twisted pickets

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I need to make a couple dozen twisted pickets out of half inch bar stock.  Does anyone have plans for an easy to build gadget or know of one that's available commercially.  I'll probably never use it again after this one project so I don't want to invest a lot of money.
Reply:Are you twisting the entire length or a section.There are several threads in this forum for picket twisters.  I have made one of the more common designs.  I never use it.   My twister only would need modifications to twist sections.  No heat required for full picket twist of 1/2" square.Last time I twisted 1/2 inch sq bar sections I made a slot is a piece of round stock to fit the 1/2 in stock.  You could use an old socket for a 1/2  inch driver.  Anyway, the slotted material or socket holds the end of your stock.  I welded the holder to a piece of tubing.  I used a pipe wrench on the other end to twist.  The pipe wrench for twisting has an additional handle welded opposite the original handle for two handed twisting.  The tubing (square) act as a referance to help you keep things straight.  So spend time aligning your holder, so you can tweak the bar while still hot.I marked he section to be twisted and heated the placed the marks at the holder and wrench then twisted .  Being careful to keep things straight.
Reply:I made up a machine to do it, Il go take some pics il post up in a few!
Reply:Ok here's some pics, I know its crappy but youll get the idea. The welds on this thing are gross at times, but this things got some serious nut.
Reply:Heres a peice of a railing I did with it too.
Reply:If you only need a couple dozen, maybe buy them done would be your best bet?King Metals has just about anything you could want in pickets and rail.http://www.kingmetals.com/Default.as...id+Bar*30104@@
Reply:Ok now...What in the he!! are we  looking at in the last pic? Turkey?Peacock??   pic.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:That is my special tool for when I need to bend 1" and up pickets!
Reply:You can't look at that picture and not laugh!  Why would you put that picture in there? Lincoln AC/DC 225/125 Stick Linde HDA-300 MillerMatic DVI MIG Miller Dynasty 200DX Hypertherm Powermax 1000
Reply:looks like a mix between an ostrich and a camel.he. he. he.
Reply:ROFLMAO  ,picture suprised the #%^$ out of me. Must be an emu or something. Looks ready to peck out the camera lens!
Reply:Looks like an emu, those suckers are meanDewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Question-does the picket shorten a bit when you twist it or does the metal stretch?  Should the final cutoff length be done after twisting?I am thinking of making stair railing with both twisted and untwisted pieces, and don't want to end up recutting half of them to match the length. (I will have the cut length done from the local mill I buy the metal from.)
Reply:With 1/2" square, you should be able to get away using the same length for all of em. Square bar doesnt shorten when you twist it.