This is the first I'm hearing about this method to help out with twist damascus (but I'm not a big damascus fan, so I suppose it's more I haven't been looking).

Makes good sense. Looking forward to seeing what damascus makers use and their opinions on this thread.

For many years I've been using a pipe threader I got on Craigslist.

I got lucky - it's 220V. Nobody wanted it because most times these are used by plumbers running black pipe for gas in new home construction. And most of the time, temporary power service is only 110V.

I got it for 2 hundred bucks. In 110V it would have been about a grand. Maybe more.

It's awesome for twisting large billets and doesn't know the word "quit".

When I'm twisting smaller stock for multi-bar knives I use a 1/2" drill.

[media] http://www.youtube.c...h?v=p_ZF9ySw2tE [/media]

I looked into getting a pipe threader, but as Karl said, they are pretty spendy and space in my shop is limited. For smaller bar (up to 1/2 inch square) I use a hand held impact driver: https://youtu.be/2W2uUlN2knY

I use a Rigid 110V and like Karl said you cant slow it down. My dad was a plumber so he already had it from 30 yrs ago. I have no clue what it would cost to replace. We rigged up a pipe vise to the sides of the machine so it sucks in while twisting. Couldn't be happier with the performance.

|quoted:

For many years I've been using a pipe threader I got on Craigslist.

I got lucky - it's 220V. Nobody wanted it because most times these are used by plumbers running black pipe for gas in new home construction. And most of the time, temporary power service is only 110V.

I got it for 2 hundred bucks. In 110V it would have been about a grand. Maybe more.

It's awesome for twisting large billets and doesn't know the word "quit".

When I'm twisting smaller stock for multi-bar knives I use a 1/2" drill.

[media] http://www.youtube.c...h?v=p_ZF9ySw2tE [/media]

Thank you for your reply. Now that you've had Mr. Twister for awhile, would you have chosen a different pipe threader or done anything differently?

|quoted:

I use a Rigid 110V and like Karl said you cant slow it down. My dad was a plumber so he already had it from 30 yrs ago. I have no clue what it would cost to replace. We rigged up a pipe vise to the sides of the machine so it sucks in while twisting. Couldn't be happier with the performance.

Thank you for your reply. Would you mind sharing the model of the Rigid? Also I know very little about pipe threaders. Would you mind sharing more detail on the set up with the pipe vise? I understand what you are describing, though I have no idea how that would be set up or work. (I'm very much a visual/experiencing learner)

I've been using a Rigid 400. It's the oldest model. I wired mine with a foot switch for on/off..... but forward/reverse is still controlled by a switch on the machine. The 400 machines are strange to wire... they were wired several different ways, with different switches and relays over the years they were made. The 400A and newer have a hand wheel in place of using a square drive..... and they don't work nearly as well as the 400....

[media] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YPU1EeU_98 [/media]

|quoted:

I've been using a Rigid 400. It's the oldest model. I wired mine with a foot switch for on/off..... but forward/reverse is still controlled by a switch on the machine. The 400 machines are strange to wire... they were wired several different ways, with different switches and relays over the years they were made. The 400A and newer have a hand wheel in place of using a square drive..... and they don't work nearly as well as the 400....

[media] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YPU1EeU_98 [/media]

Thank you for replying. I'm looking at a used Rigid 535 as a possibility