Harvesting the element

Lorien

Lorien

Nose to the Grindstone
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Dec 5, 2005
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I just got back from a trip with some buddies to a top secret location, where I was able to procure iron from the guts of Mother Earth herself.

I'm tired, so I'll let the pictures do the talking;

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Now, what do I do with it?
Guess it's time to start building a forge, I'm all ears!
 
the coolest thing about last night's spelunking expedition was that an epiphany occurred for me. I suddenly realized, while I was standing in a pitch black iron mine, the bounty immediately available to me, as symbolized by the iron ore itself.

The bounty, was the knowledge that here is something that I know so little about, that I don't even know what I don't know. And the outcome of that knowledge is research, which is close at hand through this screen and my keyboard.

I'd say a necessary elemental component to any steel is knowledge.

I am just so amazed that today, tomorrow, next week or next year, I can get started on building the processing equipment needed to turn free, raw iron ore into blade steel. All it takes is some research, an investment of time, patience and will, and theoretically, I can make a knife from almost the absolute basic level.

It's just too cool for school:).

Stuart Branson, you need to come to Sooke and harvest some for yourself:thumbup:
 
Fascinating pics ! What kinda of Arachnoid is in that one pic? You may have also discovered a new species. Good luck in your quest of steel.
 
This is very cool Lorien. I'd love to come out mining some time.

Like you, I have no idea where to start. I wonder if you could do like the Japanese do for making tamahagane and cook it for a few days in a giant foundry.

It would be something else to start with raw ore and get a finished blade. :)
 
you're in, Shant:)
 
That is way cool!

I'm currently hatching a plan to place myself and a few willing others in the wilderness of Alaska, and using only the natural resources end up with a knife...

We should scheme...

Adam-
 
I'm on my way!:D
 
Lorien,

first you need to process the ore
you need to heat the chunks in a GOOD bonfire to drive off any moisture

then crush them down into a chunky powder


then you will need to build a carburizing furnace, there are several different designs out there. the current hot ticket is an adaptation of a roman pig iron furnace. Jesus Hernandez and Walter Sorrells have had excellent luck with.

once you have a bloom chunk of carburized iron the real fun begins, processing down to usable steel.

first, break the large chunks into usable pieces, you'll want stuff about the size of a peach and not much bigger.

flatten all of the chunks you have, and start welding and folding them together.

when bits stop crumbling off at each weld you can start counting folds.
I would suggest at least 6 folds after that point
 
Stephan, thank you. That is just the kind of info I'm looking for, so now at least I can't get started:thumbup::)
 
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