Can one twist flat metal by hand?

[Sinner4]

With lots of love. That's going to be hard one, big tools, torch to get it red hot and bend and twist. Might be easier to take it to a blacksmith.

 

[C.S.]

Put one end in a vise, tighten an adjustable spanner on the other end and start twisting, slowly.
Well, not the full 6', it will go sideways, 2' would do it, would give you about one full twist.
You'll probably mess up the first piece, you have to invent some tricks on the way. If you lived near me I could show you, but....
If the material is of even quality, no weak or hard spots, doing this cold is more reliable than when heated.
The end product will be a bit stiff compared to the flat strip.

 

[timeless]

if you slide a pipe thats just a bit larger then your flat stock you will not get the flat stock all bent up it will be straight

 

[sensor]

doing this cold is more reliable than when heated.
The end product will be a bit stiff compared to the flat strip.

one thing id warn you about doing it cold is if its anything that has to support something/someone(as in structural not just for looks) you need to be aware that the steel will be work hardened and more prone to crack/fail under use. get a piece of steel and just bend it back and forth for a while...itll crack. metal fatigues from work hardening and can fail.
just something to think about....