We did it again, but with a new twist from the big lake

[sunshadow]

Awesome bloom Kevin! I am jealous, none of my blooms have worked anywhere near as well. I guess next time I go to Michigan I need to bring something with more cargo capacity than a sportster so I can mine the beach for ore!

-Page

 

[Alden Sherrodd]

Very cool Kevin. That sounds like a real rewarding experience!
~Alden

 

[delbert ealy]

nighttime pics are always cool

tapping the slag

 

[sunshadow]

Nice pics Del!

-Page

 

[Tait]

How big is it?

(The bloom...)

 

[dustfurn]

What an amazing project! Congratulations.

In the end we found we had used around 50 lbs. of charcoal and around ½ to 2/3 of a bucket of Lake Superior sand to make it, so the efficiency in my smelts continues to improve beyond what I thought was about as good as I was going to get.

To what do you attribute this new efficiency? The sand (lots of silica-based slag)? Or simply to experience and tweaks you've made to your process?

Thanks for sharing,
Dustin

 

[galadduin]

Now I am sold to this "make your own steel" thing, as if knife making was simple now we will struggle to make our own steel :grumpy:...

 

[Southclaw]

Kevin that is GREAT. I have been wondering where to get iron sand. Are you planing on making any more soon? I would love to see it.

 

[Southclaw]

Sorry I forgot one comment on that last post. I would love to see a blade made out of it. Any idea what you are going to make out of it?