Hand-forging can be quite costly; the more elaborate the design, the more expensive the piece. Designs for ornamental iron gates can include embellishments known as scrolls, baskets, stampings, spikes and balls. Pre-de corated rods can be purchased by the welder and pieced into a variety of aesthetically pleasing gate designs.
Mass produced gates are often made of a compound known as mild steel, which is a mixture of iron and carbon. It is stronger than pure iron, but not as malleable. Additionally, mild steel gates will usually corrode faster than hand-forged wrought iron. Another option is gates manufactured out of aluminum, but made to look like wrought iron. Aluminum is inexpensive, lightweight and attractive, but not as strong.
Another design of decorative iron gates is the silhouette style. Almost any design can be die-cut from thin aluminum or steel plates, and inserted into the design of the gate so that it is silhouetted against the background. Custom designs are possible with this technique, including text and logos. From hunting scenes to Native American profiles, the silhouette-style iron gate tells a unique and artistic story. A custom design is important to many consumers, and the available choices from today’s iron gate manufacturers can satisfy practically any desire.
