Upcoming Iron Smelt

Sunday October 13

the Wareham Forge, Grey County, Ontario

All day : Early start (8 AM), expect delayed extraction (early evening)

This smelt will be a continuation of the recent evaluation of a mechanical system that mimics a Norse type twin bellows. This continues trials undertaken at Smelts 94 and 95

- Past experience with lower air volumes suggests this will be a longer and slower burn. 

- This will be a roughly 20 - 22 kg ore smelt, with the expectation of a smaller (3 kg?) bloom.

- This is a fixed experiment (not teaching), but those visiting can expect the usual 'Darrell rambles on'.

- There will be limited opportunities for direct participation.

This is an 'Open Invitational' event. Contact Darrell via e-mail if you wish to attend.

 

Furnace base, metal form in place for first clay additions

I have positioned the furnace to the SW corner of the smelting area, back towards the low retaining wall. This will place the tuyere to the right hand side (the side seen here), with extraction towards the open side (left in image). The standard concrete half blocks used as a base plinth, packed with charcoal. I have framed up the extraction arch side (bottom made with two clay bricks) and created a pocket based with charcoal fines for the purpose of collecting tap slag.

First course of clay build, after form removed.

 

I have been taking advantage of the atypical hot and clear weather for mid September to prepare the materials and doing the build much earlier than has been done in the past. Starting Friday past, I have made up a batch of analog, which is drying nicely in the hot sun. Two afternoons were taken to generally prepare the working area and hand shred enough dried horse manure to make up the needed two batches of the standard clay / sand / manure mixture that has become the standard here. Yesterday the first batch was made up and applied, building the bottom part of the furnace to about 20 cm tall. This mix was a bit on the soft side, so the spiral rope binding was placed a bit closer spaced than normal. This course may be left an additional day to ensure it is stable enough to support the next course addition. There is part of the wall cylinder remaining from the last smelt (94, as seen in this image). I hope to save some work and materials by trimming the edges square and placing this ring as the top section of the new build.

The intent is to retain this furnace body against future smelts. The reason for placing the furnace to one side of the area is to leave room to also construct another stone block furnace, like the one used for Smelts 82 - 84, 86, 87 (only with a bit more care to even construction). This with an eye to a potential special event marking Smelt 100 / 70th in November 2025.