cutting reinforcing mesh

[billconner]

Will the HF 8" bolt cutters suffice for cutting 10 guage wire mesh? There only $9. or the 12", 18", or 24"? Or should I just use my 5" grinder I've been cutting no. 4 rebar with? I've not cut mesh before and trying to guess what is easy and quick. And don't expect to ever do it again

 

[GeoBruin]

I think the bolt cutters will work great. If you have a lot of it to cut, it could get tiresome, but for a reasonable number of cuts, it's probably the simplest thing.

 

[mike93lx]

Small bolt cutters are not fun to use. I would either run a grinder or a sawzall

 

[oldwino]

Bolt cutters will work fine. I’ve probably cut a mile of mesh with cheapo bolt cutters. Sawzall and grinder will work but much slower

 

[RTM]

I just bought a HKP 24" pair used, was cutting the equivalent mesh no problem. The head was a bit big for a few cuts. Maybe step up a size to 12".

I prefer to not create sparks if I don't need to, I'm not in that much of a hurry to complete too many jobs. Now if you have a few hundred cuts to make, maybe.

 

[KnurledNut]

I just did a job cutting this stuff and used my 8" Knipex mini bolt cutters (w/notch). Effortless and fast.
Any of the similar knockoffs will do fine.
On the big slab jobs ive helped with we rolled the welded wire mesh on the ground and cut it with long bolt cutters to keep from bending over so far. (Not that concrete workers have any back problems or anything. )

 

[billconner]

Thank you all!

So maybe spend the extra $4 and get the 18" instead of 8" but any will do it? maybe 100 to 150' so 200 to 300 snips.

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[RTM]

Longer handles means more leverage, which means less work. As Knurled Nut said, if you can reduce bending....

I'd get the biggest reasonable ones, for the "next job". I've gotten by with 12" for a long time, so when I could get 24" cheap, all over it.

 

[no704]

Plasma cutter!

 

[The Cobbler]

an angle grinder with a cut off wheel works well too

 

[htmdude57]

If it's possible, maybe you can slip pieces of pipe on the 2 handles to get more leverage, less effort, if you are doing a lot of cuts.

 

[billconner]

Plasma cutter!

only 899.99 at harbor freight

 

[mike93lx]

only 899.99 at harbor freight

Make sure you get a pilot arc model...