Twisting Stainless Hook

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I need to re-shape these Stainless steel S hooks (see link below) from a pot rack.  I want to twist it 90 degrees in the middle.  Can I just stick it in a vice and twist it big freakin' channel locks?  Do I heat it with a torch first?  If so, will it discolor?http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeAMmrZu1aNmzmQ
Reply:heating it would make it easier to bend, it will discolor but a scotchbrite wheel can fix it.   I have put sq. barstock in a vice and then heated and twisted it so it spirals in the middleStangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:That itty bitty stuff- why you can twist that cold in the vise no problem. The bigger the crescent wrench, the easier its gonna be- I use a 24" crescent wrench for stuff like this. Hot would be a lot easier to twist, in fact you could go around a few times, and put a nice little decorative twist in- heat it with a torch, twist, wire brush while its still hot with a new stainless steel toothbrush, then scotchbrite on a 4 1/2" grinder- it will clean up nicely, especially for indoor use. For outdoors, you would want to pickle it with acid, as it might rust eventually otherwise.
Reply:I'll try it cold first, and see how that goes.  Do regular hardware stores carry stainless steel toothbrushes?  I've seen brass ones but not stainless.  I've never heated metal to bend it.  Do I hold the torch a certain distance away? Do I heat it until is is red hot?
Reply:Willy- go make friends with the guys at your closest welding supply store. Skip the hardware store. If you weld, you need real tools, parts, filler rods, gases, all the stuff they stock. Any welding supply store will have 2 or 3 sizes of wire brushes in mild steel and in stainless. Always use stainless brushes on stainless steel- the mild stuff will contaminate your stainless, and then it wont be stainless anymore, at least on the surface where the mild steel is sitting.Stainless steel is hard stuff- it likes to be nice and hot before bending- yellow is good. You need a real oxy-acetylene torch, not a little mapp gas plumbers model. You want to play the flame back and forth on the metal, to heat it evenly, rather than burn it in one spot. (yes, even stainless steel burns)Practice- those little hooks cant cost that much.