wrought Iron question

[TxMoon]

I have a place to get all kinds of metal from old plows to you name it.
But I have had a hard time trying to find wrought Iron.
I was told old wagon wheels but is there anything else around the farm I can find it? I found an old implement wheel and cut a spoke off but it just does not look the same.
I forged it square and etch it. I guess my question is how are you treating it?

 

[wassomeoneelse]

I have a pretty good time finding wrought over here in LA and MS. I was able to find about 20 wagon rims for $3.00 each and so far, 80% of them are wrought iron. I have went onto (with owners permission) old farms and found wrought iron in the form of big nails holding timbers together, bars that were set in gravel to serve as a foundation for a wall (i guess instead of concrete), most of your old parts on wagons, including any metal that makes up the yoke, etc. Old, old fireplaces might have wrought iron in them. Look at the hearth, or where the fire would burn.... they use to put sheets of iron over it to hold up the brick. Just be careful getting them out. I have had friends bring me pieces of "old" metal". Put the word out, you will be amazed what turns up. I am sure there are more ways of finding wrought, I just scavage the heck out of old places.
I have seen old buildings getting torn down, but everytime I think about stopping, something comes up. I am sure there are old pieces that the demolition crew would give away.
If you need a piece or two, let me know. I can send you a few. Lord knows, I have more than I will ever use. But that doesnt stop me from looking to see what comes up.
Take care,
Bryan

 

[JTknives]

I have a place to get all kinds of metal from old plows to you name it.
But I have had a hard time trying to find wrought Iron.
I was told old wagon wheels but is there anything else around the farm I can find it? I found an old implement wheel and cut a spoke off but it just does not look the same.
I forged it square and etch it. I guess my question is how are you treating it?

this is my colection of wrought iron, its was common to use it for things that did not need to be hardened and that required forging as it forges very nicley.

What i do is cut half way through it with a hack saw the bent it over like this

the keep bending it and then you can tell if its wrought if it looks like a bunch of fiber like this. if its not wrought it will not be stringy but have a crystal grain to it.

 

[mete]

There was a water main break recently in NYC.The pipe was installed in 1870 !! I had a hard time on an engineering website convincing people that some of this stuff was wrought iron, up to 24" diameter ! Some of the larger pipe was welded [forge welded I assume] and pressure tested .
Sam once posted a video of large anchor and anchor chain made of wrought iron filmed 100 years ago.
So wrought iron was a much used material from wagon wheels to iron beams.

 

[TxMoon]

Thanks for the help and ideas on were to find it. How do you treat it? forge it to shape then etch ?

 

[M.Griffin]

I clean it up to a high polish, clean completely, then etch. I use ferric chloride. The etch can be quick, or multiple longer etches if you want it to be deep.

-Mike