Stephen Fitz-Gerald
So Will,what are you using for a motor or transmission.Looks cool.I'd like to make one but haven't found the right motor and gear ratio...

Stephen,

I use an old pipe threader for twisting. Plenty of power to do 3/4" cold, but no way to index it perfectly as it coasts down a bit after you shut it off. I should make a brake for it. It turns about 50-60 rpm, which is a bit fast, but workable.

Stephen Fitz-Gerald
I'd heard a pipe threader could be used for this but doubted it was strong enough.Good to see that info was accurate.My application would be for square tubing (1,1/2") but I'd be applying heat,not looking for a uniform twist but more of an organic appearance ,like plant material.I've been using a big windlass with 3' arms but it wears me out and requires two people to affect the twists,and lots of torch work as well.Your machine would possible allow me to work alone...
Gotta find one of those old threaders...
Thanks Rich...

Stephen,

The threader I got is an old Rigid, with the die holder broken. Apparently this is not an uncommon occurrence and the replacement part is not cheap, so there are probably a lot of them out there. I'd call around to all the plumbing contractors and also hardware stores in the area. When they break in commercial service, they tend to be replaced immediately and the old broken shoved in a corner somewhere to gather dust for decades.

Another way to get a low=rpm drive is to scrounge the transmission and drive from a trashed ATV or big-bore motorcycle. An old shaft-drive Honda would probably work fine and you just need a salvaged electric motor to couple to it and I think you'd be in the right ball park. Or an old truck transmission with compound low gear would get you there as well - I know a guy who built a twister based on one of those. His is powered by a 5hp motor and chain drive and by the time it is geared down to twisting speed it will cold twist 1" square bar and hot twist up to 4" tube with no sweat.