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Wrought Iron ProcessComplete information as to how wrought Iron has been made and how the manufacturing process evolved over the years. |
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Wrought
Iron Process : Mild Steel | Charcoal Iron | Puddled Iron | Hand-forged Iron | Wrought Iron Casting Wrought Iron Process
The blacksmith heats the iron in the forge and sculpts it with hammer and anvil into three-dimensional form. Steam, air, or mechanical hammers are customarily used in the procedure, but the hand hammer always concludes the job. The rich texture 'Wrought Iron' is created from the blows of the hammer as well as from the scaling caused by the fire. The metal is forged and formed into the desired form, its making differs from other metals in which the casting process is not utilized. Instead of pouring a molten metal into a cast, the iron is heated to the point where it becomes soft, and malleable. This is also known as hot forged metal as the metal is heated until it reaches its red-hot state. This process is labor-intensive and requires to master traditional joinery such as: forge welds, rivets, tenons and collars. To take a trip down the processing of wrought iron, follow the links… Mild Steel In an attempt to mass-produce wrought iron and by-pass the established hand puddling process, in 1856, Henry Bessemer discovered mild steel, a more strong and consistent material. Charcoal Iron The earliest wrought iron is known as 'charcoal iron', a highly carburised form of iron which was made by constant reworking in the fire. Puddled Iron Bars of charcoal iron were heated in a furnace by an indirect coal fire. Molten iron was then cast into ingots (pigs) and stacked one way the other in a pile on the Puddling hearth. Hand-forged Iron Forging is manufacturing process where wrought iron is pressed, pounded or squeezed under great pressure into high strength parts known as forging. Hand forging wrought iron requires art, skills and good physical strength. Wrought Iron Casting Wrought Iron Casting refers to the process invented by P. Ostberg for producing malleable iron castings by melting wrought iron. This process is carried in a petroleum furnace.
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