Thanks.

Where should I look for this kind of flat bar (big box store?) and what is it called?

What method of bending would you suggest to get a large, even curve?

And does anyone have ideas for getting 20 foot + lengths of anything home when the largest vehicle available to us is the family minivan?

Kristin

Kristin, I have no answers, just wondering the EXACT SAME THING so I am bumping your post up, hopefully someone will chime in!
Brenda

Any welding shop or steelworks can sell you all sorts of long bar. Check around some will be cheaper.
The best way to get floppy flat bar home is to tape it to a 16 foot 2x4 and roof rack it.
I have never tried to bend 20 feet but if one foot is buried perpendicular in concrete on each side 4 feet apart it will form the arch with no bending required.
When you get it home you will understand what I mean. Flatbar is wonderful for curves.

Here's an article that shows how to bend rebar...

Here is a link that might be useful: HGTV

Great link although the original poster doesn't have rebar benders.
Bending rebar is not for the faint of heart.
It is poor quality steel notorious for shattering while being bent.
Eye protection is a must.
Flatbar is so much nicer to work with and more attractive as well.

not sure on the bending....but I have brought many a piece of pvc pipe home...I tie my things under the truck...from the bumpers....I just loop a piece of rope aroung the bumper and them a couple of tight slip knots around the pvc.....repeat on the back bumper.....make sure you let it hang a little ways down...not right up against the underside of the truck.....tie a little piece of the orange tape on the back and away you go....I have amazed a many a men this way....lol...

To get your lengths and general shape use rope. Lay it out on a driveway or lawn. Get the shape (including height, width) you want, mark the rope, then it's easy to measure for the lengths you need.

how helpful is your information. thanks so much
-mindy

Google reveals that both Lowe's and Home Depot carry various types of flat bar. They don't seem to come longer than six feet, but for my purposes (reinforcing a trellis), that should be fine, plus I can actually get them into my car. Thanks for the suggestions, guys!

Bending rebar is incredibly simple. I've created fairly complex twisted rebar sculptures, including a guitar and saxophone (my husband's and my instruments). My sister cemented a 4x4 wooden post into the ground and attached an angle iron with two short posts about an inch (?) apart. Lighter weight rebar is easier to bend, naturally, and while long rebar is available, it's rather unwieldy and can be a challenge to transport.

Just to add some missed detail to an old post, rebar has a number, and that number is the thickness in 1/8" inch increments. So #3 would be 3/8 inch. I would think #2 or #3 would be sufficiently thin to cut with bolt cutters of 24" or more handle length and bend easily as well.

Bluesanne, would it be possible to post a picture of the device your sister made for bending rebar?

If you can;t band it you could use it for supports to tie bendable fencing on.