Is your iron work made in genuine Wrought Iron, Mild Steel or Pure Iron?
22 February 2011
To the naked eye there is no visible difference between forged bars of Wrought Iron & Mild Steel (its modern day equivalent) or Pure Iron. However Wrought Iron is not distinguished by its looks but by its working properties and its resistance to corrosion. However it is Wrought Iron’s superior weathering properties that are most notable. Wrought Iron is known for its durability. Just look at the amount of Wrought Iron in heritage sites and buildings that are over 300 years old.
To the naked eye there is no visible difference between forged bars of Wrought Iron & Mild Steel (its modern day equivalent) or Pure Iron. However Wrought Iron is not distinguished by its looks but by its working properties and its resistance to corrosion. Wrought Iron is softer to forge, as it is workable at a higher heat than Mild Steel making it more ‘malleable’ under the hammer. However it is Wrought Iron’s superior weathering properties that are most notable. Wrought Iron is known for its durability. Just look at the amount of Wrought Iron in heritage sites and buildings that are over 300 years old. Search the web and you will find 600,000 sites listed under Wrought Iron of which only a small fraction will be genuine Wrought Iron. Today the term Wrought Iron can mean almost any type of metal and any manner of construction from something you can buy in a local DIY store to the screens at Hampton Court by Jean Tijou. Ornamental ironwork is often referred to as Wrought Iron even though it is more likely to be made from mild steel. The difference in quality and value is enormous. All three materials have their place in the manufacturing industry world and all require a level of skill or craftsmanship to deliver an end product, but unlike most other crafts in the heritage field, users and specifiers generally have little understanding of Wrought Ironwork. This is not altogether surprising as no BS standard or English Heritage guidance are available for working with Wrought Iron. To add further to this, architects and related professionals are often not trained in the field and do not understand the difference between fabrication and traditional methods and between Wrought Iron, mild steel and pure iron. Training for professionals is now available – CPD’s - see www.nhig.co.uk) for a greater awareness of the problems associated with the wrong specifications and allowance of inappropriate materials and methods of construction. In answer to the question – if you can see mechanical welds on the outside of a product then it’s very likely to be made in mild steel. In the words of a blacksmiths, "You wouldn't buy a piece of wooden furniture with the glue on the outside of the joints would you?" If no welds can be seen then further tests would need to be carried out to determine the material used.Released By
Chris Topp & Co Ltd
