Ingot vs. Sow: What's the Difference?
By Aimie Carlson & Janet White || Updated on May 20, 2024
An ingot is a block of metal cast into a shape suitable for further processing, while a sow is a large, bulky mass of metal from smelting, typically broken down for further use.
Key Differences
An ingot is a solid block of metal, typically rectangular, that has been cast into a shape for ease of storage, transport, and further processing. It is a standardized form used across various industries to facilitate metalworking processes. On the other hand, a sow is a much larger and irregularly shaped mass of metal produced directly from smelting. Sows are generally bulky and less refined than ingots. They serve as intermediate products that are broken down into smaller pieces for subsequent processing.
Ingots are easier to handle and transport due to their standardized shapes and sizes, whereas sows require additional handling and breaking down due to their size and bulk. The primary purpose of both forms is to store and transport metal in a form that is convenient for further industrial use, but the methods and stages of processing differ significantly between them.
Comparison Chart
Shape
Standardized, often rectangular
Large, irregularly shaped
Size
Smaller, manageable
Larger, bulky
Processing Stage
Further refined
Intermediate, from smelting
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Handling
Easier due to uniform shape
Requires breaking down
Common Metals
Steel, aluminum, gold, silver
Lead, iron
Ingot and Sow Definitions
Ingot
A primary form of metal for industrial use.
The silver ingot was melted down to create jewelry.
Sow
A large, irregular mass of metal from smelting.
The foundry produced a massive lead sow.
Ingot
A solid block of metal cast into a standard shape for further processing.
The factory received aluminum ingots for manufacturing.
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Sow
An initial product of metal smelting, not yet refined.
The sow was transported to another facility for processing.
Ingot
A block of refined metal ready for additional processing.
They shipped ingots of copper to the electronics manufacturer.
Sow
A heavy and unwieldy metal lump from the smelting process.
The sow required special equipment to move.
Ingot
A rectangular metal piece used in industrial processes.
The gold ingot was securely stored in the vault.
Sow
A large casting of metal used as an intermediate form.
They melted the sow to create smaller, usable metal forms.
Ingot
A metal casting shaped for storage and transport.
Steel ingots were stacked neatly in the warehouse.
Sow
To scatter (seed) over the ground for growing.
Ingot
A mass of metal, such as a bar or block, that is cast in a standard shape for convenient storage or shipment.
Sow
To scatter seed over (land, for example).
Ingot
A casting mold for metal.
Sow
To strew something around or over (an area); distribute something over
"The yard was sown with cement sculpture" (Ashley Warlick).
Ingot
A solid block of more or less pure metal, often but not necessarily bricklike in shape and trapezoidal in cross-section, the result of pouring out and cooling molten metal, often immediately after smelting from raw ore or alloying from constituents.
Sow
To propagate; disseminate
Sow rumors.
Ingot
(transitive) To form (scraps of metal) into ingots.
Sow
To scatter seed for growing.
Ingot
That in which metal is cast; a mold.
And from the fire he took up his matterAnd in the ingot put it with merry cheer.
Sow
An adult female pig, especially one that has had at least one litter.
Ingot
A bar or wedge of steel, gold, or other malleable metal, cast in a mold; a mass of unwrought cast metal.
Wrought ingots from Besoara's mine.
Sow
The adult female of several other animals, such as the bear.
Ingot
A block of metal that is cast in a particular shape for convenient handling
Sow
A channel that conducts molten iron to the molds in a pig bed.
Sow
The mass of metal solidified in such a channel or mold.
Sow
A female pig.
Sow
A female bear, she-bear.
Sow
A female guinea pig.
Sow
A channel that conducts molten metal to molds.
Sow
A mass of metal solidified in a mold.
Sow
A contemptible, often fat woman.
Sow
A sowbug.
Sow
(military) A kind of covered shed, formerly used by besiegers in filling up and passing the ditch of a besieged place, sapping and mining the wall, etc.
Sow
(ambitransitive) To scatter, disperse, or plant (seeds).
When I had sown the field, the day's work was over.
As you sow, so shall you reap.
Sow
(figurative) To spread abroad; to propagate.
Sow
(figurative) To scatter over; to besprinkle.
Sow
Obsolete spelling of sew
Sow
To sew. See Sew.
Sow
To scatter, as seed, upon the earth; to plant by strewing; as, to sow wheat. Also used figuratively: To spread abroad; to propagate.
A sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside.
And sow dissension in the hearts of brothers.
Sow
To scatter seed upon, in, or over; to supply or stock, as land, with seeds. Also used figuratively: To scatter over; to besprinkle.
The intellectual faculty is a goodly field, . . . and it is the worst husbandry in the world to sow it with trifles.
[He] sowed with stars the heaven.
Now morn . . . sowed the earth with orient pearl.
Sow
To scatter seed for growth and the production of a crop; - literally or figuratively.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joi.
Sow
The female of swine, or of the hog kind.
Sow
A sow bug.
Sow
A channel or runner which receives the rows of molds in the pig bed.
Sow
A kind of covered shed, formerly used by besiegers in filling up and passing the ditch of a besieged place, sapping and mining the wall, or the like.
Sow
An adult female hog
Sow
Place (seeds) in or on the ground for future growth;
She sowed sunflower seeds
Sow
Introduce into an environment;
Sow suspicion or beliefs
Sow
Place seeds in or on (the ground);
Sow the ground with sunflower seeds
Sow
A bulky metal casting intended for further breakdown.
Workers broke down the iron sow into smaller pieces.
FAQs
What is a sow in metallurgy?
A sow is a large, irregularly shaped mass of metal produced directly from the smelting process.
How does an ingot differ from a sow?
An ingot is smaller, standardized, and easier to handle, whereas a sow is larger, irregularly shaped, and often requires breaking down.
Which is more refined, an ingot or a sow?
An ingot is more refined than a sow, which is usually an intermediate product from smelting.
What metals are typically cast as sows?
Sows are often cast from metals like lead and iron.
What is an ingot?
An ingot is a solid block of metal cast into a standardized shape for ease of storage, transport, and further processing.
Why are ingots used in industrial processes?
Ingots are used because their standardized shape makes them easy to handle, store, and transport.
What metals are commonly made into ingots?
Common metals for ingots include steel, aluminum, gold, and silver.
How are sows handled in the industry?
Sows typically require additional handling and equipment to break them down into smaller pieces for further processing.
Are ingots or sows larger?
Sows are generally larger and bulkier than ingots.
Can ingots be directly used in manufacturing?
Yes, ingots can be directly used in manufacturing after being further processed or refined.
Do sows require additional processing?
Yes, sows require breaking down and further processing before they can be used in manufacturing.
What happens to sows after smelting?
Sows are typically broken down and further processed into smaller, more refined forms.
What is the purpose of a sow in metal production?
Sows serve as an intermediate form of metal that will be broken down and further processed into more refined products.
What shapes are ingots typically cast into?
Ingots are typically cast into rectangular or other standardized shapes.
Can ingots be considered a final product?
Yes, ingots can be a final product for certain applications, but they often undergo additional processing.
Why are sows irregularly shaped?
Sows are irregularly shaped because they are the initial large castings from the smelting process, without further refinement.
What is the next step after creating a sow?
The next step is to break down the sow into smaller pieces for further refinement and processing.
What industries use ingots?
Industries such as manufacturing, jewelry, and electronics commonly use ingots.
Are sows transported in their original form?
Yes, sows are transported in their original, bulky form to facilities where they are further processed.
Which form, ingot or sow, is easier to transport?
Ingots are easier to transport due to their standardized and manageable shape.
About Author
Written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
Co-written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
