Picket Twister

[KFCHambone]

Im trying to make a picket twister. I'm basically set on my idea of a gear reducer and a electric motor. My question is, does anyone know what kinda of torque it would take to twist .5 square stock? I'd be twisting lengths of 6 feet. I seen one on ebay for about 100 bucks and in has an output torque of 700 foot lbs. Any torque specs would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Gregory

[aametalmaster]

I built a human powered one. Its on my second floor and i can twist 16' pcs with ease. I just walk around the twister like a horse tied to a circus ride. Mine has a 3' handle and i use about 30" of it. It doesn't take much effort its more of tiring dizzy motion walking in a small circle because you have to keep pressure on the barstock until done. Someday i may add my 60:1 gearbox/motor to it if i did more with it but i can twist 10 or 15 parts 15" long in about 15 minutes...Bob

[GARAGEGADGETS]

Picket Twister

I made one using a old pipe threading machine. It is set on a bench I made with a adjustable tail stock,so I can make different lenght pickets. It will twist 1/2 to 3/4 solid square stock like butter. It takes less than 30 seconds to twist a 40" picket. Turn it on and count rotations.

[fun4now]

do a search, some one showed off theirs a wile back. great piece of work..

[ctrhenry]

watch ebay and craigslist for pipethreaders.

the old oster machines show up quite often.

[ctrhenry]

somewhere on the interwebs i saw a scroll bender plate adapted to a pipe threader. i cant seem to find it now

[monte55]

Im trying to make a picket twister. I'm basically set on my idea of a gear reducer and a electric motor. My question is, does anyone know what kinda of torque it would take to twist .5 square stock? I'd be twisting lengths of 6 feet. I seen one on ebay for about 100 bucks and in has an output torque of 700 foot lbs. Any torque specs would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Gregory

I know you ask for torque specs which I can't help. A unit that puts out 700 ft lbs must have a v-8 engine on it. I made a twister some years back that may help you. If you click on my youtube link below...you'll find a video of my electric picket twister and other stuff.

[chasew27]

If you have a tractor, you can make an adapter for the pto, and put the stock in a vice on the other end.

[Zebu Fellenz]

If you have a tractor, you can make an adapter for the pto, and put the stock in a vice on the other end.

I would NOT do that unless you really gear down the PTO, barstock spinning at 540 or 1000 RPM would be *dangerous*

[aametalmaster]

somewhere on the interwebs i saw a scroll bender plate adapted to a pipe threader. i cant seem to find it now

My powered scroller with a 60:1 gearbox...Bob

[aametalmaster]

Another gearbox/motor pic. I use this setup on 3 different machines so its portable. Its all bolted to a 3" angle so i just adapt the angle to my next project and line it up...Bob

[ctrhenry]

nice set up

more pictures

[aametalmaster]

Here is the gearbox set up on my slip rolls with the guard removed for picture taking...Bob

[Amos F.]

I would NOT do that unless you really gear down the PTO, barstock spinning at 540 or 1000 RPM would be *dangerous*

The tractor PTOs only turn their rated rpm (540 or 1000) when the engine is at its rated rpm (usually almost full throttle). I have one tractor that at idle only turns 148 rpm. Can be very useful for those slow turning machines.

[Jim-TX]

I have a very simple picket twister that does 1/2" and 3/8" square bar. No pics, but let me try to explain it. I took a length of 1" .120 square tubing and welded a piece of 1" pipe to the side near the "top" end. I went to the pawn shop and found old sockets are will just fit inside the pipe. One is a 3/8" and the other is a 1/2" drive. On those I welded "T" handles. My 3/8" is about 24" long and the handle for the 1/2" is about 40" long. Now, on the other end I just made a receiver that the square stock will drop into. One side is for 1/2" and the other holds 3/8". The receiver slides on the 1" tubing. I can twist up to about 4 ft stuff, but a longer piece of 1" tubing would extend that if I needed it. I put an ear on the side of the 1" tubing so that I can secure this thing in my vise. It's very simple to use and I've twisted a lot of square bar with it. I'll get pics if anybody is that interested.