Old wrought iron?

[Batmanacw]

My uncle gave me what he said was old sled runners. I think they might have been industrial to be so thick. I'm cutting off a piece to mill flat and soak in vinegar for a week to see the striations.





A bit of milling.



45 seconds on the surface grinder.



Does this break mean it's cast?



Does old cast or wrought iron have value to the blacksmithing community?

 

[benmychree]

Yes, blacksmiths love it!

 

[RJSakowski]

Cast, no. Wrought, yes. Wrought iron is less likely to burn than mild steel when forge welding.

Wrought iron bar stock was manufactured until slightly before the 20th century. Wrought iron pipe was made until around WWII because of its better chemical resistance than mild steel. I have a ton or two from a bridge erected in 1893. The simple flats and rounds were wrought iron while the angle iron and channel was mild steel.

 

[Batmanacw]

Cast, no. Wrought, yes. Wrought iron is less likely to burn than mild steel when forge welding.

Wrought iron bar stock was manufactured until slightly before the 20th century. Wrought iron pipe was made until around WWII because of its better chemical resistance than mild steel. I have a ton or two from a bridge erected in 1893. The simple flats and rounds were wrought iron while the angle iron and channel was mild steel.

Cast iron doesn't bring much for scrap. I'll drop the piece in vinegar and see if it's cast.

 

[SLK001]

The way it powdered when you cut it, it looks like cast iron to me.

 

[Batmanacw]

The way it powdered when you cut it, it looks like cast iron to me.

I'm pretty sure you're right

 

[Illinoyance]

The corroded bars should have shown a distinct grain (like wood) if the parts were wrought iron. No grain means it is not wrought iron.

 

[Batmanacw]

The corroded bars should have shown a distinct grain (like wood) if the parts were wrought iron. No gain means it is not wrought iron.

I have a iron bar like that

 

[Batmanacw]

Definitely cast.

 

[pontiac428]

The sled runner thing is interesting. I'm thinking runners for a horse drawn plow (sled) is more likely! Nothing wrong with good material, there may be parts hiding inside.