Cast Iron Column Identification

[Daniel Rsomethingoranother]

Long time lurker, first post. Whenever I'm at work and I'm scrolling through eng-tips hoping to find wisdom I know I'm in trouble! But it has saved me a time or two.

Building dates to approximately 1897. We were able to do coupon tests to the horizontal framing, which is steel. Interior columns to me seem obviously cast iron:

Exterior columns are a different question. Shape I have not seen before, and other folks at work haven't. This is originally an exterior column that now is an interior column due to subsequent renovations, and got exposed:

My instincts tell me this is cast iron due to the weird brackets supporting the beams. But I can't find this sort of shape in any historical reference. Shapes are typically 12" deep, 12" wide, about 1" flange, 0.75" to 1" web. What say you all? Thanks!

 

[SlideRuleEra]

1897... I'll say steel. Maybe wrought iron, but after years of loosing market to steel, wrought iron shapes were phased out of production circa 1895. Doubt if it's cast iron, too "thin".

 

[SlideRuleEra]

1897... I'll say steel. Maybe wrought iron, but after years of loosing market to steel, wrought iron shapes were phased out of production circa 1895. Doubt if it's cast iron, too "thin".

Edit: I'll retract my statement, looks like there is a good chance you are right. See various turn of the century books on
"Cast Iron Stanchions"

 

[Daniel Rsomethingoranother]

Wow, great reply, thanks so much. : )

 

[SlideRuleEra]

Good! If you do this type of work often, this page of vintage iron/steel handbooks on my website may be useful. I consider the "Cambria" series to be the best.

 

Clean up a small patch by grinding. Steel will be bright, cast iron a dull grey (hence 'gray iron'). Grinding sparks can also differentiate many materials.

A more scientific approach would be to remove a small chip from a dead area (one of the web holes) and send it to a lab for a metallographic workup and chemical analysis. A tooth-sized piece is sufficient.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."