Laynne Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 What I can tell you is that it's a bolt from an old wooden box car, circa 1920. I had at orange heat to cut on the hardy. I hit it once turned it a quarter turn, hit it again, quarter turn hit it again and it sheared off. I flattened and punched one end fine but when I went to drift it split out. So I tried drawing one end and it frayed. Dull orange sparks on the grinder. Heated and quenched it and it bent over the anvil, no cracks. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 wrought iron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laynne Posted August 4, 2019 Author Share Posted August 4, 2019 Thank you Steve. I guess I had better educate myself on working wrought iron then. I have several of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 You work wrought iron very hot, way above orange, think welding heat for mild steel high yellow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laynne Posted August 4, 2019 Author Share Posted August 4, 2019 Thanks. I was reading through some posts on wrought iron and that is what I was gathering. I think it was Thomas Powers referenced Practical Blacksmithing so I am going to get my copy of it out and study up on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 As others stated, wrought iron, and needs worked at much higher temps throughout forging. To add, once it starts cooling heat it again and only work it in the higher temps till you get used to it. OR, sell it or trade it to smiths looking for it to purchase or get some regular mild steel for simpler projects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I believe Practical Blacksmithing is available online as a pdf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donal Harris Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 Would make nice handles for copper coffee spoons and such, or so I have been thinking about a few odd bits I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 Mr. Dragon, et al., Try this site for Practical Blacksmithing volume one, bamsite.org/books/practical_blacksmithing_1.pdf , The other three volumes are there too. Bamsite.org is the website of the Blacksmiths association of Missouri. A good group. They, also, have a lot of other tiles for download. Hope that helps, SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I have all three volumes saved on my computer, along with the other books BAM offers. Great resource for information it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 My local library has a pretty good selection of blacksmithing books. The book referenced above Lorelei Sims, Bealer, Andrews, but sadly no titles by Mr. Weygers. I've looked through the Bamsite library but I still enjoy the feel of a real book in my hands but It is a great resource even if I can't hold it. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 17 hours ago, Laynne said: it frayed. You can weld that fraying back together with enough heat. I found that out while drawing out the reigns of a pair of nail clippers that I remade into a pair of box tongs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laynne Posted August 5, 2019 Author Share Posted August 5, 2019 That was going to be my next attempt. Then I will probably get it all together and put away for a rainy day. There were two of the box cars I had to demolish because of the insurance company. I cringe now at all that went to the scrap yard. Long before I became interested in Blacksmithing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 Yup; I've pulled a lot of 1/2" WI rod from an ex-box car now a pile of rotten wood and rattlesnakes in the desert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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