window weight hachet

[blacksmithwithquestions]

Would a window weight make for a good hachet?

[ThomasPowers]

If your window weight is made from cast iron: *NO*!

If your window weight is made from wrought iron: Maybe---it would probably require refining and the forge welding a piece of high carbon steel in for the edge.

If your window weight is made from steel: same as for wrought iron only not needing the refining step.

So what is your window weight made from? Most are crude cast iron.

(now there is a method to puddle cast iron and make wrought iron from it; but the end product will probably take a year or more experimentation and may cost thousands of dollars.  The Bessemer/Kelly process could turn it into mild steel; but it's hideously dangerous! so NO! is the best answer really.)

[Daswulf]

As far as I have ever seen they are cast iron and so not forging material. Have you done a spark test to see what it might be? 

[Jim Coke]

Greetings BSWQ,

Just drill a hole in it and observe the metal . Crumbly partials , cast , nice Curley parts , steel . 

Forge on and make beautiful things

Jim

[ThomasPowers]

And wrought iron? I have seen more wrought iron sash weights than steel ones. (wrought iron may be intermediate but won't have all the carbon of cast iron so the swarf won't have the black look. High grade wrought iron may be hard to tell from steel by looking at the swarf)

[blacksmithwithquestions]

ok thanks