

[MrFluffy]

Most hand powered pull down bench shears have the hole for this, used mine on some stuff thats probably beyond it, and yes its damn handy because your forever reaching to just nip a bit off this m6 bolt etc, once its there.

Mind you, I have godzilla the 3 phase power guillotine with a bar cropping section now, and thats already managed 12mm bar during testing...

 

[johnakay]

wont a chop saw will do?

 

[Sam]

Your shear looks a bit more substantial than my Clarke one Sam.
We are in the process of installing a second-hand Geka at the moment, similar to your Kingsland - boy have I got a few jobs in mind for that once it's in

I was at an auction last week they bench shears were fetching 150/175 there were three of them on the floor various sizes then this welding bench came up it fetched £45 it had one attached to it. Hand grinders 115 dia were fetching £86 secondhand. the Kingsland 85xs went for £3500.

 

[chunkolini]

As usual quality info.
I think I will go for the bench shears like Sams', when I get the job.
re using chop saw, not a good idea as it tends to fling the small offcuts around the place, one smashed the front of a set small plastic drawers. I am flitting about nipping off half an inch here and there so I need something quick. Also the act of shearing leaves then end slightly bevelled which helps with welding the bits together.
The big Kingsland thingy looks cool, that's part of the long term plan.

Nice speaking to you yesterday Sam.

Chunko'.

 

[Sam]

Think I guessed who it was within a couple of minutes of speaking to you.

 

[Hitch]

Them kingslands are okay, but he cut isnt that visible, all covered in by hold downs and guards.
Cropping off at a chalk mark isnt that easy.

 

[Sam]

My last workshop I had a light directly above the machine that helped a lot but know what you mean, think my lights are dimming themselfs may need some magnification.