[Regia-NA] Ironworker

[Kim Siddorn]

We used to build a forge base of grass slabs (turves ), preferably with a 
top ridge of stone to consolidate it. Into this a hollow would be cut & 
lined with fire clay, setting a ceramic kiln prop into the lowest point. The 
bellows would huff air into the other end & frequently we used two pairs in 
unison to maintain a steady air flow.

The name of the bellower is "Apprentice" ;o))

For a permanent set up, I'd build a rock base to the height you want & fill 
it with alternate layers of top soil and sharp sand. I'd then light a fire 
in it and leave it burning for at least a whole day to dry it out.

Make your hollow, coat with fire cement. It should dry pretty quick now, but 
I'd still wait a day or so before lighting a fire in it. Wood & charcoal 
mixed, then charcoal & slowly raise the temperature until you can get sparks 
from a bit of white hot steel.

The sparks are the iron burning, so you know its hot enough to work iron.

Go to it, only use will make you master!

Regards,



J. Kim Siddorn,
Regia Anglorum

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff mack" <mack_metalwork at yahoo.com>
To: "list-Regia-NA" <list-regia-na at lig.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 5:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Regia-NA] Ironworker


There have been many tuyure stones found in Scandinavia.  They look like a 
flat rock, with a hole through it.  If I understand their use correctly, 
They are used to channel the air from a bellows sideways into the charcoal 
fuel.  Most of the reconstructions I've seen were basicly a clay lined hole 
in the ground, with a tuyure stone lining the hole on one side.  I used a 
washtub lined with clay to make my charcoal forge, so I could get it up of 
the ground, and not completely freak out my neighbors.

Hope that helps.

Sveinbjörn

Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,
"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all.
-Kipling


----- Original Message ----
From: Joel Thompson <joelthompson1 at cox.net>
To: list-Regia-NA <list-regia-na at lig.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 10:31:20 AM
Subject: Re: [Regia-NA] Ironworker


That's neat.  I haven't done or seen anyone doing smelting.   I'm really
interested in building an above ground forge.  I'm a fairly new blacksmith
myself.  I was reading an article on Regia mainsite that mentioned this
shallow clay bowl idea.  It would work great for me since I'm an old guy
with bad knees who doesn't want to have forge in the ground.  The clay bowl
is easy, but I wonder about the air flow and how the bellows are worked.
Does it come in from the side, underneath, What?

Joel


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nicholson, Andrew" <andrew.nicholson at dumgal.gov.uk>
To: "'list-Regia-NA'" <list-regia-na at lig.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 10:57 AM
Subject: RE: [Regia-NA] Ironworker


>     Hello.  Anyone out there I can talk ironworking with?
>> I'm interested
>> in the idea of a forge using the shallow clay bowl, etc.
>> Thanks in advance for any info.
>>
>
> 'Fraid I've only done smelting rather than smithing - one knife blade
> don't
> count for much - but then when I started it was just a rock ! :)
>
> Dug up Norse smithing and smelting debris though, and looked at tools.
>
> Guthrum
>
>
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