IRON SMELT Experiment Overview

2010 Iron Smelt Experiments

v2 - 2021

Go HERE for a bare text version (all experiments) ...
Go HERE for table style version (all experiments) ...

CONSUMPTION / SEQUENCE rates (at m/kg) are from first ore to last ore additions

Date: June 12, 2010
Experiment: 43 / D 21
Location: Wareham ON
Team: Ken Cook
plus bellows operators - Sam Falezone, Pierre La Fountaine
Furnace: Boxed Short Shaft
clay and sand mix
tap arch (top extraction)
Size: 23 x 68 H cm
Source: based on archaeology from L'Anse aux Meadows NL
Tuyere: 2 cm ID steel pipe (tip forged to taper)
Placement: natural set base, about 19 cm
5 cm proud
set at 22.5 degrees down
Bellows: Norse style double bag (smelting)
delivery estimated at 700 LPM (?)
Charcoal: not recorded, maple
Consumption: not recorded
Ore: DD analog, red + hematite - 20 kg @ 55 %
Sequence: data not clear (counted as 'scoops')
Duration: about 3 1/2 hours (not including preheat)
Result: 1.6 kg bloom - lacy & crumbly consistency
Yield: 8%
Notes: Full dress rehearsal for LAM demonstration / no sequence records

lam 4
Date: August 21, 2010
Experiment: 44 / D 22
Location: L'Anse aux Meadows NHSC, Newfoundland
Team: Ken Cook, Dave Cox, Richard Schwietzer
plus LAM staff - Mark Pilgrim, Jessica Butler, Jake Hill (recorder Mehgan Arnott)
Furnace: Boxed Short Shaft
clay and sand mix
tap arch (top extraction)
Size: 22 - 24 x 63 H cm
Source: based on archaeology from L'Anse aux Meadows NL
Tuyere: 2 cm ID steel pipe (tip forged to taper)
Placement: natural set base, about 19 cm
4.5 cm proud
set at 19 degrees down
Bellows: Norse style double bag (smelting)
delivery estimated at 700 LPM (?)
Charcoal: 30.5 +, maple
Consumption: average 14 per bucket
8.8 m/kg
Ore: DD 2analog, 20 kg @ 61 % Fe
Sequence: data not clear (counted as 'scoops')
9.2 m/kg
Duration: about 6 hours (including preheat)
Result: 2.8 kg bloom - in small chunks, crumbly consistency
Yield: 14%
Notes: All Viking Age LAM demonstration

Date: November 6, 2010
Experiment: 45 / D 23
Location: Wareham ON
Team: Neil Peterson, Richard Schwietzer
(Troubleshooting - Darrell Markewitz
Records - Katie Thorton : Consolodation - Katie Thorton, Thomas Beckett Furnace: Econo Norse
enclosed fire brick
tap arch (dismantled extraction)
Size: 28 cm x 76 H
Source: standard demonstration system
Tuyere: standard ceramic tube 2.5 cm
Placement: 21 cm above base
4 cm proud
set at 23 down
Bellows: electric blower
Air: not measured
Charcoal: 38 kg, maple
Consumption: 2 kg charcoal every 12 minutes (varies)
6.8 m/kg
Ore: granular Hematite @ 68 % Fe
24.6 kg
Sequence: ore charges range from .6 to 2.5 kg each
7.2 m/kg
Duration: about 4 1/4 hours (including preheat)
Result: 8.5 kg bloom - high carbon
plus 2.7 kg white cast iron
Yield: 34.5 % (45% including cast)
Notes: Practice for CanIRON 8 demonstration


TEAM PARTICIPANTS


Dark Ages Re-creation Company
Core (demo) Team:
Ken Cook, Neil Peterso, Dave Cox, Richard Schwietzer
Assisting:
Sam Falezone, Pierre LaFountaine
Karen Peterson, Vandy Simpson

IRON SMELT LINKS

Lee Sauder
Mike McCarthy
DARC - Iron Experiments



Unless indicated, All text and photographs © 2005 - 2010 Darrell Markewitz - the Wareham Forge