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Home & Garden Articles
Why Iron Railings Remain So Popular
Wed 29 Nov 2006 - 13:32
Why Iron Railings Remain So Popular
By Andrew Caxton
Iron railings have been around for centuries and still have not gone out of style. They were popular when they were first crafted because of their durability; their long life is still the reason they stay in vogue. In this article, you will find all of the information you need regarding iron railings.
When it was discovered that iron could be softened at very high temperatures and formed into any shape, iron railings became popular among rich homeowners in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It was an expensive and time consuming process, so only the wealthiest could afford iron railings. The designs that were created were of such quality that wrought iron and cast iron railings were considered art. Nothing could be mass produced, so only artisans were involved in the creation of beautiful iron railings. Welding as we know it today did not exist, and so pieces of iron were joined together by heating them and forcing them to join by hammering them. Rivets were also used sometimes to join two pieces of iron.
Iron railings are broken down into three categories: wrought iron railings, cast iron railings (which existed as far back as the seventeenth century) and steel railings (a relatively new invention). Even though iron railings have undergone many changes throughout the centuries, they have not been much influenced by fashion, and maintain the same characteristics today that they did centuries ago. They are truly ageless fashion.
Iron is the main ingredient in iron railings, although the very wealthy, including kings and dukes in their castles, might have added gold to ornament their railings.
Various metals are used in iron railings and we will discuss each of them. Wrought Iron Railings: The process of making wrought iron railings is very labor intensive. A length of iron has to be heated to a red hot intensity and then hammered to the desired length and shape. Not many people were attracted to this craft, which required not only hard work but also a strong artistic bent. As a rule, artists are not hard workers, and laborers tend not to be too artistic. This led to a scarcity of craftsmen who could produce wrought iron, which of course led to high prices for wrought iron, following the laws of supply and demand.
Cast Iron Railings: Cast iron railings are forged by melting iron and pouring it into pre-cast molds. These molds were usually made from sand in order to make cast iron railings. Railings produced by this method were were fragile. If one was broken, it usually could not be repaired. Because of these limitations, only the very wealthy could afford cast iron railings.
Mild steel railings: Mild steel was developed in the eighteenth century and found immediate popularity. It was a perfect material for fencing and railing. Pieces of mild steel could be worked in a cold state, and simply joined by riveting. Not requiring a smithed shop with dangerous heat and flames for forging made mild steel a very practical alternative to cast or wrought iron, and it therefore became popular for railings.
Many advances have been made since the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in the manufacture of iron railings. Today's important advances in welding methods have made it possible to bend iron into shapes that would have been very difficult in the old days. In addition, the pieces of iron can be more easily joined together by modern welding techniques, which render the iron lighter yet stronger. Repair is also easier now, with these modern welding techniques. Today, iron is poured into plates, and then bent to suit a purpose, such as a railing. It is still strong, durable iron, but with a new look, since the shapes it can be bent into is limited only be the imagination of the designer.
Stainless steel is now being used for the same purposes as iron once was, and many think that stainless is more elegant looking. Stainless has the added advantage of little maintenance besides easy cleaning. Stainless steel may eventually replace iron as the preferred material for railings.
Andrew Caxton is the author and editor of many resources published at http://www.deck-porch-railings.com . A website with tips on how to maintain pvc, aluminum, glass and iron railings
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Caxton
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