Scaling on Steel

Scaling occurs when steel is heated in a forge. It is the oxidization of the metal’s surface and can be seen as changes in the color and texture of the steel. It can be both seen and felt. Some things to keep in mind about scaling:

• The oxidization of the metal that is the cause of scaling is a natural, random process and so there is no way to control the degree to which scaling is in evidence on a frame.
• While sometimes quite subtle, scaling is a distinct texture that is usually still quite visible after the frame has been painted.
• Scaling is most evident with our Burnished Iron finish (seen at left). Scaling will appear on any piece that has been forged, that means that any piece of steel that has been hammered will always display some degree of scaling.
• Some frames, or parts of frames, that do not look like they have been hammered or bent may still exhibit scaling. This most likely is because they have been heated in the forge simply to give them scaling for aesthetic consistency or contrast within a single piece.
• It is also important to understand that just because a piece of steel is curved does not mean it was heated. Some pieces of steel, for example the rings that support the tops of tables, are bent on what is called a pinch roller. This is also referred to as ‘cold forging’.