Baskets or cages.
Baskets or cages as they are sometimes called are a component part that are mass produce. Either pre welded in a bar or as a ready to weld in a bar item. The issue with the pre made bars is the baskets are often welded in the centre of a 1000mm long bar. This is not always an ideal size as 1100mm is need for a classic Juliet balcony frame. Of course not ideal for a small wall railing, where you might only need it 400mm long. There are also times when you don’t want the cage centred in the bar and might need it more to one end. Buying the component basket and making the bar yourself is the best solution. As this gives ultimate flexibility, certainly in terms of where you position the basket.
Associated pages
The individual basket as a bought in part, ready to weld into a bar. This one is designed to be used with a 12mm square bar. Each filament is 6mm square. When they are made, 4 x 6mm bars are place in a tool, effectively pushed together and twisted. Then a heavy tack weld is applied to both ends to stop them falling apart.
They come in other sizes including those design for a 16mm square and a 20mm square bar.
Here a Basket welded into a bar and ground smooth, painted red for the purpose of illustration. Multiple baskets can be welded into a bar. As well as adding twist to the bar prior to welding to create a decorative bar with multiple features in the one bar.
The art of course is to weld them straight and spend enough time grinding the welds back so it looks like a one piece construction.
Baskets in use
A few examples of baskets in use
Baskets are often used in conjunction with twists.