Rebar Cutting Blade

The blade material directly determines its hardness, toughness, and service life. Choose the material according to your cutting needs, and the following three are the most commonly used materials in the market, each with unique chemical compositions and performance characteristics.

C: 0.32-0.45%, Si: 0.80-1.20%, Mn: 0.20-0.50%, Cr: 4.75-5.50%, Mo: 1.10-1.75%, V: 0.80-1.20%, P≤0.030%, S≤0.030%.

As the current mainstream high-quality blade material on the market, H13 has an excellent balance of hardness and toughness, with extremely high wear resistance and outstanding resistance to thermal cycling. It undergoes vacuum quenching during processing, which enhances its toughness to absorb impact without cracking. Even during long-term, high-intensity continuous cutting, it is not prone to deformation or chipping. It is the top pick for international trade because it doesn’t need to be replaced as often, which cuts down a lot on transportation costs and customs duties compared to other materials.

Ideal for large-scale processing of high-strength rebar, high-speed cutting, high-tensile steel, and high-strength ribbed rebar (its excellent wear resistance and toughness can effectively reduce the risk of chipping, adapting to high-strength continuous cutting).

C: 1.45-1.70%, Si: ≤0.40%, Mn: ≤0.40%, Cr: 11.00-12.50%, Mo: 0.40-0.60%, V: 0.15-0.30%, P≤0.030%, S≤0.030%.

It is a high-hardness, high-wear-resistance tool steel. Its hardness far exceeds that of ordinary alloy blades, providing strong wear resistance for long-term use. However, its toughness is relatively weaker, so it is not suitable for high-impact or large-gap cutting conditions, as it may be prone to chipping under such circumstances.

Suitable for handling the cutting needs of high-hardness cold-rolled rebar and ordinary round steel (low hardness and low cutting resistance), meeting basic cutting needs while maintaining a reasonable cost.

C: 0.85-0.95%, Si: 1.20-1.60%, Mn: 0.30-0.60%, Cr: 0.90-1.20%, P≤0.030%, S≤0.030%.

An economical and practical choice with good hardenability and machinability. Its hardness and wear resistance are lower than H13 and Cr12MoV, but it has moderate toughness and is easy to process and maintain, making it a cost-effective option for small and medium-sized projects.

Widely used in small and medium-sized projects, suitable for cutting ordinary medium- and low-strength rebar and ordinary round steel (low hardness and low cutting resistance), effectively controlling costs while meeting basic cutting requirements.

The matching degree between the blade and the cutting machine directly affects the cutting effect, blade service life, and machine stability. It needs to be customized according to the shape and size of the equipment.

Common blade shapes are square (four sides usable) and rectangular, each suitable for different processing scenarios:

Different tonnage cutting machines (such as GQ40, GQ50, GQ60) have specific standards for blade thickness, length, width, and bolt hole spacing. Selection must strictly follow the equipment's instruction manual to ensure a perfect fit with the blade seat, reduce vibration during cutting, and extend the life of the machine's motor.

Different types of rebar have significantly different physical properties, so blade selection needs to be targeted based on the material characteristics of the rebar to avoid premature blade damage and improve cutting efficiency.

Low hardness and low cutting resistance. 9CrSi or Cr12MoV materials are sufficient, which can meet basic cutting needs while effectively controlling costs.

High hardness, and the ribbed surface structure easily wears down the blade. It is recommended to use H13 material. Its excellent wear resistance and toughness can effectively reduce the risk of chipping, making it suitable for high-strength continuous cutting.

Severely corroded surface, containing sand and dirt, which causes significant wear on the blades. High-nickel materials are preferred to enhance wear resistance and corrosion resistance, extending the blade service life.

The manufacturing process directly affects the performance and service life of the blade. Blades processed through full grinding and vacuum heat treatment are preferred for the following advantages:

Our blades, through optimized hardening depth and toughness, address the common industry problem of brittle fracture when cutting high-strength rebar, providing customized solutions for different project needs.

In high-intensity construction projects, rebar cutting blades are the most frequently replaced parts. A common frustration for site managers is "blade chipping" or "premature dulling," which halts production and increases costs. The root cause of these problems is mostly the mismatch between blade material, rebar type, and working conditions.

The performance of a steel bar cutter blade depends on the balance between hardness and toughness: too high hardness leads to poor toughness and easy chipping; too high toughness leads to insufficient wear resistance and premature dulling. At ALAS Machinery, we utilize three primary materials (H13, Cr12MoV, 9CrSi) to meet different project needs, achieving the optimal balance between hardness and toughness.

Whether you are using a GQ40, GQ50, or GQ60 manual cutter, or an automated CNC rebar processing line, the dimensions of the blade must be precise. We provide CNC-ground blades that ensure a perfect fit with the blade seat, reducing vibration and extending the life of your machine's motor.

To double the life of your rebar shear blades, follow these maintenance tips:

Don't let low-quality blades slow down your project. By choosing the right blade material (H13 for high-strength scenarios, Cr12MoV for high-hardness rebar, 9CrSi for cost-effective needs), matching the correct mechanical specifications, and following proper maintenance methods, you can significantly extend the blade service life, reduce replacement costs, and ensure project progress. Contact ALAS today for customized rebar cutting solutions.

Question 1: What are the main material options for our rebar cutting blades? 

Based on different working conditions and budget requirements, we offer three general industrial-grade alloy steel materials:

9CrSi (Alloy Tool Steel): An economical choice. It has good hardenability and machinability, suitable for cutting ordinary medium-to-low strength rebar, and is widely used in small and medium-sized projects.

Cr12MoV (Cold Work Die Steel): High-end wear-resistant type. High carbon and high chromium content, after heat treatment, it has excellent wear resistance, making it an ideal choice for continuous cutting of high-strength rebar. Its service life is much longer than 9CrSi.

H13 (Hot Work Die Steel/Red Hard Steel): High toughness and high wear resistance. It exhibits excellent resistance to chipping and thermal stability in rebar cutting applications, especially suitable for high-speed production lines or online cutting of hot-rolled rebar, and cutting of ultra-thick rebar and composite materials of scrap rebar.

Question 2: Why do my blades often chip? Is it a material problem?

Chipping is usually caused by the following factors:

Insufficient toughness: Using ultra-hard but low-toughness materials to cut large-diameter or ultra-hard rebar can easily lead to brittle fracture. In this case, we recommend switching to H13 material, as its excellent toughness can effectively absorb impact forces.

Improper clearance: Too large or too small a gap between the upper and lower blades will lead to uneven stress, resulting in chipping.

Insufficient heat treatment: Internal stress is not completely eliminated. All our blades use vacuum heat treatment technology to ensure uniform hardness from the inside out, greatly reducing the chipping rate.

Question 3: What is the biggest performance difference between 9CrSi and Cr12MoV?

Wear resistance: Cr12MoV has significantly better wear resistance than 9CrSi. Under the same working conditions, the number of cuts for Cr12MoV is usually 2-3 times that of 9CrSi.

Cost: 9CrSi is more cost-effective, suitable for projects sensitive to initial purchase costs; although the unit price of Cr12MoV is slightly higher, its lower replacement frequency results in a lower overall cutting cost per ton of rebar.

Question 4: Which material is recommended for high-strength deformed rebar (e.g., HRB500E) or thick rebar? 

For high-strength or ribbed rebar, we strongly recommend H13:

If you are facing extremely high operating intensity and are concerned about downtime due to blade chipping, choose H13. Its impact fatigue resistance is top-notch in the rebar processing industry.

Question 5: Can you customize non-standard size blades according to drawings?

Yes. We understand that blade specifications vary among different equipment brands (e.g., from Italy, Germany, or China). We are equipped with a full set of CNC machining equipment, and you only need to provide the following information:

Detailed drawings (including length, width, thickness, and hole dimensions).

Material requirements (9CrSi, Cr12MoV, or H13).

Specifications of the workpiece to be processed (rebar diameter and strength grade).

We can provide a 1:1 precise customized solution.

Question 6: How to maintain the blades to extend their service life?

Regular rotation: Our blades are usually designed with 4 or 8 cutting edges. Please rotate the blade promptly when one cutting edge becomes dull.

Tighten bolts: Ensure the blades are securely installed. Any slight looseness will cause destructive impact during the cutting process.

Control the gap: Adjust a reasonable blade gap according to the rebar diameter, usually about 10% of the rebar diameter.