What type of iron-sand should be used for tamahagane?

[Fultonforger]

I'm thinking about making the Japaneses steel tamahagane, but I don't know what percentage of iron should be in iron-sand. I found some that was 50-55% iron, but I don't know if that's enough. Any advice for a beginner?

 

[Bob Ohlemann]

Contact Walter Sorrells.

Bob

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Or Kevin Cashen. He does a lot of smelts. Post the question in hypefreeblades.com . there are several others there who do this.

 

[Bill Burke]

what you have will work. that said the higher the % or iron the easier it will be to get a decent bloom. lower iron content requires the use of more sand and a longer run time. it is also more sensitive to the size of your furnace.

 

[Kentucky]

You can also try bladesmiths forum..They have a section devoted to the bloom. Ric F. and Kevin C. hang out there..They wre both very,very exp smelters.