> **Participant Guide**

####### Basics In {#basics-in .Program-Name}

####### Iron Fencing Care {#iron-fencing-care .Program-Name}

Table of Contents

# ![](media/image1.wmf)Welcome

Welcome to today's TELNPS course titled, *Basics in Iron Fencing Care*.
This class will last from 1:00PM to 2:00 PM EST on January 18, 2008 and
will consist of live instruction via Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL)
from the US Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training
Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Thank you for joining us today.
We look forward to your participation.

As a participant you will also see one 9-minute video segment on repair
and surface treatments of iron fences, view digital photographs,
participate in a condition survey exercise, participate in question and
answer sessions, and view appropriate tools for preservation work.

**Pre-course Reading Assignments**

Prior to the class, please read the three pre-course reading assignments
designed to give you additional course background.

These reading assignments are located on the TEL website @
http://www.nps.gov/training/tel/schedule.htm -under the January 18th
listing.

The readings are:

Philosophy - 1 page

Secretary of Interior's Standards - 4 pages

Secretary of Interior's Guidelines - 6 pages

**Audience**

The course is designed for maintenance staff, architectural
conservators, and personnel responsible for the care of historic
structures or historic cemeteries and cultural resource specialists who
oversee the care of iron fencing.

**How to Interact with the Instructors**

We encourage you to ask questions and share your comments with the
instructors throughout this TELNPS course.

If you were physically in the classroom with the instructor, you would
raise your hand to let her/him know you had a question or comment. Then
you would wait for the instructor to recognize you and ask for your
question. We are all familiar with that "protocol" for asking questions
or making comments.

With TELNPS courses, there is also a "protocol" to follow to ensure you
can easily ask questions and others can participate as well. It may seem
a little strange at first asking a question of a TV monitor. Remember,
it is the instructor you are interacting with and not the monitor. As
you ask more questions and participate in more TELNPS courses, you will
soon be focusing only on the content of your question and not the
equipment you are using to ask it.

As part of the TEL station equipment at your location, there are several
push to talk microphones. Depending on the number of students at your
location, you may have one directly in front of you or you may be
sharing one with other students at your table.

When you have a question, press and hold down the push to talk button
maintaining at distance at least 12-18 inches and say, "Excuse me
\[instructor's first name\], this is \[your first name\] at \[your
location\]. I have a question (or I have a comment)."

Then release the push to talk button. This is important. Until you
release the button, you will not be able to hear the instructor.

The instructor will acknowledge you and then ask for your question or
comment. Stating your name and location not only helps the instructor,
but also helps other students who are participating at different
locations to get to know their classmates.

**Instructors**

Your instructor is Jason W. Church, NCPTT Materials Conservator,
specializes in preservation issues associated with historic cemeteries.
Church holds a MFA in historic preservation from the Savannah College of
Art and Design and a BS degree in Building Sciences from Appalachian
State University. Prior to coming to NCPTT, Church was the conservator
for the Department of Cemeteries, City of Savannah, GA. Currently, he
implements the Center's National Cemetery Preservation Initiative,
including the popular Cemetery Monument Conservation workshops.

# ![](media/image2.wmf)Coarse Goal and Learning Objectives

**Coarse Goal:**

This course emphasizes sound maintenance techniques for iron fencing and
exterior iron elements that are sustainable, cyclic, non-invasive, and
do no harm. The course will address documentation, cleaning, simple
repairs and surface treatments.

**Objectives:**

After this workshop, learners should be familiar with

-   Identification of differences between cast iron and wrought iron

-   Documentation of historic iron fencing

-   Original construction techniques.

Additionally, learners will be able to

-   Reset fences with few complications

-   Stabilize corroded iron surfaces

-   Apply surface treatments to iron fences.

# ![](media/image3.wmf){width="0.7083333333333334in" height="0.7083333333333334in"}Agenda

#### Background: Iron Fencing Care

-   Overview of National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
    (NCPTT) and Its Mission

-   How to identify the differences between cast and wrought iron.

-   Documentation

-   Getting Started, What are your first priorities?

-   Resetting the fence into soil or masonry.

-   Proper techniques for simple repairs

-   Stabilization of corroded iron surfaces

-   Surface treatments for iron fencing (with video demonstration)

-   Questions?

-   Course Conclusion

# ![](media/image3.wmf){width="0.7083333333333334in" height="0.7083333333333334in"}Video Overview of NCPTT and its Mission

The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training was created
by Congress in 1992 to develop and disseminate preservation technologies
and to train practitioners in new technologies. NCPTT promotes
preservation technologies in the fields of archeology, historic
architecture, historic landscapes, and materials conservation.

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# ![](media/image3.wmf){width="0.7083333333333334in" height="0.7083333333333334in"}How to Identify Cast Verses Wrought Iron.

It is important when doing documentation, contracting work, or
undertaking any conservation that the iron work is properly identified
as being either cast or wrought iron. Cast and wrought iron have very
different working characteristics. Treatments that work well on wrought
iron can easily break or destroy cast iron.

Cast iron is an iron based alloy containing at least 2% carbon. The iron
is heated to a fluid state and poured into a mold. The use of a mold
allows cast iron to have a more detailed but heavier design. Due to the
ability to reuse molds, cast iron is cheaper to make. Cast iron fence
components are held together in tension using mechanical fasteners.

Wrought iron is iron that has been drawn out and shaped over a period of
time using repeated force and heat. This requires the skill and time of
a trained blacksmith. This process makes wrought iron more expensive.
Once the process was mechanized, it still required more labor and cost
than a cast fence. Due to its construction process wrought iron tends to
have lighter and more delicate features with simpler shapes. Wrought
iron fence components are usually riveted or fused together either by
welding or lap joints.

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# ![](media/image3.wmf){width="0.7083333333333334in" height="0.7083333333333334in"}Documentation

Documentation is always important when undertaking any preservation
work. Iron fencing is commonly overlooked in the need for documentation.
Survey forms can easily be created or modified to meet the needs of
fencing. It is important when documenting fencing to keep in mind;

-   Identify whether the fence is cast or wrought iron

-   List any makers marks or manufactures labels

-   Paint color, including current color or any remnants

-   Condition as found, note any damaged or missing pieces

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# ![](media/image3.wmf){width="0.7083333333333334in" height="0.7083333333333334in"}Getting Started

It is important to properly prepare the site before beginning any work.
Preparing the site generally means to carefully cover any non-fence
related materials in the general area. These may be but are not limited
to surrounding masonry and nearby vegetation.

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# ![](media/image3.wmf){width="0.7083333333333334in" height="0.7083333333333334in"} Resetting Iron Fence Posts

One of the most important elements of an iron fence is the foundation.
Posts may be ground supported or set in stone, concrete or masonry
units. It may require extensive excavation to move posts. Posts must be
plumb and level to properly support fencing and before any other work
can continue. If the post is set in stone, it is usually set in lead or
occasionally in molten sulfur. The iron post can be reset with molten
lead or lead wool. The hole should overfilled and sloped away from the
iron to help shed water. If the fence is set in masonry or concrete, it
should be reset with color matched mortar or concrete. The replacement
mortar or concrete should closely match or be slightly weaker in
strength than the original. Once again the hole should be overfilled and
slope away from iron.

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# ![](media/image3.wmf){width="0.7083333333333334in" height="0.7083333333333334in"}Simple Repairs

Always replace any missing fasteners or hardware with like size and
style. Original iron is best or stainless steel can be used. Drill out
any failed fasteners and re-tap the rusted or damaged holes with the
same thread count or the closest size available. Wrought iron fence
components can be bent back into shape cold or with heat. Heat can be
carefully applied with a low Oxyacetylene flame or propane torch. Broken
elements can be welded with torch or electric welder. The two main
methods for cast iron repair are cold stitching and hot repairs. Cold
stitching is the process of threading or adhering threaded rod into the
iron to mend broken elements. Welding or hot repair should only be done
by a specialized professional with knowledge of cast iron. Welding can
easily crack and weaken cast iron.

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# ![](media/image3.wmf){width="0.7083333333333334in" height="0.7083333333333334in"}Surface Preparation

The first process is to remove loose rust and scale from the surface of
the iron work using a fine wire brush by hand or power tool. It is not
recommended to use heavy corded wire brushes as these can gouge details
from the fence. Sandblasting and grinding is not recommended for
cleaning the historic iron. Both of these practices can remove excess
materials from the iron and expose too much "shiny metal."

Once the surface rust is removed with a brush, wash the surface of the
fence with water and non-ionic detergent or non-ionic detergent mixed
with a solvent.

After the fence has completely dried, the rust converter can be applied
to the iron work. There are two main types of rust converters; Tannic
acid based and Phosphoric acid based. These chemically convert the iron
oxide into a stable iron tannate or iron phosphate. Caution should be
used when working with rust converter. Always use the manufacture's
recommendations, including personal protective equipment. Most rust
converters go on white but dry to a flat black. Keep in mind that they
will permanently stain stone.

Next a primer is applied. The primer should be oil based and designed
for metal. After the primer dries, the finish coat can be applied. Two
coats of an oil based paint that is designed for metal should be
applied. The paint color should match original or be historically
accurate for the fence.

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# ![](media/image3.wmf){width="0.7083333333333334in" height="0.7083333333333334in"}Video on Basic for Iron Fence Care

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# ![](media/image3.wmf){width="0.7083333333333334in" height="0.7083333333333334in"}Closing Remarks and Class Credit

To Receive Credit for this Course

Take the on-line evaluation at

www.nps.gov/training/tel

Click on the DOI Learn tab

Go to the link under Class Evaluations for Basics for Iron Fencing Care.

Please complete the evaluation within 2 weeks of the course, by January
31, 2008.