Iron Bridge?

[DanL]

Hi Kids...I rarely post but read a good bit.

I may be able to acquire an old Iron(?) bridge. I am researching now to find out the age of the old one lane bridge that is being removed from a local road. I am reasonably familiar with wrought Iron and what it looks like. However, other than the grain and such in WI...what might be some "indicator" points to examine when I get the chance to look it over up close and personal in a couple of days. I want to determine if WI was used in the construction of this thing.

Thanks for any pointers,
DanL

[ThomasPowers]

From "Formulas for Profit", Bennett, copyright 1939, 4th printing

"To identify iron from steel"
"Mix 5 drops nitric acid with 10 drops H2O", (remember acid into water *NEVER* water into acid),"File a clean spot and place a drop on it.

If it is steel it will turn black immediatly. If it is wrought iron or malleable iron it will stay bright for a considerable length of time."

Use at your own risk!

Thomas

[Ed Thomas]

DanL: A few other tests... if you can get a piece small enough to bend, such as a minor strut, you can sometimes tell by bending. Iron has very little "memory" compared to even mild steel. If you can get a grinder to it, it sparks rather sparsely compared to steel. Very different pattern. If it has been exposed to the weather for a very long time, you can often see the grain. It weathers much more slowly than steel. It doesn't seem to have as much of that big flaking chunk rot like steel over water can get.

[DanL]

Thanks for the info. Turns out to be a more recent (1950's) built bridge which the Co. Engineer says the records show all steel construction. Oh well...you can't hit the ball without swinging the bat.

Thanks again,

DanL

[ApprenticeMan]

Can you still get the bridge?

[Ed Thomas]

DanL: Steel is better for forging anyway. Wrought iron is way over-wrated.

[DanL]

Apprenticeman...I suppose that I could still get the bridge but I turned it down. I only wanted it if it had WI in it. The metal would be nice to have but difficult at best to take advantage of. The deck is concrete. The piers/pillars are concrete. Only the superstructure is steel. Not much care will be given to it's removal. Without containing WI, I deemed it too much trouble for the effort.

Ed Thomas...Yes, but I have selfish reasons for wanting free WI. I happen to believe that steel is over-wrated.

Thanks all for the input.

DanL

[ThomasPowers]

I heard that even as late as the late 50's some bridges in places like Florida were spec'd for wrought iron for corrosion reasons.

My WI score was the tank of a water tower built in 1929, the frame was steel but the tank was WI.

Thomas

[ApprenticeMan]

NICE SCORE THOMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dan L, I ask because for the price you could sell the "old" steel for you could probably buy quite a bit of wrought iron.

[DanL]

Hi Apprenticeman....You are correct. However, I was depending on the contractor to haul it to my place. From my place the dissasembly, lifting and hauling is not practical and too expensive for scrap prices many miles away. The contractor will have to haul it off site somewhere. Easier for him to haul it to a scrap yard at this time but I don't think I could convince him to split the profits with me. HAHA! I am a scrapper but I recognize when it is no longer feasible or profitable to obtain the scrap.

DanL