picket twister?

[MetalMan23]

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-hal...ent-36620.html

anybody use one of these? how does it work? do you think its worth it for only $79.99?

i might have a job comin up with twisted pickets, could save me money if i did it myself as opposed to buying them twisted

[DSW]

Here's one Neil built. 1st link is the completed project. 2nd is the original incarnation of it before the wheel was added.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=43182
http://weldingweb.com/showpost.php?p=47484&postcount=2


Big key to these is twisting them the same number of times each time. It's very easy to loose track of where 12 o'clock is on the picket and end up with say 11 3/4" of a turn vs 12, especially if you are using something like a ratchet. Do yourself a favor and mark one face clearly and work in fixed increments like only doing full or 1/2 turns and don't let yourself get distracted while twisting. Do one complete, then stop.

[tapwelder]

It will probably work alright. What does the right angle tool/die do in the setup of the picket twister?

Mine looks identical to the second link in DSW post . I may have copied his design??? I used a socket for 1/2" driver to fit on the material. I use mine horizontal, too. I have 2 opposing handles on so it is easy to count twists.

The largest advantage to twisting you own picket is that you can customize you spacing rather than just the cookie cutter full twist baluster.

I am not opposed to purchasing them especially if they are cookie cutter full twist and large volume.

Eat your Wheaties if you got many to do.

[BD1]

What you posted is the ATTACHMENT ONLY . You still need the compact bender .

[thejonn2524]

I saw he had a compact bender already in one of his railing build threads.

[MetalMan23]

Thanks DSW, I like that design a lot

Actually the compact bender I have probly won't work, cuz I cut down the stand, so I could mount it on my fab table, but it doesn't seem too hard to make one. I am wondering however, how to get the 1/2" square holes?

[DSW]

Cheap 1/2" sockets are one way to get them. You can also buy an 8 point socket that is designed to be used on square bolts.

One other option would be to "drift" them in material. This works best if the material is hot. 1st drill a 1/2" hole thru the stock. Then get a chunk of square stock the size you want to drift to and grind a short taper on the end you will drive ( so the end doesn't mushroom and cause the hole to be over sized) and grind a longer taper on the end you will start in the hole. Keep the total length relatively short, maybe 3-5" total. Remember you need to keep at least 1" untouched as this will form your final size hole.. Heat the material to at least bright red around the hole you drilled, then take your drift, line it up how you want it oriented and start driving it thru with a mallet. You don't need to drive it all the way thru the 1st time around. If it starts to get hard to drive, stop and tap it out from the end you inserted in the hole. Cool the drift in water frequently so it doesn't soften and reheat the area again. Repeat until it will go all the way thru. Remember the drift will be VERY hot, so don't catch it with your hand or pick it up without tongs. Hardened square stock will work best, but you can use mild steel if you aren't doing more than one or two like this.

We drifted 3/4" square holes in 1 1/2" solid stock in my forge class this way. The plate will deform top and bottom as you do this, but you can always grind it back to original thickness if need be.


I may have basic picts of cold drifting here somewhere if you don't understand all this.

[Comp Chassis]

Back in high school we had a picket twister someone had built using a truck transmission. Was very similar to the ones posted but built a little heavier and resembled a lathe bed. A hand wheel had been made on the input shaft of the transmission and the output shaft had a clamp with 4 bolts in it to be able to clamp onto various shapes and sizes of metal. Depending on how heavy the metal you were twisting was you could select different gears in the transmission to ease the process.

[Oldendum]

Here's a nice homemade picket twister:

http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtal...ister-pictures

Videos:

You Tube

You Tube

You Tube

You Tube

[MetalMan23]

I like that one, makes me want to build a motorized one, thanks for the info on drifting, I'll give it a try some day,

Or buy one of these when I get rich and famous
http://m.wimp.com/blacksmithmarvels/

[MetalMan23]

So I had a little free time and I threw something together, worked out pretty good!



So I made a little grate for my fire place:
I love bending and twisting metal, its awesome