# What is a Rebar Bender?
**A rebar bender (Dutch: buigijzer) is a manual hand tool used on construction sites to bend steel reinforcement bars (rebar) into the angles and shapes specified in structural drawings. It provides the mechanical leverage needed to cold-bend bars accurately without heating them, preserving the steel’s structural properties.**
## How a rebar bender works
The tool consists of a long steel handle with a forked or slotted head that fits around the rebar. The bar is secured against a fixed pin or mandrel, and the worker applies force through the lever arm to bend the bar to the required angle. The mandrel diameter determines the minimum bend radius, which must comply with structural codes to avoid cracking the steel.
## Types of rebar benders
### Manual hand bender
A simple lever tool suitable for bars up to approximately 16 mm diameter. Portable, requires no power, and is used for on-site adjustments and small quantities.
### Bench-mounted bender
A fixed unit bolted to a workbench or frame, offering greater leverage and consistency for repetitive bends on bars up to 25 mm diameter.
### Hydraulic and electric benders
Powered machines for high-volume work or heavy bars (up to 40 mm+). These are not hand tools but are common on larger sites and in rebar fabrication yards.
## Bending requirements
Reinforcement must be bent to minimum internal radii specified by standards (e.g., Eurocode 2) to prevent micro-cracking. Typical minimum bend diameters range from 4 to 7 times the bar diameter, depending on bar size and grade.
## Applications
– Bending stirrups and links for beams and columns
– Forming starter bars and crank bars
– Creating hooks and bends at bar ends for anchorage
– On-site adjustments to pre-fabricated reinforcement
## Related terms
– Rebar (reinforcement bar)
– Bar bending schedule
– Stirrup
– Mandrel
– Rebar cutter
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