[triw]

I did the same thing and I took a piece of 2" x 1/4" stock and drilled holes 9/32" holes in the center of the stock. The holes formed a triangle and used this to twist with while the stock was in the forge. The front of the stock was in a vice and I kept moving the twisted stock out into the vice. I also kept the loose ends in a piece of 10' pipe to keep the ends in line for easier handling.
I did this twice so I had two pieces about 19 feet long whick I welded togeather to form a 38' rope. I then formed this into a 4' high lasso with a copper hondo and then curled the remainder going back for a saddle rack. The friend who wanted it won the saddle in a calf roping event.