crij Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Near where I wander is an old Railroad Right of Way (track bed), and every so often there are coils of iron (WI, PI, Steel, ?) that were most likely telegraph wire. Anyone know what grade metal it would be? 3 known items are that it was telegraph wire (according to the splice), it is magnetic, and it is ferrous (rusting & pitting). Depending on the type of iron it may become worthwhile to pick up some of these stranded coils of 3/16-1/4 inch wire for some projects. Thanks, Rich C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highlander Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 ive only seen copper telegraph wire. methinks that if it is that old that its iron, it wouldnt just be laying around. it may be tie wire for something, with an interesting splice in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgtwister Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 me to i've only seen copper and i have some really old trackes nere me so old theres 12inch trees in the middle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul B Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 I would say it definitly ain't copper, wouldn't be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldiron Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Early on most of the open wire lines where hard drawn copper. But then the wire thieves decided that these lines were easy pickins for making money. So, most of the railroads as well as the telephone companies switched to copper coated steel wire. I'm not sure what kind of steel was used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 I'm used to the copper coated steel as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayco Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 The first telephone lines in my 'hollow', where I live, were copper coated steel. This was early 1960's. In the late '70's, the bare wires were replaced with the thick insulated telephone lines that are common today. the phone company gave away...to anyone who would ask.......the old wire. I have probably 1000 feet of it yet........I used some for electric fencing, etc over the years. I don't know what kind of steel it is, except that it is exceptionally strong( high tensile), and quite springy(indicating that it must have some carbon content. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Jayco; maybe not high carbon but cold drawn---work hardened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayco Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 You're probably right, Thomas, Thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Well take a piece and heat and quench it and then try to break it---PPE mandatory! and *know* rather than guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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