Evaluation and Repair of Wrought Iron and - Purdue e-Pubs ...

128charcoal fire until it is red hot in appearance. When the metal is dark cherry red in color itis typically between 1160 and 1270 o F. After sufficient heating the member is thenstraightened by bending and/or pounding the surface to work the metal into the desiredposition. The process may require repeated cycles of heating and pounding to work themetal in the (fluid) red-hot condition. This method is usually performed by a blacksmithand is similar to the original process that was used to form the wrought iron bridgemembers. To heat the pieces in this manner, the members to be straightened must beremoved from the bridge.