Field gun carriage & limber axles

[A.Roads]

Hi all,
When a full size repro carriage is made in the U.S., what metal is generally used for the axles, wrought iron or a substitute?
Thank for any assistance,  Adrian.

[GGaskill]

True wrought iron is almost impossible to acquire anywhere on the planet any more.  Mild steel is very similar and is what is used for most applications now.

[gary michie]

  HI:
I have used steel ,a thick walled rect.tube for the main body and a higher grade of steel (let in to the tube about 4"for a #1full scale carriage) at the hubs. Useing cast iron boxings there is enough metal differance that a heavy grease makes the whole thing turn with no bindup.

[Articifer Tom]

 The 1/4" tube steel Gary's talking about works great  .I take 1  1/2" shaft stock  have it milled to go inside the  2" tube about  3" but have the milling done with about 4 degree angle to give me my camber ,instead of bending the axle. Drill holes in tube  to plug  weld ,your set.
  The nave  i make out of  round dom tubing  1/2" wall  put some barbs on  press and fibre glass it in the hub  good to go. I usally do this when hub is in rough stage then chuck off extra  DOM to turn dead center hub.
  Note with steel on steel  you must be sure to add a grease groove to the top of the axle { with in the nave area } only . The groove not only greases at every bounce but gives a place for grit to collect ,preventing lock up.

[gary michie]

  HI:
Mt spindle looks like this[img width= height= alt=image hosting by https://www.gboreloaded.com/mhp/]https://www.gboreloaded.com/mhp/images/michiegr1/spindle.jpg[/img]