Product category:
Refurbishment
News Release from: Timeless Trades Partnership | Subject: Pure iron
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 07 December 2007
Pure iron revolution is forging ahead
Pure iron, available in bar and sheet form, offers a host of benefits over other materials, says Timeless Trades Partnership.
This little-used material is really proving its mettle as an alternative to wrought iron and mild steel on restoration projects up and down the UK Pure iron, available in bar and sheet form, offers a host of benefits over its cousins according to renowned York-based Master Blacksmith Don Barker of Don Barker Architectural and Ecclesiastical Blacksmiths
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 26 May 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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"Iron is the most stable and one of the most plentiful elements in the universe and it's entirely apt that, in its purest form, it offers a number of advantages for artistic blacksmiths such as myself".
"There is a perception within restoration circles that damaged wrought ironwork should be replaced like for like but new wrought iron is no longer made and pure iron offers a long lasting solution that is just as aesthetically pleasing and doesn't split, crack or break up like wrought iron," said Don who has been featured on TV on a number of occasions crafting pure iron including a piece with DIY expert Tommy Walsh".
"The lack of high quality wrought iron available to blacksmiths has led to many utilising a poorer quality product".
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"Convention has played a part in its establishment but the lessons have not been learnt with more and more wrought ironwork requiring preservation or replacement".
"Don went on: "Wrought iron was the best material available to blacksmiths in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries but just like asbestos and bakelite it has been superseded by safer, better quality materials.
The nature of wrought iron's layered construction and slag gelling is the root cause of its inherent weaknesses.
I get projects in almost every day that are caused by wrought iron's failings with weather and corrosion spoiling what are often amazing pieces of decorative work".
""Pure iron is the material of choice for blacksmiths and ironworkers within many nations but the UK has yet to grasp the nettle".
"Our nation's approach to building conservation is moving forward at pace but we have yet to fully embrace the advantages of pure iron due, in no small part, to vested interests as well as its low profile".
""That said working with pure iron is becoming increasingly popular as a sideline for many as it is easier to forge than existing metals and repousse work can be carried out cold," adds Don who established pureiron.com with wife Barbara as a specialist web resource for amateur and professional blacksmiths".
"Pure iron can be supplied through the website with a certificate from manufacturer Corus to accompany every piece that authenticates purity of 99.8% or above".
"Don explained: "This offers 100% traceability on every single order and that is a peace of mind that no other solution can offer".
The Barkers have conclusive proof to validate their assertions and faith in pure iron after conducting a number of rigorous and independent tests on the product".
"Barbara takes up the story: "We carried out a range of demanding comparisons in its performance to that of wrought iron and mild steel and it came out on top in many areas." A sample bar of pure iron was sent to celebrated blacksmith Hector Cole with hot splitting, hot punching, drawing down, hot bending, cold chiselling, cold punching and fire welding tests undertaken".
"Hector, famous for working with HRH The Prince of Wales, commented: "All of the processes were executed with ease and no problems were encountered.
With continuous hot bending the material showed no sign of cracking that would have occurred with mild steel had it been subjected to the same treatment.
With hot splitting there was no continuation of the split while working that can occur with wrought iron".
"For smiths who have tried forging wrought iron of poor quality and have encountered all its faults, pure iron will be a good substitute as its forging qualities are far superior to mild steel with none of the disadvantages of poor wrought iron," added Hector Wrought iron was graded under B.S.51 in four distinct quality and strength levels with the best performing grade A used for railway tracks for example.
Grade D, the lowest grade, was introduced in 1959 specifically "for fencing" and is often the source of the poor quality re-claimed material marketed to blacksmiths today".
"This is possibly from a cost perspective," Barbara went on "but when placed alongside pure iron there is no comparison." It is in the realm of ecclesiastical architecture that pure iron is increasingly proving its worth with Don's finely crafted work adding much to churches and chapels up and down the country.
One fine eye-catching example is a gate installed recently at All Souls Church on the edge of Halifax town centre in West Yorkshire.
The stunning red and gold Gothic arched creation, featuring a wonderfully ornate crucifix, perfectly complements the traditions of what is a real landmark within the town.
It took Don around X weeks to complete and he is witnessing an increasing demand from both architects and specifiers for his bespoke works".
"I am particularly pleased with the finished article on this job but it is one of many crafted from pure iron that adds a genuine touch of class to any building," he said.
Another example of pure iron can be found on the banks of the River Wharfe in the centre of the Yorkshire brewing town of Tadcaster that lies midway between York and Leeds.
A total of 17 tonnes of the material was used to create railings around St Peters Church in the town as well as the Old Vicarage with additional fencing along the riverside.
There are countless more examples of Don's work on show at private residences and buildings of distinction across the UK including Westminster Abbey".
"You can work these kind of jobs quicker and more cost effectively than wrought iron without any compromise on safety or strength and it really is a joy to craft with something that offers a myriad of benefits," added Don whose firm forms part of the newly created Timeless Trades Partnership based in Elvington near York.
Examples of innovative pure iron products can be found in situ at the popular Timeless Trades Showroom at Don Barker's headquarters on Elvington Industrial Estate.
It will take time for pure iron to unseat wrought iron and mild steel from its preferred status but with the pure passion and knowledge of the likes of Don and Barbara you can bet it'll not be long.
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