Specifications

4
PRE-USE CHECKS
1. Check oil level. (See Maintenance)
2. Check condition of cutter blocks and
tightness of cutter block bolts. (See
Maintenance) - CHECK FOR CRACKS
IN HOUSING
CAUTION: Using loose or cracked
cutter blocks may result in injury
to operator as well as damage to
the tool.
3. Check that the power source is appro-
priate to the cutter.
CARE: If voltage is too high, the
motor will burn out. If voltage is
too low, insufficient power will be
generated. Never use DC current.
4. Check that power supply is properly
grounded.
CAUTION: Failure to ground
power supply may result in electric
shock to operator (DC-16LZ,
DC-16W and DC-32WH have
double-insulated motors and do
not require grounding.)
5. Check that cord is undamaged and that
plug is not loose.
CAUTION: Cut or abraded cover-
ing could result in a short and
Electric shock to operator.
6. If an extensions cable is to be used,
make sure that it is undamaged and that
it is the proper wire gauge thickness for
the length. See table below.
7. Before plugging in the tool, make sure
that the switch lock is OFF.
CAUTION: If switch lock is ON,
cutter will start as soon as it is
plugged in. To disengage lock, pull
trigger-switch and press lock-but-
ton, which will pop out.
WARM-UP
In cold weather you should warm up the
tool unit for 30-60 seconds so that the
hydraulic oil reaches the proper viscosity.
Pull trigger-switch to extend piston and
release when it has reached its full stroke.
Repeat 15-20 times.
STOPPER BOLT
ADJUSTMENT
THE STOPPER BOLT IS PROB-
ABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT
PART OF YOUR PORTABLE
CUTTER...
e adjustable stopper functions to main-
tain the rebar in the correct position dur-
ing cutting and must be properly set for
each size of rebar before use.
1. Screw in stopper to provide sufficient
clearance for rebar.
2. Insert rebar fully into U-shaped sup-
port. Make sure that rebar is resting on
the base of the support.
3. Keeping rebar at right angles (90 de-
grees) to front cutter block, screw out
stopper until it is just touching the rebar.
Once set, the stopper needs no further
adjustment while cutting rebar of the
same diameter, but must be reset for a
different size rebar.
CAUTION: Failure to correctly set
the stopper bolt will result in ex-
cessive wear of cutter blocks and
may cause cut end to fly out.
is will also lead to piston and
cylinder damage.
CUTTING
1. Insert rebar between stopper and front
cutter block, making sure that it is prop-
erly seated in U-shaped support.
2. Pull trigger-switch and keep depressed
while piston advances and rebar is cut.
(If switch is released at an intermediate
point, piston will stop.)
3. When cut is completed, release switch.
Piston retracts automatically (Note that
switch cannot be reactivated until piston
has fully retracted.)
POINTS OF ATTENTION
1. Be especially careful when cutting off
short lengths (30cm/12” or less) as the
cut end tends to fly out.
CAUTION: Flying ends are a haz-
ard to all personnel in the vicinity.
Erect safety screens.
2. Do not cover air vents or operate the
tool on dirt – use a plywood base under
the rebar cutter to keep armature and fan
clean
CARE: If the vents are covered, the
motor will overheat and may burn
out.
3. If hydraulic oil exceeds 70 degrees C
(158 degrees F) in temperature, power
will drop. Allow unit to cool before re-
suming operation. (Be particularly care-
ful in summer, when the aluminum pump
case heats up quicker.)
4. If a drop in power is observed and mo-
tor is unusually hot, check carbon-brush-
es. (See maintenance)
5. If piston should ever fail to retract com-
pletely, push rear cutter block backwards
to manually retract piston or check under
piston to remove and debris keeping the
piston from retracting.
CAUTION: Use a rebar or flat
metal bar for this purpose. Never
push cutter block with any part of
the hand, even if gloved.
NOTE: Rebar cutters manufactured in
after 2007 have a safety release valve for
retracting the piston if it doesn’t return to
the start position. is is usually caused
by cutting improperly seated rebar that
becomes jammed between the cutting
blocks. On these newer models simply ro-
tate the Allen set screw a quarter turn to
retract the piston. On the DC-20WH, see
parts breakdown part #64 for location of
this release valve.
Once piston has been retracted, pull
trigger-switch long enough to partially
advance piston. Unplug unit. Check pis-
ton and housing for accumulated dirt and
iron filings that may be jamming the pis-
ton. (See Maintenance) If, after cleaning,
piston still does not automatically retract
when fully extended, the piston itself may
be damaged. Return the unit to an autho-
rized repair center or Benner-Nawman
for repair.
Length 110/115 50/60 Hz
Cable Size (AWG)
Up to 15mm (50 ft.) 14
Up to 30mm (100 ft.) 12
Up to 45mm (150 ft.) 10