Ironic

John, I'm frankly stunned that you can produce these designs using just the tools that you list. Especially the elongated cage -I guess you must split the solid bar (twice) then twist and use some kind of spacers to get the twists even? and the multistrand twists - got me scratching my head there! Must be very time consuming.

Yep, straight single bar twists are very easy using our machine. Very easy to reproduce/repeat which is important for us (fences, window guards, gates etc)

You can check out our machine at EISENKRAFT - BIEGEMASCHINEN it is the MT2/2. It has basket (ie twisted cage) making attachments, which requires welding 4 x 6mm rods together prior to twisting, but I've not been able to use it successfully - the rods keep snapping at the ends - even when heated. I'm trying to get some advice from the manufacturers on this.

I'm going to try to arrange to come over for the course.

Sounds V interesting. I'm a Brit living in Abuja, Nigeria running a 'wrought iron' fabrication workshop using Eisenkraft manual iron bending machines. The twisting machine can produce straight even twists on cold material up to 16mm square rods or 40mm x 5mm bars. The design content of the course sounds great, also curious about the 'multiple bars, split bars & combinations of materials' to see if we can do them with our machine.

What's the procedure for booking a place on the course?

Peter.

Hi John,

I'm curious about the 'Various Twists' course 6&7th March. Do you have any more content details?

I've been trying to make ornamental baskets from 'wrought' iron (ie mild steel) using 6mm square rod cut into 4 even lengths then end welded.
I have an Eisenkraft MT hand operated twisting & basket making machine. Problem I have is that to get the required shape I seem to end up with excessive twisting at the ends of the basket which causes the rods to snap.

Any tips hugely appreciated.