Understanding Iron
The two most common metals found in American Cemetery fencing are wrought iron and cast iron. Stewart Iron Works provided fencing for many of our country's cemeteries from the late 1800s through the 1900s.
Wrought Iron was the traditional material of early fence manufacturing. Wrought iron consists of little carbon (less than 1%) and siliceous slags (up to 5%). Wrought iron resists corrosion, it is not brittle and hardly ever breaks. It is soft, malleable and can be "worked", thus, it was often used in delicate and ornate creations. Wrought Iron is no longer used due to environmental concerns.
Cast Iron, on the other hand, has a high content of carbon (+/- 3%) that is easily cast in molds - allowing it use to replicate fence details. It is brittle, and thus, unable to be hammered or "worked".
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