Crescent H.K. Porter Rebar Cutter and Bender - 0590RBJN

This thing is built like a tank and should outlive me. Makes easy work of rebar cutting and bending. Make sure to attach it to a 2x8, 2x10, or 2x12 for a safer and easier time using it. I’m not a full-time concrete person, but have a variety of projects around the house where this will be indispensable. Purchased a 900 pound in ground basketball hoop for the kids and grandkids and I’m digging a 65” deep and 35” x 65” in the horizontal plane. I need this to build a rebar cage for this giant block of concrete.

This is another example of a solid tool made by Crescent / H.K. Porter. It does what it's supposed to do, and does it quite well. I've had an older and similar version of such a cutter, and I'll admit that a fresh, tight, sharp unit does a better job than a 3rd-generation hand-me-down. The overall construction of this is quite solid, for starters. It's 100% steel, save the rubber hand grips. The front jaws accommodate #3-#4 rebar in one set of shears, and #5 in the other. I've found that #4 cuts like butter, more or less, while #5 simply takes a bit more UMPH to get through, which is to be expected. #3, I've no idea...I'll just chew through this with my molars. The bending bushings are straight and provide clean, smooth radii on each bend as well. I've since mounted this on a length of 2x8 lumber, and the added stability is quite welcome, despite the added weight. The front head accommodates 3/8" carriage bolts, to note...I believe I used a 2-1/2" length bolt to pass through the head and the lumber, while counterboring the underside of the board to recess the nuts and washers. This IS faster than a grinder, once you're in the groove. It's safer and easier to use as well, IMHO. And - if it can cut #5 rebar - it's likely versatile-enough to cut anything similar: threaded rod, hex stock, etc. I'll admit that I think I paid a premium for this (wrong timing, I guess), so keep your eye on the historical price and grab it at a ~$250 price point or less. It's a good value, regardless, as it's a solid tool.

It works quite well. It needs a few bends to smooth out due to the thick shipping grease. It does quite well with 1/2 inch rebar in bending and shear cuts. I did a test run on 5/8 inch. It works with a good deal more force required. I trust it will hold up to all my needs. About 4 inches is the smallest between 90 degrees you can do. You will likely have to elevate it for compound bends that are offset. Forming squares of about 13 inch sides went quite well.

Cuts and bends #5 bar Way cheaper than buying a metabo power bender

They cut and bend #3 bar effortlessly. I have not tried anything bigger yet.

Made 150 cuts and bends in #5 5/8 rebar and need a massage now but it didn’t trick. Wish the handle was longer. Dont forget to lint it to a board for stability.

We mount to a 2 x 8 for stability and they work great!

update: June 14th 2023 has worked flawlessly and I recently needed to cut several hundred pieces of # 5 rebar and it did so without complaint. other than being slightly faded on the pretty paint as it has stayed outside continuously. I can recommend this model. orig review: heavy duty and stable once you mount it to a 2x8 board if I had to do this for a living I would invest in a power cutter/bender but I don't so this is exactly what I need

it is better to set up a wood plate to lock the tools

Perfect tool to cut and bend rebar to the same quality as ordering from a rebar fabricator. Adding 4ft 2x8 to make a "T" shape reduces cutting and bending effort in half. With out adding a board too much effort is waisted on trying to keep the tool from twisting sideways.

This unit worked better than I expected based on a different unit I used before. It cuts and bends both 10mm and 15mm bar well. It does take some muscle power but not more than expected

Great

Cresent made in China. This cutters are improved , with the addition of the cutterhead being supported on both sides now. But the stops to keep the bar being cut from being torqued at less than right angles to the cutter face are cast very poorly and do nothing because they are short of the ability to contact the rod being cut. I have used the original brand for over 45 years and wore out a few in my days doing concrete work. How durable these are remains to be seen ?