The GQ42 cuts 16 to 32mm bars and starts around ₹73,000; the GQ52 cuts 16 to 42mm and starts around ₹95,000, about ₹22,000 more. Buy the GQ42 for most building work, because its 32mm ceiling covers the 20mm, 25mm and 32mm structural bar most sites use. Pay the extra ₹22,000 for the GQ52 only if you cut bar above 32mm.
The short answer
The GQ42 cuts 8mm to 32mm bars and starts around ₹73,000. The GQ52 cuts 8mm to 42mm and starts around ₹95,000. If any bar on your current or likely future projects exceeds 32mm, the GQ52 is the only one of the two that can do the job and the decision is already made. The rest of this article is for everyone whose work stays at 32mm and below, which covers most building construction.
Side by side
| Specification | GQ42 | GQ52 |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting capacity | 16-32mm TMT/HYSD | 16-42mm TMT/HYSD |
| Power supply | 415V, three phase | 415V, three phase |
| Motor | 2.2 kW (3 HP) | 4.0 kW (5.4 HP) |
| Cutting speed | 25 to 30 cuts/min | 20 to 28 cuts/min |
| Weight | Approx 120 kg | Approx 280 kg |
| Starting price | ₹73,000 + GST | ₹95,000 + GST |
Prices are starting figures; contact HMS for current pricing.
What bar sizes can each machine cut?
Everything else in the table is secondary. The GQ42 covers residential construction, compound walls and commercial buildings, including the 20mm, 25mm and 32mm bars used in columns, footings and rafts. The GQ52 covers that work and everything up to 42mm, which adds the 36mm and 40mm diameters used in bridges, flyovers, metro work and heavy industrial foundations. Our guide on bar cutting capacity explains why we also recommend keeping a margin above your largest bar rather than buying exactly at your limit.
Do both machines need three phase power?
Both machines need a 415V three phase connection. Neither will run on a single phase domestic supply, so site power does not separate them. If your site only has 220V, neither machine works for you, and you should talk to us about alternatives before deciding anything else.
Speed and weight
On small bars the GQ42 is slightly quicker, 25 to 30 cuts a minute against 20 to 28. In practice the difference is minor. The weight difference is not: at roughly 120 kg the GQ42 can be shifted between floors and sites with a small crew, while the 280 kg GQ52 is a machine you position once per project and move with proper equipment. For a contractor who hops between small sites, that portability has real value.
Is the GQ52 worth ₹22,000 more?
For about ₹22,000 more, the GQ52 raises your ceiling from 32mm to 42mm and adds a 4.0 kW motor in a much heavier frame. That matters in two cases: your projects include bar above 32mm, or your yard shears large diameters all day and benefits from a bigger motor working well inside its rating. For a contractor whose largest bar is 32mm, the GQ42 already covers the work, and the extra money buys capacity that never gets used. If you want the same 16-32mm coverage with an Indian motor, the GUTE GQ40 (16-32mm), starting around ₹1,10,000, offers a different build proposition. The price guide compares the full range.
Which one should I buy?
Buy the GQ42 for most building work. Its 16 to 32mm range covers slabs, beams and the 20mm to 32mm column and footing bar that larger buildings use. It is lighter, a little faster on small bars, and ₹22,000 cheaper, which makes it the value pick for most contractors.
Buy the GQ52 if your projects include bar above 32mm: bridges, flyovers, metro and piling work with 36mm or 40mm bar. Its bigger motor and heavier frame also suit a yard that shears 32mm all day, because the machine runs well inside its rating, which is easier on blades and motor over the years.
Still deciding? Read how to choose a bar cutting machine for the full checklist, or call HMS in Bengaluru with your bar schedule. We have supplied cutting machines across South India since 1999 and will tell you plainly if the cheaper machine is enough for your work.
