Where can I buy bent rebars in the bay area?

[neurosis71]

Hello everyone,

I'm searching for a place where I can find bent rebars to fix the shades in our camp. We are coming from abroad so that's why we can't do it ourselves.
We are looking for twenty 1/2" x 24" rebars. We would love to hear from you if you can help us.

Thanks for the help!

30 days left!!

[danibel]

Just buy straight rebar and some good vice grips. Pound em in far far. Put a foam tube on them and light them up if you need them to poke out above ground. To remove, clamp on vice grips and twist em till they are loose then pull straight out. Easy.

It's easier to drive them in when they are not bent. I have pounded them all the way in and just dug the playa away a bit to remove.

[creativecstasy]

I'm a big fan of using straight rebar as well, and then topping it with a tennis ball. You can buy tennis balls in a 3 pack at the dollar store (or a 6 pack if they have the "dog toy" balls in stock) and just cut a one inch slit in it. Poke the rebar through the tennis ball and you're set!

[FossaFerox]

Rebar can punch through skin, muscle, and connective tissue. It's "a" if not "the" leading cause of serious injury on the playa. Bending it isn't hard and is so much safer...

Two lengths of steel pipe and one strong back is all it takes to make very tightly bent candy canes.

[Sham]

As an option to bending the rebar, you can bring some florescent duct tape and wrap it around the sharp end of the rebar. It can be seen at night easier and the duct tape will cover the razor sharp edges. We always get some people in camp who buy their rebar at the store and pound it in with no prep whatsoever. Just grinding the sharp edges off with go a long way to helping someone avoid serious injury.

These type of caps will help, but be sure to tape them on well with lots of duct tape.

[FossaFerox]

Construction caps I trust, but they're comparatively expensive and I rarely saw them used. Everything else... Would you let someone stab you with a butcher's knife if it had a tennis ball on the tip?

[Dr. Pyro]

If I may suggest, the heads of Barbies make great rebar covers. They are both decorative and fit perfectly over the business end of the rebar. We've used them for years.

[AfricanFire]

Ok, excuse my ignorance. This stuff is not my strong suit.... If you don't bend the rebar at all, how does whatever you're using it for not just slip off the top? Like let's say a tent - rebar through the loops, and then the bent part hooks over the tent loop. If you just have a straight piece the tent loop slides off the top. Or is this not bent rebar used for other purposes. I'm just not seeing how it works.

[FossaFerox]

Drive it at an angle, to go over the top the rope would have to reach farther which the existing tension should prevent

[Popeye]

Tennis balls can get kicked off.
Most building supply stores sell plastic tubing "fuel line". Buy some of this which fits tightly over your rebar. Cut in 3"-4" pieces and slide it over the exposed ends of your rebar after it is pounded in. Leave an inch or so free. For added safety make flags out of colored duct tape and put on the plastic.

OR

For added self reliance points
and more difficulty pounding it in:
Buy your rebar
Go into the parking lot and find a curb like this:

Put one end of the rebar about 6" into the 1/2" pipe holding the curb to the parking lot.
Step on the rebar near the curb fairly hard and you have a 90 degree bend.

The hole for the ball on your trailer hitch would work and give you more than 90 degrees.
Slide a nipple over the rebar and have your (overweight) buddy stand on it. Lift the rebar.

[Token]

Slide a nipple over the rebar and have your (overweight) buddy stand on it. Lift the rebar.

That just feels so ... Wrong.

[neurosis71]

Thank you all for your replies. It's really helpful.

I guess I'll just have to go with the straight rebars then. I heard Home Depot is a good place to find some.
I was thinking about a combination of foam tubes and fluorescent duck tape to protect it all.

The man burns in 25 days!

[Ratty]

I have both straight and bent. The straight is easier to hammer. YES on the foam tubes. The dollar store is a great source. You can also slit them open and put some on your ropes, handlebars, chair legs, exposed tent poles, flag poles etc... Very festive and safe.