Blacksmith's Materials
Wrought Iron
A historic metal and the traditional material of the Blacksmith. A tough, ductile and fibrous material, which is more malleable and resistant to corrosion than steel. It is very strong in both tension and compression and can be readily welded under the hammer. Today, wrought iron is mainly used in restoration and special projects where like for like materials are required and its high cost is warranted. Wrought Iron comes in several varieties, namely charcoal and puddled iron which take their names from their production methods.
Steel
Black or mild steel is one of the most commonly used metals in the world and the primary material of the modern Blacksmith. It has a higher carbon content than wrought iron making it stronger, but also less malleable. It is more prone to corrosion than wrought iron, therefore is often galvanized to protect it from weathering. Because steel doesn’t have the grainy, fibrous structure of wrought iron it is more difficult to weld under the hammer. However, it is easy to weld with modern electric welding techniques. Steel is an inexpensive material and readily available in a wide variety of stock sizes.
Cast Iron
Cast iron cannot be forged. It is a form of iron which is poured molten into moulds. It requires the associated process of pattern making to form the desired shapes which can increase initial costs, but it is a cheap way of mass producing repeat items. It is available in many varieties, most commonly grey iron or the more malleable SG iron. Cast Iron has better heat and corrosion resistance than steel and is incredibly strong in compression. It is however, more prone to fracturing and very difficult to weld.
