1/2" Picket Twister

I thought I'd post a pic of what I worked on Sunday. It's not finished yet so I'll update this when it's done. Sorry for the poor picture, it's hard to see, but once I get the welding done I'll paint it and it should show up better. The maximum length should be 4 ft of 1/2" square bar and the lower brace (or whatever it's called) will slide up and down on the post to accomadate shorter sizes. I've still got to weld some wings on the post so I can clamp it to the work bench. The bench is 4X6 so I made a handle long enough that I can walk around the bench holding the handle.

[Trevor]

keep us updated i was thinking of buying one but after speaking with my brother and seeing your design making one probly wouln't be a bad project

I got the welding finished and a coat of primer on this afternoon after work. you can see it better now.

Here is the foot.

Head of the twister

All put together and ready to twist.

The first 36" twisted bar.

[HWooldridge]

Did you twist it with the 1/2 bar in a pipe? Sometimes the picket bows and warps if not restrained. Your piece looks very straight - good job...

Thanks HWooldridge. No it was bare, no pipe. I couldn't tell that it bowed at all.

[david_r]

Jim,
Are you twisting bar or tube? I know you typed bar but sometimes people use the words interchangably.

[Main]

Jim,
Give this a try. After you twist a picket heat a section and give it some more twist.
Here's a small example.

David, I'm twisting solid bar. I haven't tried tube, don't know if it would work or not.

Main. That's nice. Did you do the second twist in or out of the twister?

[Main]

I did the second twist out of the twister. Could probably do it either way. I haven't done this yet but I was considering using an impact wrench. Just make a simple tool.

Main, I was a failure. I don't think I could get the rod hot enough. All I have is one of those small propane torches. I can see how it would work really well though if you could get the metal cherry.
The idea of an impact wrench is very interesting.

[Main]

More heat more better. Cherry red would probably work fine but I'm kind of partial to orange. Nice looking twist and your on the right track, just need more heat.

[TonyC]

Nice job Jim. A few questions.

Is that an upside down half inch socket your using at the foot? If so, what did you use to weld it on?

At the top are you just using a piece of pipe thats just the right size to secure it while you're twisting?

The pipe at the top engages more of the bar than the support (socket?) at the foot. Does this leave you with different lengths of untwisted bar?

Thanks. Again, nice project!

I meant to say I COULDN'T get the rod hot enough. Do you use a O/A torch? And is orange or red hotter. Sorry for the sophmoric question, but I'm relatively new to metal.

Originally posted by TonyC
Nice job Jim. A few questions.

Is that an upside down half inch socket your using at the foot? If so, what did you use to weld it on?

At the top are you just using a piece of pipe thats just the right size to secure it while you're twisting?

The pipe at the top engages more of the bar than the support (socket?) at the foot. Does this leave you with different lengths of untwisted bar?

Thanks. Again, nice project!

Thanks Tony. Yes, it's a HF impact 1/2 socket. It's sitting on a piece of C channel between two lengths of angle. At the top, the socket sits on top of the pipe and I welded around it. Then I wrapped a piece of 1/4" flat around that. The foot will ride up and down on the post, so I can use different lenghts. The maximum is 52".

[Main]

Yes, I use an A/O torch but it can be done in a forge. The torch is just easier and I like easy.

http://www.beautifuliron.com/usingthe.htm


http://www.abana.org/resources/educa...il_guide.shtml

Thanks Main. After looking at the color chart I was obviously no where near hot enough to be doing what I was trying to do.

[TonyC]

Ahhhh...now I understand!

Thanks!

Tony, one thing I didn't mention was that the rod with passes all the way through both sockets, so you could twist a 6" section in the middle of a 36" rod if you wanted.

[Frankc]

Jim in your pictures on the corner of your work bench is, I think, a homemade metal roller, is that correct or is it something else. The coffee cup is blocking the view

[Frankc]

Ah never mind I see theres another thread about it