Casting Shed

Where molten iron was drawn from the furnace into impressions

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Saugus, Massachusetts

Significance:

Patterns were pressed into the sand to make molds

Amenities

1 listed

Scenic View/Photo Spot

The casting shed at the base of the Blast Furnace is where the iron and waste were removed from the furnace. When the furnace was tapped, the waste was drawn off to the side where it hardened to create slag. The good iron flowed into channels dug into the Casting Shed's sand floor, where it hardened into cast iron bars referred to as "pig iron." These bars had a very high carbon content, which made them very hard, but also brittle. They had to be further refined in a forge before a blacksmith could use them to create finished products.

Gray iron was also poured into molds in the Casting Shed to make finished products including pots, kettles, skillets, firebacks, salt-pans, and even parts of the machinery used at the iron works. Just like the bars of pig iron, these finished products would be very hard, but also very brittle. Therefore, cast iron was only ideal for making certain products.