[TheForge] Re: File Making

[Jeffrey Polaski]

After thinking about this longer, it could be that older iron is more
porous as it ages. (Especially after sitting under water for fifty or
one hundred years.) 

This is just speculation, but perhaps a fine network of pores gets
etched through the surface as, for example, carbon gets carried away.

I'm just wondering what would explain this "porous steel" thing I keep
hearing about. 





Jeff Polaski
RGS Webmaster
(949) 824-6363


> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:theforge-
> bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Polaski
> Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 11:51 AM
> To: Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: RE: [TheForge] Re: File Making
> 
> I'm not really used to thinking of iron/steel as absorbent, but it's
> come up several times. Especially with regard to welding gasoline
tanks.
> 
> 
> Are there any guide lines on how much a hunk of steel can absorb?
> 
> 
> 
> Jeff Polaski
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:theforge-
> > bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Larry Brown
> > Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2008 12:01 PM
> > To: Sponsored by ABANA
> > Subject: Re: [TheForge] Re: File Making
> >
> >
> > Speaking from the other side or the Arthur Kill, and being 49 I
> remember
> > all sorts of nasty stuff on the beaches over the years, being
cleaner
> in
> > more recent times. NJ has and had tons of nasty chemical companies
> along
> > the eastern NJ boarder with Staten Island and NY and we had or have
> the
> > world's biggest dump in the marsh along the river.
> >
> >   I remember working in Whitte ship scrapyard when I was 18 that
> cutting
> > sometimes gave some foul odors, usually on the older stuff that had
> been
> > soaking or on the bottom the longest. I think the guy who repaired
the
> > holes in the bottom of the barges by welding plates between the ribs
> had
> > very little left in the way of vocal cords.
> > I thought it might be the salt absorbed into the metal. I have some
> pieces
> > of WI from old docks and a few just foam when heated. I found that
> steel
> > and WI are both affected and have seen what looks like a crust near
> the
> > edges after the piece cools when you torch cut it. Might be on the
> surface
> > or from within
> >
> > Larry BRown
> >
> > At 09:26 AM 3/20/2008 -0400, you wrote:
> > >Speaking of fumes, much of the wrought iron I pulled out of Raritan
> Bay
> > in
> > >Perth Amboy gives off a fume that is really nasty.  You get the
> tiniest
> > >whiff and everything inside you says "NO!".  I have learned to
steer
> > clear
> > >of this.  Put the iron in the fire awhile and let whatever noxious
> things
> > >that are there burn off while giving a respectful berth.
> > >
> > >What I could not quite figure is what those noxious things may have
> > >been.  The fumes are most acrid - very harsh on the nose, and
> something
> > >of a singular sensation (please, no lapsing into "A Chorus Line").
I
> > also
> > >notice the occasional strange blue flame.  Not like copper, but not
> like
> > >anything else either, of which I am familiar.  Any ideas?  This
iron
> has
> > >lain in the brackish-to-salty waters of the bay for at least 50
> years,
> > >closer to 100 in most cases I would imagine - old ship graveyard.
> > >
> > >         -Andy
> > >
> > >Larry Brown wrote:
> > >>Thanks for the information in the post, I always try to stay away
> from
> > >>the fumes as it stinks, but the cyanide information is really good
> to be
> > >>aware of. Don't use it much, got the can 2nd hand and have had it
> 20+
> > yrs.
> > >>Larry Brown
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> > theforge mail list group photo site is
> > http://www.photoaccess.com
> > Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> > password:  anvil
> > ___________
> >
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> theforge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoaccess.com
> Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> password:  anvil
> ___________
>