>The term 'wrought iron' presents difficulties in itself. It is used by
>chemists and metallurgists ...
>Peter King
Folks:
This is actually the root of the question. I design interpretive programs
for living history museums, and as a working blacksmith, produce
reproductions (or is that replicas?) for hands-on use.
I circle through several different communities : blacksmiths / jewelers /
archaeologists / re-enactors / educators / and (mostly) listen in on your
discussions.
What I find over and over is that the same words can have radically
different meanings. It would appear that my orginal 'simple question' maybe
was not so simple - judging from the responces it generated.
As a blacksmith :
wrought iron - is a type of metal used mostly before 1860
forged - is * heating * and hammering metals
steel - is a modern metal with significant carbon (and about a million alloys!)
I could give you different definitions for the same words. My favorite
(worse!) example are the type of railings produced here in North America -
called ' Hand Made Wrought Iron Work". These are made of mild steel, cold
twisted by machine in factories, elements purchased, assembled by arc
welding. Not a single word in the description normally used is at all
accurate! Hope this give you an idea of the scope of the problem.
I work mainly with Viking Age artifact reproductions. The sources I utilize
are the primary archaeological reports. Typically there is little
metalurgical information in them. When there is, it often describes a
cutting edge as "steel - .4% carbon". Information is sometimes given about
the grain structure - but that is about tempering / hardening, not about
the formation of the parent metal itself.
Despite my (obvious) lack of academic background in metalurgy, I'm glad I
asked the question. I gained some good insights, as I'm sure the other
'lurkers' did. BTW - thanks to those of you who suggested sources! Thanks
to the senior people here for their help.
Darrell
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Darrell Markewitz
Interpretive Program Designer
the Wareham Forge
RR # 2, Proton Station, Ont. N0C 1L0
phone/fax 519-923-9219
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Information on the 'Norse Encampment' program can be found at:
http://www.pipcom.com/wareham_forge/encamp.html
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