Basket Twist Question

[Bluesman]

I would like to do a couple basket twists for a project because I like that look and think it would be a nice addition to the project. I have found LOTS of useful information on the web using google and feel I can accomplish this without spending a fortune buying "specialized" tools to do it with, however, all the information I've found was pertaining to twisting flat stock. I can do it out of bar stock but would rather have it made out of round stock. My question is whether or not it is possible to make a basket twist using round stock and if anyone has ever attempted this?

I'm going to make an attempt at this between now and lunch and will let ya'll know how it goes provided someone doesn't give me a "NOT POSSIBLE" answer between now and then. Otherwise it will be "experiment" time in Mr. C's Ag and Natural Resources class today.

I got to thinking about this after helping several of my students make DNA models out of round stock the other day for their Biology class. Took a couple of old/beat up 3/16 7018's that had the flux knocked off and tried to twist them individually and then match them up and weld the cross pieces. The twisted rod looked neat but couldn't figure out how to make em match up right. So,we took two straight ones and laid them parallel, then took another one and cut it in small pieces and spaced them evenly. Then tacked them to the two parallel legs and once the welds cooled we put one end in the vice and put a clamp on the other and started giving it a twist. They looked great! Biology teacher told my kids she wanted to keep theirs forever to use as examples and that had em stoked! Kids then took the fuzzy pipe cleaners and used them for the "color" so they could mark out the different components of the DNA model. I will post a pic soon of one finished.

[Bluesman]

Ok, I answered my own question after a some experimentation. Still want to try a few more things like adding some heat to each end and getting a tighter twist then quenching the ends and seeing if I can open up the middle more than the ends and see if the ends will still be tighter twisted... Anyway, here is the results from the first try. Let me know what ya'll think. I know it ain't pretty but it is the FIRST time I ever tried.

[Gadget]

Looks like a good start.

[Bluesman]

I thought so... I was proud of myself until I brought it home to show my wife what I had done... That woman just took the wind out of my sails when she said, "What you doing with a paint roller thing?" I told her I made it and she asked for what... Told her it was gonna go on my new grill project and she just rolled her eyes and said, "GREAT JUST WHAT WE NEED, ANOTHER WELDING PROJECT AND ANOTHER GRILL IN THE YARD!!!"

Dang women... They just don't understand.

[INSANITY]

Hmm, So then is this project a GO or a NO?

[Bluesman]

Hmm, So then is this project a GO or a NO?

Oh, its a DEFINITE GO... She has eye rolling rights but I still wear the pants in this relationship... And I can say that because she just walked out the room.

[arandall]

Ah yes - the old stink-eye??

[Bluesman]

Ah yes - the old stink-eye??

Yep. But mine's bigger. :P

Been working on it (grill project) today. Didn't get around to playing with basket twist anymore today because I'm trying to get the hinges cut out and ready so that when the flat bar gets here (that I've been waiting on all day) I can seal off the top of the door and get the hinges lined up and mounted so I can finish cutting out the door because I made one tiny slip with the plasma yesterday and there is a small gouge in the top of the door seam and I'm trying to keep myself from patching it. OCD is killing me cause I see it and want to fix it but I know better than to try to fix it BEFORE I get the door open... That could be a mess.

[KHK]

I have twisted some round stock but I used my metal lathe for the twisting..

[Bluesman]

I have twisted some round stock but I used my metal lathe for the twisting..

I wish I had a metal lathe. I just used a vice and a pipe wrench. LOL