August 14, 201213 yr I came across a pair of old horse-drawn logging sled runners, or skis I guess. They are about 3.5" wide, maybe an inch thick, and around 6' long. Quite heavy. Wondering what uses I could put them to. I'm assuming cast iron....
August 14, 201213 yr Haven't you taken a close look? It shouldn't be all that difficult to tell if they're cast, mild or WI just by looking at the corrosion pattern. Frankly I'd be surprised if something as brittle as cast iron were used for sledge runners, even backed by timbers there's a lot of flex involved in a normal day's work. If they're mild steel they'd be good stock for whatever project needs the dimensions available. If WI forged architectural or decorative products are a given. Cast. . . ? Frosty The Lucky.
August 14, 201213 yr I would doubt that they would be cast iron as they would break if flexed or hit a rock. Much more likely wrought iron. Can you saw partially through and break off a corner? CI breaks easily WI will give you a green stick fracture. Unfortunately CI and WI can be confused in the easier grinder test.
August 14, 201213 yr Author Well, now you have me really curious.... I didn't think I would be lucky enough to find WI chunks this large, and assumed CI. I'll cut some open later tonight and report back.
August 14, 201213 yr Well, now you have me really curious.... I didn't think I would be lucky enough to find WI chunks this large, and assumed CI. I'll cut some open later tonight and report back. I'm hoping you are lucky Phil
August 15, 201213 yr Bummer! That sure looks like CI. Probably time to break it up for the cupola melter. Or leave it where it lays. Frosty The Lucky.
August 15, 201213 yr Building a power hammer anytime soon? Use them to add mass to the lower portion of the anvil. Lathe bed? Otherwise I don't know. They are useable for making light duty swages if you wanted to, say leaf veins and stuff of the like, but I don't think you will use six feet (or twelve feet if you have two of these!) Getting scrap rate might be best, especially if you have a yard that will trade. Phil
August 15, 201213 yr How about using them for a logging sled runners? (Trade them to someone for that purpose perhaps?)
August 15, 201213 yr found object sculpture, weighing down the edges of a tarp, Row boat anchors, or weight to swap out at the scrap yard you weigh in and out who would know if a few chunks fell into the truck.
August 16, 201213 yr Frankly I'd be surprised if something as brittle as cast iron were used for sledge runners, even backed by timbers there's a lot of flex involved in a normal day's work Frosty The Lucky. I remembered hearing this years ago. Maybe from that old movie about Bens Mill? Not sure. Anyway for what it's worth.... http://www.kountrylife.com/cgi-bin/topic.cgi?bd=forum&th=39494 Posted 12-03-2002 at 20:21:07 [Reply] [No Email] Thats the same type of sleigh, DC, only alot smaller. the farm type had two inch wide runners,the size shown probably had three or four inch wide and was used strictly for logging as you say....to keep the runners from freezing down, the sleigh was pulled up on poles layed crosswise. One other secret was to use cast iron runners instead of steel...only problem was the cast would not stand up to the abuse like steel would. Still another method used to "break" the sleighs loose, was with another horse hooked up to a snatch block system hooked to a "dead man", [large timber dug into the ground in the summer and frozen in in
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