Twisting

Twisting Tools and Twists
One way to make a decorative accent is to twist the metal. Basically, you heat the section of metal to be twisted, clamp one end in a vise, grab the other end with a twisting wrench, and twist. Direction is your discretion, except where the twist has to be made in both directions and then any decision is removed from consideration.
Some twists can also be done cold, but what fun is that.
One excellent source of information is the Old Dominion Blacksmith Association's article on twisting: The Twist Class

Manual Twisting Machine

Automatic Twisting Machine
Types of Twists
There are a multitude of different twists and new ones being developed occasionally. Some of the more common are:
- plain (just heat and twist)
- veined (groves down each side and twist)
- rope (really just veined with the corners chamfered and a mild cross-hatching added for appropriate texture)
- diamond/pineapple
- basket
- braid
- alligator
- stair step/rubik cube

Stages of a Pineapple Twist

Stages of a Basket Twist

Braid Twist

Rope Twist

Twisted Rope Twist also called Corn-on-the-Cob Twist

Stages of a stair twist (and reward in the upper right)

Completed stair twist
More twists from the net (reddit.com)
![]() Barley Sugar Twist |
![]() Incised square twist |
![]() Here is a tough one. Most blacksmiths are fooled by it but the general public doesn't see the trick at all. (Easy actually. It's three pieces. One is ¼" by ½" and the other two, are 1/4" square. They were forge welded on each end, and then twisted tightly. |
![]() A simple but elegant twist, round and square |
![]() Rope twist |
![]() This one is heated, flattened where the twist is to be made, and then twisted a half turn. Simple, I think. |
![]() 3/8 bar Swaged in a 3/16 tenon swage on diamond and then twisted |
![]() pineapple twist |
![]() A wave. Bend bar in half, taper bent end, unbend |
![]() Alligator twist on knife handle |
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![]() Another alligator twist handle, this one places more emphasis on the texture. I really like that. |
![]() Another alligator twist handle, this one rounded more deemphasizing the texture |
How to Make a Pineapple Twist
found at Diary of a Wandering Hen
http://wanderinghen.wordpress.com/category/ren-faire-shenanigans/blacksmithing-ren-faire-shenanigans/

Fig. A - Fig. E, from left to right.
Steps in making a pineapple twist:
- Mark a deep groove down the center of a piece of heated square stock. Make this mark on all four sides of the stock. (Fig. A)
- Place in vice and make a 3/4 twist. (Fig. B)
- Square all four sides on the anvil. (Fig. C)
- Punch another groove down the center of each four sides, as in step 1. (Fig. D)
- Untwist in vice 1/4 twist. Watch the twist to see if it looks right. True up on anvil with a wooden mallet. You now have a completed pineapple twist. (Fig. E)
Thorn Twist
Reprinted from the newsletter of the Mid-Atlantic Smiths, September 1985.
![]() Do it the same way but without the chisel work and you end up with a thorn twist. They make good handles. |
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Double Reversed Twisting Jig
Source: ABANA/Ron Reil's Page: http://www.abana.org/ronreil/Forge1.shtml


Another idea posted in Metal Arts Forum
Twisted Tool Handles
Some of the neatest tool handles have twists built into them.
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Gee Mom, look what else I've found!
- Music to Twist By
- How to Forge a Twist
- Twisted Iron Blog
- Blacksmith making a twist
- Forging diamond twist #1
- Forging diamond twist #2
- Another good article on making a pineapple twist.
- Making a Pineapple Twist Handle
- U-Turn Twist
- Braided Steel Handle
- Random Cut Twist
- 4 Bar Basket Twist Tool
- Forging a Basket Twist the Traditional Way
- Custom Wrought Iron Twist Bar and Onions
- Forged Cage Twist Handle
- Cube / Rubik twist
- Twists Anyone?
- http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/22769-show-me-your-twist/
- Chop Saw twist
- Rubik's Twist
- How to forge a barley twist!
- pineapple,cube,groove/double and crocodile skin twist with rail spikes
- Alligator Twist knife
- Blacksmithing - forging a one-piece, fixed blade knife - with "gator skin" twist and pommel - part 1
- Blacksmithing - forging a one-piece, fixed blade knife - with "gator skin" twist and pommel - part 2 (final)
- Alligator Twist/Forging/Railroad spike knife
- Forging an "Alligator Skin" Railroad Spike Knife - Blacksmith process by CineScape Studios
- How a blacksmith twists/wraps angle iron for a unique appearance
- Blacksmith Wrapping Tool - different way to handle punches
Alligator Twist
Twisted Tool Handles
Wisdom of my father: "It takes more of a man to walk away from a fight than to stay and fight." |
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