×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Rebar Finder

Rebar Finder

Rebar Finder

(OP)
Does anyone have any experience with devices used to locate rebar in concrete?  Good, bad, ugly?  I hear Hilti makes a device called a Ferroscan (or similar), and runs abut $15,000.  Zircon makes a hand held device like a stud finder that goes for $199.  Anyone use anything like these?  Easy to use?  Good results?

RE: Rebar Finder

Why not use a standard metal detector?

RE: Rebar Finder

I've had a lot of experience several years ago and cannot recall the names of the equipment.  I could go back through the files....but that's not likely!

Anyway, my experience would have me suggest that if original drawings are available your best bet is to use those with words of caution and a provision for redrilling another hole when rebar is encountered in the original.

Most detectors are only good for the surfaces and penetrate only a few inches into the concrete.  And that is assuming good solid concrete.  Any material with delaminations will throw off the results since that represents a void through which detection cannot pass.  

Usually there are many elements in a concrete element that are worth worrying about besides detecting the outer most stirrups which are closest to the surface.

Really sophisticated equipment will take an experienced reader to interpret the results.  Thus its better to hire a company rather than buy a peice of equipment.  You'd be surprised how fast the salesman backsdown on his claim of definite rebar to a measly "well here is an anomly in our reading that may represent something similar to rebar".  That's usually what happens when you ask them if they were hired to tell the contractor where rebar is.

Good Luck.

Regards,
Qshake

Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

RE: Rebar Finder

If you are just trying to avoid rebar (probably for dowels), then the cheaper models usually get the job done.  The high-end models are necessary if you want to determine the size and/or depth of the bars.  

I'd hire a company if you need to size the rebar, and I'd buy a cheapo if you're just trying to locate it.  Consider renting the equipment if its available.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources