[TheForge] OK, now I'm mildly perplexed...

[theforge@mailman.qth.net]

Given where you found it, it may have been used as part of a lock 
mechanism, where the speed and travel would have been limited, and wear 
less of an issue than corrosion.  I seem to recall wrought iron was 
often specified in earlier times for is resistance to corrosion.


Charles

Andy Vida wrote:

>Well, I just finished etching a link of that wrought iron roller chain
>I dug out of the river two days ago.
>
>The grain is fine, which I expected, but what I didn't expect was the
>seemingly high silica content.  I've etched quite a lot of wrought iron
>and the quality has ranged from basically muck bar to highly refined.
>In no case did I ever get such a glassy sheen.  I'm assuming this 
>indicates a higher proportion of iron silicate (where's Hochella when
>you need him?).  Is this in fact the case, or is this odd visual
>the result of something else?  I etched in HCL to exhaustion.  Could
>the ferric chloride have caused this?
>
>Odder still:  the PINS are also wrought iron.  I have yet to etch a
>roller, but I cannot imagine they'd also be wrought.
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