[TheForge] Re: Steel question OT

[Rick Korinek]

I think FL Wright's Johnson Wax building long ago faced the wrecking ball.

Rick Korinek
Island City Forge
Minocqua, WI
islandcityforge.com
 
715/358-5060 shop/studio
715-892-7425 cell
-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 1:25 AM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] Re: Steel question OT


Paul> The A.M. Byers Company published "Wrought Iron, Its manufacture,
Paul> characteristics and applications" first printing unknown, 11 th
Paul> printing in In.

That book has a glossary at the end where it lists:

   COMMON IRON

   Iron made from re-rolled scrap iron or a mixture of iron and steel
   scrap, no attempt being made to separate the iron and steel scrap.

which they distinguish from "Refine bar iron" and "Double-refined
iron", both of which latter are "free from steel".

PF> The alloy and carbon content of wrought used in old construction ,
PF> farm and ship work seems to be highly variable. I have some that has
PF> layers that will round the teeth on a hacksaw blade in 3
PF> strokes. Other examples are almost buttery.

Seems likely that "common iron", by Byers' definition, could look like
wrought in a fracture test or after corrosion but could contain
regions or layers of steel, either high-carbon before rolling or
carburized during the process.

The Byers book also has a short chapter on selecting materials in
which they point out that the cheapest materials are fine for jobs
where the initial cost is the chief concern but certainly not where
the cost per year of service is more important.  Presumably, business
being what it is, vendors might well have decided that merchant bar
and pipe -- product not ordered to specs by a major user -- should
fall in the former category.

The book also mentions that Wright's Johnson Wax building (circa 1937)
used wrought iron steam pipe for cast-in-concrete radiant heating.
Anybody know if they had to jackhammer up the floor to replace the
pipe or if it's still working?

- Mike

-- 
Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada       .~. 
                                                           /V\ 
mspencer at tallships.ca                                     /( )\
http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/                        ^^-^^

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