DocsMachine Posted December 10, 2007 Posted December 10, 2007 Local fellow has an old (and very large) boat anchor, we figure roughly 2,500lb including the chain. It has about ten or twelve feet of badly rusted chain (much of it is rusted and scaled to about 2/3rds of it's original thickness) of loops some six or eight inches on the long axis with the old style spreader bar in the center. Is there a "nondestructive" way I can determine if these are wrought iron? I might be able to buy a couple rings off the owner (it's all sitting in his yard as a decoration) but I can't "cut first, pay later". Doc. Quote
Hillbillysmith Posted December 10, 2007 Posted December 10, 2007 I believe that there is a chemical test that you can do that will determine what it is. But you may need a "normal" material sample. you may need to knock off some of the rust. But don't quote me on this. Quote
ThomasPowers Posted December 10, 2007 Posted December 10, 2007 You ought to be able to see the wrought pattern in the rust. As for a chemical test: 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! Quote
Blacksmith Jim Posted December 10, 2007 Posted December 10, 2007 Is that formula testing for carbon content or something? I have an old chain link I am pretty sure is wrought. I can see clear grain patterns in the rust, and under the paint. I'd be curious to try it. Quote
ThomasPowers Posted December 10, 2007 Posted December 10, 2007 That chemical test is for telling the difference between Wrought Iron and Bessemer/OH/BOF/... steel. Quote
DocsMachine Posted December 11, 2007 Author Posted December 11, 2007 I can see clear grain patterns in the rust[...] -Good point. I recall seeing a sort of ''tree bark" pattern to the rust (long, thin flakes running parallel to the body) but didn't pay it any attention at the time. Doc. Quote
Mike Turner Posted December 12, 2007 Posted December 12, 2007 This is what wrought chain looks like Quote
Blacksmith Jim Posted December 12, 2007 Posted December 12, 2007 Yeah, thats what mine looks like, except it doesn't have the middle piece. Boy I wish I had more of it. I found a link at the scrap yard once.. Mine is probably an inch and a half in diameter.. Quote
bruce wilcock Posted December 18, 2007 Posted December 18, 2007 the studs are usualy cast iron and knock out with a hammer easily, its not a good idea to get them redhot and then shove them under a hammer. Quote
HojPoj Posted June 13, 2019 Posted June 13, 2019 Rather than creating a duplicate, I'm going to do a little thread necromancy here. Was visiting the scrapyard yesterday and there's this giant pile of anchor chains, and that I spotted there's at least three different types. Do any of these look to be worth going back to investigate further for possible wrought? I couldn't see any rusting that showed obvious grain/striation, appeared to be more pitting than anything else. Is there anything else I should look for in terms of how the chain is made that would be unique to a Wrought Iron process? For example, from what I've found online, process-wise this cut link is more than likely steel (inserted and welded spreader): I should note that unless I want to pay for the yard to do the gas cutting of these, getting a sample would be limited to whatever could be done with a hacksaw or battery-operated powertool. I think the smallest cross section was close to 2 inches in diameter. Quote
MrTMichaud Posted June 13, 2019 Posted June 13, 2019 I'm not thinking that any of those 3 are WI. Quote
ThomasPowers Posted June 13, 2019 Posted June 13, 2019 I would get a battery powered angle grinder and do a spark test. Quote
Latticino Posted July 2, 2019 Posted July 2, 2019 The only group that looks like any of the wrought chain that I've seen is the second one (single picture where the crossbars look like the same diameter as the links). I have heard that the crossbars are sometimes different material as well, so if you are going to spark test, do both. For example, here is a photo of an anchor I came across while on a recent vacation on Cape Cod. Both the anchor and chain were clearly wrought iron, as can be seen from the wear pattern. However, the crossbar, the one that remains, didn't show the same wear and may have been cast... Quote
Ron H Posted September 29, 2024 Posted September 29, 2024 On 12/12/2007 at 5:06 PM, Blacksmith Jim said: Yeah, thats what mine looks like, except it doesn't have the middle piece. Boy I wish I had more of it. I found a link at the scrap yard once.. Mine is probably an inch and a half in diameter.. I just found 25’ of the same chain buried under sand along the Kennebec River in Fairfield. It’s definitely wrought iron, looks like wood grain. I’m willing to cut links or sell the whole thing . My email address is [email protected] Quote
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