How To Cut Plastic Reinforcement
How to cut fiberglass reinforcement?
One of the advantages of using fiberglass reinforcement is the ability to cut the workpiece to the desired size, which makes the production practically waste-free. But here a completely logical question arises of how to cut fiberglass reinforcement and what safety rules should be followed at the time of cutting.
There are the following options for cutting fiberglass reinforcement:
Sawing with a saw for metal;
Cutting with an angle grinder, otherwise an angle grinder.
Angle grinder and hacksaw
The most efficient, practical and accurate way of cutting fiberglass reinforcement is cutting an angle grinder equipped with a standard diamond or abrasive disc. The use of a hacksaw for metal in such types of work is justified only if a small amount of work is planned. Otherwise, if it is necessary to carry out a large number of cuts, the foreman’s hand gets tired, and the productivity and quality of work decrease.
How to cut plastic reinforcement
Hacksaw for metal
If only a few cuts are to be made, you can use a regular metal hacksaw.
Using a hand tool gives the following pros:
- Every owner has a hacksaw for metal. This is the easiest and cheapest way to cut a small number of rods to tie the reinforcement cage;
- No spraying of small particles, as is the case with an angle grinder.
Negative moments of using a hacksaw for metal for cutting composite reinforcement:
- Low speed of work;
- High workload on the employee, if it is necessary to perform a large amount of work;
- The ability to use only in individual construction with small amounts of work.
How can composite rebar be cut
One of the main advantages of composite reinforcement is the ease of cutting. Cutting of fiberglass reinforcement is carried out directly at the work site, which significantly reduces the construction time. To cut the rods to size, use the following tools:
- Ax;
- Bolt cutter;
- Hacksaw for metal;
- Angle grinder.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each tool.
How to cut composite rebar? How can composite rebar be cut
One of the main advantages of composite reinforcement is the ease of cutting. Cutting of fiberglass reinforcement is carried out directly at the work site, which significantly reduces the construction time. To cut the rods to size, use the following tools:
- Ax;
- Bolt cutter;
- Hacksaw for metal;
- Angle grinder.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each tool.
Angle grinder
When the question arises of how to cut fiberglass reinforcement for the foundation (we have already written in more detail about the material itself here), builders first of all remember about the angle grinder. This tool allows you to cut a large amount of material efficiently, quickly and with minimal effort.
TO pluses using an angle grinder include:
- High speed of work;
- Using an angle grinder, you can immediately cut a bunch of bars;
- Mechanized cutting does not require great muscle strength;
- The ability to use discs with any cutting edge (for metal or stone).
Before cutting the fiberglass reinforcement of the angle grinder, you need to consider and minuses work with this tool:
- Cutting the fiberglass with an angle grinder will not work without dust. The high speed of rotation of the disc leads to the dispersion of fine fiberglass particles in the air. The air blower to cool the tool motor further spreads the composite dust. Therefore, when working with an angle grinder, you need to use eye and respiratory protection, especially if you have to saw fittings indoors;
- To operate the angle grinder, you must have an electrical connection point.
In general, the cons are pretty trivial.
Ax
With limited funds, an ax can also be used to prepare the reinforcement. He, like the bolt cutter, cuts the bar, which affects the state of the reinforcement in the place of the cut.
Positive moments:
- Any owner has an ax. No need to purchase the tool separately;
- Speed. When preparing the base for cutting reinforcement, the work can be done quite quickly.
Negative moments:
- Inaccuracy of the cut. Not every craftsman can accurately and forcefully hit the right place with an ax to cut a composite bar;
- Deformation of the tip of the rod. During operation, water, cement, alkali can get into longitudinal cracks, which will lead to a violation of the technical characteristics of fiberglass and weakening of the entire structure. With temperature changes, the split reinforcement inside the product will change in volume, which will lead to the destruction of concrete.
Hacksaw for metal
If only a few cuts are to be made, you can use a regular metal hacksaw.
Using a hand tool gives the following pros:
- Every owner has a hacksaw for metal. This is the easiest and cheapest way to cut a small number of rods to tie the reinforcement cage;
- No spraying of small particles, as is the case with an angle grinder.
Negative moments of using a hacksaw for metal for cutting composite reinforcement:
- Low speed of work;
- High workload on the employee, if it is necessary to perform a large amount of work;
- The ability to use only in individual construction with small amounts of work.
Bolt cutter
Before using a bolt cutter to cut composite rebar, you should also study the pros and cons of working with this tool. You need to understand that the bolt cutter does not cut the composite bar, but rather bite it, which affects the technical characteristics of the material.
Benefits using a bolt cutter:
- No power connection required;
- When working with a bolt cutter, a large number of small particles are not formed, therefore, rods can be prepared to size indoors;
- With a bolt cutter in hand, you can move and work anywhere (no wires).
Disadvantages bolt cutter applications:
- Using a bolt cutter, you cannot cut more than 3 bars at the same time;
- When working with this tool, it is necessary to use significant muscle efforts;
- The bolt cutter is rarely on the list of household tools. To work, you will have to rent or buy it, which is economically impractical;
- The use of a bolt cutter causes deformation of the material in the place of the cut (material crumbs and longitudinal cracks appear at the end of the rod). This deformation reduces the bearing capacity of the reinforcement and shortens its service life.
Ax
With limited funds, an ax can also be used to prepare the reinforcement. He, like the bolt cutter, cuts the bar, which affects the state of the reinforcement in the place of the cut.
Positive moments:
- Any owner has an ax. No need to purchase the tool separately;
- Speed. When preparing the base for cutting reinforcement, the work can be done quite quickly.
Negative moments:
- Inaccuracy of the cut. Not every craftsman can accurately and forcefully hit the right place with an ax to cut a composite bar;
- Deformation of the tip of the rod. During operation, water, cement, alkali can get into longitudinal cracks, which will lead to a violation of the technical characteristics of fiberglass and weakening of the entire structure. With temperature changes, the split reinforcement inside the product will change in volume, which will lead to the destruction of concrete.
Pros of cutting fiberglass reinforcement with a hacksaw for metal
Slow cut;
large labor costs;
it is advisable to use for small amounts of work.
We consider the presence and use of an angle grinder and a bolt cutter to be the optimal combination. Angle grinder cut the main part of the volume, and trim the tails with a bolt cutter. (Of course, if there is electricity on the site).
Rebar differences
In addition to the length, metal rods can differ from each other in their diameter and class (from A-1 to A-7).
Visually, it is easiest to identify class A-1 reinforcement, it has a smooth surface. The rest of the classes (from A-2 to A-7) are rods with a periodic profile. All fittings of the above classes are hot-rolled.
If metal rods have been hardened by thermomechanical treatment, the letter t will appear in their designation: from At-3 to At-7.
How to cut fiberglass composite reinforcement for a foundation? Composite Rebar Cutting Tips
Before cutting the plastic fittings with your own hands, you should familiarize yourself with the safety measures when performing work.
When working with electromechanical tools, the following protective equipment must be used:
- Respirator. Fine composite particles spread quickly in the air, especially if the work is done indoors. To protect the respiratory system, it is necessary to wear a respirator and carefully adjust it to the size of the face;
- Protective glasses. When cutting fiberglass with an angle grinder, small fractions often fly off. The ingress of such particles into the eyes is fraught with a violation of the integrity of the cornea and inflammatory processes. Therefore, the eyes are protected with a mask or special glasses;
- Gloves with a latex layer will protect your hands from small particles of fiberglass.
Bolt cutter
Before using a bolt cutter to cut composite rebar, you should also study the pros and cons of working with this tool. You need to understand that the bolt cutter does not cut the composite bar, but rather bite it, which affects the technical characteristics of the material.
Benefits using a bolt cutter:
- No power connection required;
- When working with a bolt cutter, a large number of small particles are not formed, therefore, rods can be cooked to size indoors;
- With a bolt cutter in hand, you can move and work anywhere (no wires).
Disadvantages bolt cutter applications:
- Using a bolt cutter, you cannot cut more than 3 bars at the same time;
- When working with this tool, it is necessary to use significant muscle efforts;
- The bolt cutter is rarely on the list of household tools. To work, you will have to rent or buy it, which is economically impractical;
- The use of a bolt cutter causes deformation of the material in the place of the cut (material crumbs and longitudinal cracks appear at the end of the rod). This deformation reduces the bearing capacity of the reinforcement and shortens its service life.
Angle grinder and hacksaw
The most efficient, practical and accurate way of cutting fiberglass reinforcement is cutting an angle grinder equipped with a standard diamond or abrasive disc. The use of a hacksaw for metal in such types of work is justified only if a small amount of work is planned. Otherwise, if it is necessary to carry out a large number of cuts, the foreman’s hand gets tired, and the productivity and quality of work decrease.
How to cut fiberglass reinforcement?
One of the advantages of using fiberglass reinforcement is the ability to cut the workpiece to the desired size, which makes the production practically waste-free. But here a completely logical question arises. How to cut fiberglass reinforcement and what safety rules should be followed at the time of cutting.
There are the following options for cutting fiberglass reinforcement:
Sawing with a saw for metal;
Cutting with an angle grinder, otherwise an angle grinder.
Bolt cutter and ax
As for cutting the fiberglass reinforcement with an ax and biting it with a bolt cutter, these two methods have significant drawbacks. Their main disadvantage is the negative impact on the reinforcing bar at the cut. As a result, deformation, splitting and crumbling of the material can be observed. Thus, the ends of the blank have a split appearance. Longitudinal cracking of the product, in turn, complicates its further use and reduces the service life of the reinforcement structure.
Defects imperceptible to the naked eye, which have a longitudinal character of cracking, penetrate into the depth of the rod. Such cracks in the future will become a place of accumulation of alkali, water, cement, dirt, when pouring concrete into the reinforcement. They also act as capillary channels for the penetration of these deposits inside the rod.
The main danger of such defects at the ends of the reinforcing blank is the subsequent, more abundant and deep cracking of the product at strong temperature changes, at the stage of its freezing and thawing. When a concrete solution enters the cracks, the destructive negative effect of the alkaline component of concrete on the core of the fiberglass product increases. The consequences of such an impact manifest themselves from the inside of the reinforcing bar.
Precautions in the process of cutting (dividing) fiberglass reinforcement
It is important to take precautions during the processing phase of fiberglass products, including protecting the respiratory tract, eyes and hands from splinters and dust. A special protective mask, worn at the stage of cutting the reinforcement, will protect the light of the master from basalt and glass fibers from dust, which negatively affect the state of the respiratory tract. An alternative to a mask can be a respirator, which must be securely fixed on the face. It is important to ensure that dust particles do not enter the respiratory tract bypassing the air filter element.
You can protect your eyes with special glasses. Hands should be protected with gloves. It should be noted that the thickness of the basalt-glass is similar in thickness to a human hair. Standard cloth gloves are not suitable to protect the skin of the hands from such particles. In cutting operations of reinforcement, cotton gloves with a latex layer should be used, or even better, silicone gloves. Ease of cutting also differs with different diameters of fiberglass reinforcement.