Stewart Iron Works

Monday, October 24, 2011

Caring for Your Wrought Iron

Hints to Preserving Your Wrought Iron!

Clean your wrought iron fence/furniture regularly if possible with dish washing liquid detergent and warm water to keep it clean of dust, dirt or grime from pollution. Dry if possible or clean on sunny day.

If possible, keep the wrought iron furniture covered with tarps or fitted covers.

Check your wrought iron furniture or fence regularly for scratches or paint chips. If exposed areas of metal surface are noticed, wash with warm soapy water, dry and sand with fine steel wool. Then spray with Rust-Oleum primer, allow to dry, then finish with spray Rust-Oleum paint to match. Hopefully, a sample paint was provided at purchase for touch-ups.

If severe rust is detected, Naval Jelly should be applied to dissolve the rust. If the rust still persists, sand blasting the surface may be the only solution.

You may spray your wrought iron surface with an automotive car wax twice a year to prevent rusting.

If your fence or railing posts are embedded into soil or a wall cap, check the cement, epoxy or caulk around the base to insure a raised surface above the surrounding area. This area is prone to settling or shrinkage over time and will collect rain water, which will rust your posts. Additional cement, epoxy or caulk should be added as necessary to raise the level of the base area above the soil or wall cap.

Friday, September 9, 2011

The above popular saying has historically been attributed to Horace Greeley's July 13, 1865 editorial in the New York Times in support of Western expansion. Whether or not Mr. Greeley was the first to utter that prolific verse, Stewart Iron Works is glad that so many early Americans took heed to search for the prosperity that the Western Frontier offered.

Stewart Iron Works creations can be found throughout this great and beautiful country of ours! Thus, it is of no surprise that we find ourselves in the middle of three jobs near the coast of California. The first job is a direct result of our previous Jail Works division and the work we provided in the construction of the cells for the Federal Prison on Alcatraz Island in San Francisc0 bay. Stewart Iron Works design of an automatic opening mechanism for one cell door or multiple cell doors made for the product to be in high demand.

Now decades later, the National Park Service has contracted Stewart to reproduce a metal roof-top cupola to the exact specifications as it had been originally been constructed by us. Our recreation is in place and the Stewart Iron Works/Alcatraz Prison connection lives on for generations to come.

Approximately 50 miles away in San Jose, CA, Stewart Iron Works has been contracted to design and fabricate a 21 ft. in diameter custom gazebo for one of the city parks. Our gazebos can be found in numerous municipal parks and we are proud to be creating San Jose's distinctive gazebo! Along with the gazebo, Stewart Iron Works has been contracted to fabricate a fence for another city park.

Little did R.C. Stewart know in 1862 when he opened his iron fence company, that an editorial written three years later in New York City, would be providing his namesake company work 150 years later in California!

Monday, August 15, 2011

Stewart Iron Works Wins Prestigious Award!

The Board of Trustees of the Historical Society of Princeton, New Jersey presented the 2011 Preservation Award to Stewart Iron Works, Covington, KY!

On Sunday, May 22nd, the Historical Society of Princeton, New Jersey bestowed their annual Preservation Awards at the annual Bainbridge Club Party in recognition of outstanding contributions to historic presevation in Princeton. Four noteworthy projects received this prestigious designation for design and restoration that integrated careful research, historic preservation, and green design where possible.

Stewart Iron Works won the award for their restoration of the ornamental iron fence around the Maclean House on Nassau Street situated on the Princeton University campus. The original fence was installed over 160 years ago and had fallen into disrepair with only a few of the original panels remaining.

Stewart salvaged and repaired the remaining sections, along with crafting accurate reproductions of the balusters and posts to design a system with slight adjustments to the settings to create a seemingly level fence assembly on a sloping grade.

"The Historical Society of Princeton's Preservation Awards Committee is proud to present these awards to worthy projects in the Princeton community during National Preservation Month, whose theme in 2011 is 'Celebrating America's Treasures'."

Monday, July 18, 2011

Stewart Iron Works Awarded NKCC Success Award!

Stewart Iron Works wins the 2011 Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Award for Manufacturers!

The NKCC acknowledged Stewart Iron Works for their tradition and reputation of "artistry in metal" earned for their work over the past year and the past 150 years! Stewart designed products have been universally acclaimed for excellence and balance of beauty and function.

The Stewart legacy is proudly on display at the United States Capitol, the Panama Canal, Walt Disney World Resort and throughout the French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Stewart shield has proudly graced The White House and the British Embassy in Washington, D. C. and private properties of distinction throughout the world!

http://www.nkychamber.com/External/WCPages/WCWebContent/WebContentPage.aspx?ContentID=3371