Stewart Iron Works Chosen for Boynton House Restoration!

Stewart Iron Works is proud to have been chosen for the fabrication work on the fence, drive gate and walk gate as part of the restoration project being performed on Edward E. Boynton House in Rochester, NY! The 2 story house was designed by the acclaimed Frank Lloyd Wright on 4 city lots and built in 1908. It is the furthest East that you will find one of Wright's Prairie Houses.

Fabricating Gazebo in 0 Degree Windchill!

Something is wrong with this picture! This Gazebo is headed West to sunny San Jose California! Our crew is verifying connections outside where the gusty winds bring the temperature to near or below 0 degrees!

We're glad it is going to a good warm home!

Customer Testimonials are "Ringing" Endorsements!

Customer testimonials are the highest form of a compliment that a company can receive regarding the quality and the reputation of their product! On January 1st, Stewart Iron Works received this email from a home owner:

"Hello, my name is Liz, and I live in the farming country of New Berlin, Illinois. We bought our house a few years ago, and I am in the process of researching its history. I believe the house was built in or about 1915.

Its art and crafts architecture was originally a family farm house, complete with separate farm hand quarters. Along the front of the house is this beautiful iron fence that has managed to survive for about 100 years in open farm country. So, I was looking more closely, and I noticed the Stewart Iron Works emblem on the front gate. This fence is the first thing I noticed about our home and it caught my attention. It really makes our home unique!

I always appreciate the value of quality craftsmanship, which is what draws my husband and me into living in historic homes. The phrase, "They just don't make 'em like they used to" - rings true. I just thought your company might find it interesting to hear about our Stewart fence and the time it has endured. There are pictures attached."

Thank you Liz for your "ringing" endorsement! Stewart Iron Works has proudly attached our "shield" to our fences and gates since 1862! Our uncompromising quality and crafgtsmanship goes into each fence, gate and railing to this very day and will continue for generations to come!

Stewart Iron Works at Alcatraz Prison

If you ever tour the former Federal Prison on Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, you will see a plaque proudly displayed proclaiming the Stewart Iron Works Patented Locking Device! Stewart technicians invented this locking system which allowed the prison guards to open particular cell doors individually with a lever system. Prior to the Stewart invention, guards had to open cell doors with keys.

Stewart Iron Works had a division, Stewart Jail Works, that manufactured the fencing, gates and jail cells for such notorious Federal Prisons as Leavenworth, Kansas (1904), Alcatraz, California(1909), and Sing Sing, New York (1914). The jail division was eventually sold.

To view the Alcatraz plaque, click on the link below:

http://www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/alca/exb/FederalPrison/EquipmentProcedures/goga100_sign_lockingMech2_e.html

Cemetery Fences

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".

Refinishing Wrought Iron

Steps To Take When Refinishing Your Wrought Iron

• Remove any rust that may have formed on your wrought iron with sandpaper, steel wool or wire brush.


• Brush off or rinse off the rust residue from the wrought iron. If rinsing, dry thoroughly with a towel and place in the sunlight to be safe for additional drying .


• Spray or brush the wrought iron surface with rust converter. Be sure to wear protective gloves when working with rust converter.


• Spread the rust converter with a paint brush to insure that an even coat is applied. Allow to dry thoroughly. This rust converter will serve as an initial primer coat.


• Apply a primer coat to the wrought iron surface. A spray application is best for joints or surfaces that have hard to get to areas. Allow to dry thoroughly. You can find metal primer alongside the regular paint primer at your local hardware store.


• Paint your wrought iron with a rust preventative paint ( Rust-Oleum products work well ). Apply multiple thin coats for the best finish!

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.