Identifying wrought iron

One of the viewers sent me a few pieces of old iron tire and asked if I could tell whether or not it was wrought iron. Lets take a look at a simple test to determine if a piece of material is or is not wrought iron.

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[ForgingThought]

My Grandpa used to say if it looks like the chocolate ribbon pattern on the top of a Heath toffee bar its wrought, if it looks like the inside of a Heath after it fractures its steel. He said this while breaking a 3 musketeers bar in half looks at the inside and says "Oh hello mr. cast iron".😂

[guillermodozal]

This guys really looks like a down to earth professional. Loved the way he calmly explains his craft.

[DavidFrancis]

I'm an archaeologist in grad school working in a lab and you really helped me out. I appreciate it man.

[wrenchguy]

I have a 1870's hardware publication offering 15 different sizes of "wrought wagon tire stock". Here in the midwest alot of yard art tires go to scrap after the chic wears away. When in scrap yards pay attention to tires laying around. Employees prolly never heard of wrought iron. Great video.

[Littlemochicakes]

I'm reading a book that mentioned a wrought iron bench. I looked it up so I could have the correct visual in my head and now I'm here. I don't believe I'll ever make use of the information I learned from the video, but I did enjoy learning something new. I like the way you shot the video and you have great camera presence. It gets a thumbs up from me!

[oldpup]

Thanks to Ron for the wrought iron, and thanks to you for the demonstration. I've heard the term wrought iron my hole life, but never knew how to identify it.

[aardvark]

I live on a farm that was built in the 1870s, it burned down but was rebuilt in 1891. There is all kinds of scrap and junk lying around in the adjacent woods and while on a walk not too long ago I found an old destroyed wagon, all wrought iron. The wood is almost completely decayed so the iron is all loose, waiting to be picked up and forged

[alanbutler]

Fantastic! Thank you! This is a question I had and will be able to test found metal from our family farm. 😊

[ZENMASTERME]

As always!! All these videos are absolutely brilliant informational tools to add to our repertoire of super informative & imperative learning skills to blacksmithing!! Thanks John!!

[anderserisian]

I found another way to easily identify wrought iron. Start forging a set of tongs from what appears to be an old axle shaft from a hand barrow or cart. Start drawing out the bits, turn 90 degrees to offset the jaws and form the boss. Observe cracks forming and open voids and delamination in the 'steel'. Go a bit hotter on the next heat continue working until the cracks get bigger. Stare at ruined project for 5 minutes in confusion until it dawns on you that what you had assumed was mild steel is in fact wrought iron. Return stock to scrap pile.

[alchemykitchen]

Thanks for showing this, I bought a house in Germany last year that was built in 1888 and the original owner was a blacksmith. I recently found a hidden stash of all his tools, (hammers, hardy tools, tongs etc ) and lots of iron and steel stock so I am interested to see if any of it is wrought iron, I will have some videos up of what I found here I am working on now and should be up in a few hours if you are interested to see, it took me a day just to closely examine everything and still have questions on some of the stuff I found.

[shortfuse]

Very nice, simple and clear demonstration of the character of WI. Video great as usual.

I am glad you pointed out the possible failure of the spark test to accurately identify the WI due to contamination. One time I was working with some real wrought iron that sparked almost identical to mild steel; really threw me off.

[brysonalden]

Watched this for the first time over two years ago, and today I finally got my first piece of what I think is wrought. Going to slice off a piece of the bar and test it per your instructions. Hope it IS wrought, as I have about 75 pounds of 3 inch round! Hammer city!

[tristanlashley]

Ron gave me some of those wagon wheels when I ordered some steel from him a while back. It was really cool to see you John test it and now i know that it wrought iron. Thanks a lot and by the way. I watch your videos religiously. I love the series your doing now. Great help for us newer Smith's. Hope to be able to meet up some day. Thanks again. I really feel like I know you from your videos. One of the best out there for sure.

[ChristCenteredIronworks]

Great look at wrought iron John.. Keep up the great content :-)

[larryking]

It has been a long time, since I have seen any wrothiron, You have given us a very simple test to verify if it is! Thank you, John !
Take Care

[richardsurber]

Yes I agree with David that really helps

[couchforgecompany]

Thanks John. I appreciate the video and test. I have about 30 feet of the stuff, should last me a life time. Thanks again.

[fixerfabricating]

thanks, answers a question I have been wondering about. I remember as a kid the railings on the front porch how it split in layers as it aged and became rusted

[arnenelson]

That answered my question, Thank you! (Just subscribed)