Mystery metal

[ede]

I’m in the process of making a stock rack and came across some 10’ bars that I can’t identify.  Does this look like old paint?  I think I’m gonna recycle them instead of risk heating them up as I have a ton of new stock 3/8” and 1/2”.

 

 

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

It doesn't look like galvanized to me. Were you thinking of using it for forging stock or to build a stock rack from it? If for forging, I would cut a short piece off and put it in a vinegar soak to see if the finish that's left comes off. One can never have too much stockand a job that this can be used on may show up.

[ThomasPowers]

Also do a spark test or a notch and break test for wrought iron in case they are *OLD*.

[arkie]

ede, if you do a break or bend test, this is a comparison of wrought iron vs. mild steel.  The wrought iron should have a fibrous texture (fine to coarse, depending on the quality of the WI).  The mild steel should show a uniform microcrystalline structure.  This wrought iron came from the Old Globe grain warehouse in the Superior, Wisconsin area.

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

If it checks out to be wrought iron, you have a really great find. If it were me, I would be looking for more.

[ede]

1 hour ago, arkie said:

ede, if you do a break or bend test, this is a comparison of wrought iron vs. mild steel.  The wrought iron should have a fibrous texture (fine to coarse, depending on the quality of the WI).  The mild steel should show a uniform microcrystalline structure.  This wrought iron came from the Old Globe grain warehouse in the Superior, Wisconsin area.

 

Thanks for the photos, Arkie.  On the larger pieces when i cut it in half the other day with a diamond blade chop saw, I did see carbon sparks-I was also thinking potentially wrought.  Maybe the smaller rods are, I will check them out.  

[ede]

4 hours ago, Irondragon ForgeClay Works said:

It doesn't look like galvanized to me. Were you thinking of using it for forging stock or to build a stock rack from it? If for forging, I would cut a short piece off and put it in a vinegar soak to see if the finish that's left comes off. One can never have too much stockand a job that this can be used on may show up.

Oh, I believe there actually can be a problem of too much stock, I can attest to that.  The smith that used to forge here that passed away held onto every last drop and it was everywhere.  It can become a non-functional shop and walking hazard by having too much stock.  

Here’s some 20’ bars I cut in half the other day, and I still have tubing, angle iron, sucker rod, tool steel, ornamental iron from Kings, and much more to go.  I will post another picture of a vertical stock rack I added this year, either on this thread or a new one.   I have held on to so many short pieces and sorted them in buckets.  In the end I feel like it’s kinda a false economy because precious space is lost.  

For the stock rack I think I’m going to use tubing as it’s more rigid and will be holding lots of weight!