[TheForge] Pure Iron

[Steve Smith]

Jerry, I'm not sure we're talking about the same material. Pure iron is 
way easier to work than carbon steel, and gives much crisper lines. You 
can keep forging down below a visible glow. In a taper, you get just a 
little fracturing (at an extremely sharp tip). In my mind it is a huge 
benefit in decorative work.

If you want to harden it, it is the wrong material to use.

Steve

Jerry Smith wrote:

> Because carbon steel is easier to work and has predictable results. Pure 
> iron is a different animal, and requires a special touch to work with 
> it. If you understand the working of iron, you can make cude steel or 
> have a carbonized surface, harder for putting an edge on it, and the 
> core or spine is more forgiving.
> 
> I have many other uses for iron that direct forging, but I need iron 
> just the same.
> 
> Jerry
> 
> At 11:15 AM 11/7/2004, you wrote:
> 
>>             I was at several meets where the merits of “Pure Iron” as
>> opposed to mild steel were touted. I even bought some and was 
>> impressed by
>> the ease of forging it. One thing that puzzled me was it’s range of
>> stiffness as it cooled, I was twisting a ½” and it seemed to stiffen that
>> relax as it cooled (strange).
>>
>>             My question is this, if this material was so great and the 
>> time
>> saved forging made up for the extra cost, why did we let the people 
>> selling
>> it go belly up??
>>
>>
>>
>> John C.
>>
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