This antique wrought iron came out of a 120 year old steam traction engine boiler. The original rods formed the thru-stays that stretched the length of the boiler, holding the back head and front tube sheet from bulging under pressure. Because it was used in boiler construction, it has a fine grain, and is of a superior quality to most wrought iron, and especially wagon tire iron. The iron is easy to forge weld, and has nice grain layers that can be brought out in an acid etch if desired. I’m offering this iron for purchase in its original 1 inch round form as taken out of the boiler, and as forged into ½ inch square bar.

-Original Round Bar: Due to it being corroded from years of service in the boiler, the iron is more like 7/8 - 15/16 inch in dia. on average, and varies slightly in its size and shape.

-Square Bar: I forge the square bar slightly larger than a proper ½ inch, its more like 0.6 of an inch, with the corners lightly chamfered. There will also be slight variation in it’s size, as it is rough forged.

Make sure that when you are forging any wrought iron (including this stuff), you keep the forging temperature high, between white hot and a dull yellow. Do not forge it below a high orange colour, as it will probably delaminate. Keep a good flux on hand to weld back any delaminations right away.