How to Tie Rebar
Rebar is a very useful construction material used for building large concrete structures. Rebar can be bought in many different shapes and grades, depending on the type of structure you are building, or how you want the concrete assemblies to be formed. Here are the tools and steps you need to tie rebar.
Tools
To tie rebar, you need the following tools:
Rebar. Rebar can be bought from hardware stores and warehouses. When buying rebar, make sure to buy ones that are relatively new and not rusted out.
Wire. Thick-gauged annealed steel wire is often used to tie rebar. Some ties may be bought already pre-cut, and can be snapped off the roll quickly to tie the rebar. The problem is that you may not have the length you need to tie the rebar securely. Experienced workers prefer to use bulk loops of wire to tie rebar and to construct the frame.
Pliers and cutters. A pair of heavy-duty long-nosed pliers and a pair of wire-cutters are needed to properly tie the rebar.
Safety equipment. Have safety gloves, work boots, and goggles handy before working with rebar.
Steps
Follow these steps to tie rebar:
Look over your construction plans very carefully, and check to see how much rebar you’ll need and what wire knot or loop you need to tie them with.
You may need to set the pieces of rebar on a reinforced support structure, like on cinder blocks or weighted chairs, before tying them.
Position the rods perpendicularly before tying them. If you’re starting out with the frame, you may need to have a friend hold the rods together, or you may need to use a clamp to hold the rebar in place.
Starting from the very back of the assembly, pass one end of the wire diagonally along opposite ends of the intersection.
Loop the wire around the body of one of the rebar, and loop it diagonally across the front of the structure.
Loop the wire around the body of the same bar, and secure the tie.
Test the structure to see if the wire holds.
Do the same for the rest of the rebar.
Tying rebar is more cost-efficient and easier than welding, especially if you’ll use the frame as a mold for concrete. With these steps, you can easily tie rebar and get your construction project going.