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Wrought iron around the farm
- Thread starter Toxey
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2001
- Messages
- 5,705
Guess its been about a year ago since I got a bunch of wrought iron out of a barn foundation wall. Lots of it being being flat bar stock that I'm thinking could have been pieces of agricultural equipment. I was surprised it was.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2006
- Messages
- 3,953
Toxey, What part of Bama? I'm near Montgomery. Email or pm me if you'd like to meet up one day after I finish rebuilding my shop.
Will
Formerly known as Badbamaump
Will
Formerly known as Badbamaump
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2002
- Messages
- 934
If youhave any wrought iron compair the rust on it to that of normal modern steel and spring steel. I believe it had a distictive look about it but that may only be for the local stuff.
As a guide more a case of what is not. If the metal was used for a spring less chance it is wrought iron. If it is part of a cutting blade not wrought.
Botho of those types of itemes were not suited to the wrought iron I am aware of. Basically soft and full of impurities. If you have some and suspect it is wrought try sanding a portion and etch it. That should give you a clear indication. A lot of modern mild steel is refered to buy some people as wrought iron. That is modern railings and balistraids are twisted and froged some people refe to that process of working the steel as wrought Iron work. Howevr my understanding is true wrought iron is of an old manufacture system which tended to leave a fair bit of impurity in the metal and when etched you can see layers and impurity.
May be different your side of the world hope that helps at a short answer.
As a guide more a case of what is not. If the metal was used for a spring less chance it is wrought iron. If it is part of a cutting blade not wrought.
Botho of those types of itemes were not suited to the wrought iron I am aware of. Basically soft and full of impurities. If you have some and suspect it is wrought try sanding a portion and etch it. That should give you a clear indication. A lot of modern mild steel is refered to buy some people as wrought iron. That is modern railings and balistraids are twisted and froged some people refe to that process of working the steel as wrought Iron work. Howevr my understanding is true wrought iron is of an old manufacture system which tended to leave a fair bit of impurity in the metal and when etched you can see layers and impurity.
May be different your side of the world hope that helps at a short answer.
Thank you for all your post in helping me guys.
From what I am gathering,wrought iron has a different rust pattern than non-wrought.Seeing Jt knives picture on another thread(thx JT),it looks as if wrought does not get that flakey rust you see in common steel.But I understand that it does not prove one way or another what kind you metal it is.
I am wondering if cast iron develops the same kind of rust as wrought.But cast iron SHOULD show some casting seams,am I right?
I know that the only real way to find out what is what,is by cutting half way through and bend to show the fibrous insides.
I think ,when I go up there,I will take a small file ,sandpaper,and a little ferric and try etching as Ellery suggested.And probably bring back a few small samples and do the cut and bend test as JT did.
I might ad that JT took some great pictures showing his test,great job!
Will Leavitt,My grandfathers farm is 45 miles south of Montgomery in Greenville.
I live in south Alabama near the gulf coast.I try to get up that way at least 3 to 4 times a year.
I will shoot you a nemail and maybe after the first of the year we could meet up
Thx for all of your help guys.
From what I am gathering,wrought iron has a different rust pattern than non-wrought.Seeing Jt knives picture on another thread(thx JT),it looks as if wrought does not get that flakey rust you see in common steel.But I understand that it does not prove one way or another what kind you metal it is.
I am wondering if cast iron develops the same kind of rust as wrought.But cast iron SHOULD show some casting seams,am I right?
I know that the only real way to find out what is what,is by cutting half way through and bend to show the fibrous insides.
I think ,when I go up there,I will take a small file ,sandpaper,and a little ferric and try etching as Ellery suggested.And probably bring back a few small samples and do the cut and bend test as JT did.
I might ad that JT took some great pictures showing his test,great job!
Will Leavitt,My grandfathers farm is 45 miles south of Montgomery in Greenville.
I live in south Alabama near the gulf coast.I try to get up that way at least 3 to 4 times a year.
I will shoot you a nemail and maybe after the first of the year we could meet up
Thx for all of your help guys.
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2002
- Messages
- 2,959
I think you're pretty much right, but thought I'd mention something interesting I found. My dad once brought me an old draw knife that came in a box of junk he got at an estate auction. I decided to clean it up and use it, and discovered most of it was actually wrought iron, with a steel cutting edge welded on. So, ya never know.
Actually, bring a couple different files of different tooth size. The layers are often obvious to see after filing, without need for etchant.