Wootz smelt

Joined
Oct 26, 2004
Messages
298
Hi folks.
I m going to do some wootz smelting. I have big charcoal forge to work with

Or I can build charcoal owen and I have strong blower ready.

What size of crucible is best to start with? Given that making wootz is much easier than smelting own steel I have been thinking in terms of 2 kg smelt.

I got advice from Vasilyi Fursa (great chap btw) and I will use 1:1 cast iron and soft iron such as old nails. And little bit high vanadium steel scraps.
Cast iron 4% Carbon
Soft iron 0% Carbon

is 2% C , given that something burns up I intend to end with dendritic steel with about 1.8%C.

Projected smelt time 4-5 hours. Cooling time 12-18 hours.


Thanks for advices

Jaroslav
 
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