Wrought Iron

[oakwoodironworks]

A friend of mine is giving me some 1"x1/2" wrought iron that he found while tearing down an old farm house. I have never forged any wrought before and was wondering if anyone had any ideas about unique projects to use it for.
Thanks,
Mike

[ThomasPowers]

Well the quality of it will affect some possibilities; but:

If it's coarse then knife fittings and ornamental work that etching the grain in it will make for a good effect---like leaves/tree limbs where the manipulation of the grain can produce a wood grain effect.

If it's finer then some more fancy historical work or ornamental work where the ease of forge welding or the plasticity of the metal at high temps allows you to do things you cant do with A36

[CurlyGeorge]

Thomas, thanks for that post. I've done a little wrought iron work, but I guess that I never realized that there was a difference in the grain. I'll have to check mine and see what I have.

[divermike]

I recently got some that will only become workable when it is all the way up to forging temperature, almost burning, but it is so sweet to work when it gets there!

[Blacksmith Jim]

Diver Mike, did you fine an old anchor chain when you were diving?

[metalliferous]

Try out a few pieces. I've run across some old iron that'll split like crazy unless you work it at a white heat. Of course, other pieces do just fine. I usually try to test any new source of iron (or steel), and I've had some things go to pieces on me because I didn't.