What is the difference between wrought iron and steel?
The terms iron and steel are often used interchangeably today. So, unless it is cast iron you are referring to, iron and steel mean the same thing to the contemporary metal fabricator. Wrought Iron usually refers to the process of iron or steel being wrought by hand or machine and implies a degree of decoration is involved. (e.g. I would prefer a wrought iron fence and I would prefer a decorative steel fence means the same thing) However, wrought iron is also a very specific type of iron which was the predominant metal used for ornamental and structural work prior to 1920s. When modern smelting processes and higher grades of steel became available and wrought iron was discontinued in favor of the new alloys. Since real wrought iron is no longer made except in specialty mills, all ornamental metal shops use A36 Carbon Steel in their fabrication and forging operations where ironwork is required. See the NOMMA website here http://www.nomma.org/support/wrought/wrought.htm for an excellent
