Quote from notfeanor on December 8, 2024, 5:34 pmHello all!
I'm just getting into (maybe) actually making wootz, after spending much of my college career researching and writing papers about it. I'm no knifemaker, and am an around average smith more used to making hardware and random woodworking or farm tools than blades. My goals would be more towards understanding the science and techniques of wootz than any levels of completed masterwork. With that in mind, here's my plan for a versatile small scale furnace geared towards smaller ingots and nonferrous metals casting.
My plan is to use an empty barbecue propane cylinder or larger (stainless! Not galvy) beer keg, insulate with 3000 loucast (conveniently, that supplier is a short drive away from my shop) and coat with ITC-100. I'd be using a burner from Chile Forge that I use for my day to day smithing; it seems to be an eminently capable design despite only being venturi style. In my current, double open ended forge I can get up to welding temps for large steel pieces in 20 minutes. Anyway- as some of you mentioned, I'd also include ports for two thermocouples. I don't have access to any powerhammers/presses unfortunately, besides friends, large sledgehammers, and relatively youthful enthusiasm.
My first project will not be wootz, but an attempt to make shear/blister steel from carburizing wrought with hoof trimmings, melting into crucible steel, and homogenizing. If that's a success, I'd continue with the Ulfberht swords and composition in mind as an end goal.
Although ceramic fiber is likely a far more efficient, less dense material, I'm extremely wary of it due to its similarities with fiberglass and asbestos, as can be seen in this thread on iforgeiron.
https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/53239-ceramic-wool-insulation-safety-
For you more experienced wootz-smiths- what advice would you have for building a furnace with these goals in mind? Anything you'd do differently if you were starting over from scratch? Hard won suggestions? It's really delightful to see such kind free sharing of information here.
Hello all!
I'm just getting into (maybe) actually making wootz, after spending much of my college career researching and writing papers about it. I'm no knifemaker, and am an around average smith more used to making hardware and random woodworking or farm tools than blades. My goals would be more towards understanding the science and techniques of wootz than any levels of completed masterwork. With that in mind, here's my plan for a versatile small scale furnace geared towards smaller ingots and nonferrous metals casting.
My plan is to use an empty barbecue propane cylinder or larger (stainless! Not galvy) beer keg, insulate with 3000 loucast (conveniently, that supplier is a short drive away from my shop) and coat with ITC-100. I'd be using a burner from Chile Forge that I use for my day to day smithing; it seems to be an eminently capable design despite only being venturi style. In my current, double open ended forge I can get up to welding temps for large steel pieces in 20 minutes. Anyway- as some of you mentioned, I'd also include ports for two thermocouples. I don't have access to any powerhammers/presses unfortunately, besides friends, large sledgehammers, and relatively youthful enthusiasm.
My first project will not be wootz, but an attempt to make shear/blister steel from carburizing wrought with hoof trimmings, melting into crucible steel, and homogenizing. If that's a success, I'd continue with the Ulfberht swords and composition in mind as an end goal.
Although ceramic fiber is likely a far more efficient, less dense material, I'm extremely wary of it due to its similarities with fiberglass and asbestos, as can be seen in this thread on iforgeiron.
https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/53239-ceramic-wool-insulation-safety-
For you more experienced wootz-smiths- what advice would you have for building a furnace with these goals in mind? Anything you'd do differently if you were starting over from scratch? Hard won suggestions? It's really delightful to see such kind free sharing of information here.
Quote from notfeanor on December 12, 2024, 10:44 amEdit/note- Kastolite swap- the Loucast seems to be a harder/denser material which might not be super efficient. Thinking of going with kastolite instead. Does anyone read these?
Edit/note- Kastolite swap- the Loucast seems to be a harder/denser material which might not be super efficient. Thinking of going with kastolite instead. Does anyone read these?
Quote from Jerry Martin on December 24, 2024, 7:28 amYes, people read these. This is a small/new forum so it's just getting started.
I have not tried wootz yet but, I've built a couple furnaces for metal casting. The main thing I've found is that Insulation is very important. I have not tried Kastolite. I've used Mt Savage Super Heatcrete 31. It is very tough and very hard. With no insulation the whole furnace got very hot and didn't melt anything very fast. On my large furnace I had 1" of heatcrete and 3 inches of Ceramic Blanket insulation and the difference was incredible. I was able to melt Cast Iron in just a short time using Propane. You mentioned a Venturi burner, so I guess you are using Propane. I use mostly Propane but with a forced air burner. I seem to have a lot more control of the flame and I'm able to get it much hotter than with a venturi. Just my experience.
Merry Christmas everyone!!
Yes, people read these. This is a small/new forum so it's just getting started.
I have not tried wootz yet but, I've built a couple furnaces for metal casting. The main thing I've found is that Insulation is very important. I have not tried Kastolite. I've used Mt Savage Super Heatcrete 31. It is very tough and very hard. With no insulation the whole furnace got very hot and didn't melt anything very fast. On my large furnace I had 1" of heatcrete and 3 inches of Ceramic Blanket insulation and the difference was incredible. I was able to melt Cast Iron in just a short time using Propane. You mentioned a Venturi burner, so I guess you are using Propane. I use mostly Propane but with a forced air burner. I seem to have a lot more control of the flame and I'm able to get it much hotter than with a venturi. Just my experience.
Merry Christmas everyone!!