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Author Topic: Wootz  (Read 1086 times)

Offline kbaknife

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Wootz
« on: October 08, 2015, 06:00:00 PM »
I'm just a little edgy here today.
On Sunday I leave for a week in Wisconsin at Door County Forge under the guidance of Ric Furrer to learn how to make Wootz from raw materials.
It has always intrigued me to create my own steel and then work it down into a usable knife.
If you don't know, Ric is the one that the Discovery Channel filmed for Nova in "The Secrets of the Viking Sword".
I'll be there all week.
Please wish me luck.
When the last deer disappears into the morning mist,
When the last elk vanishes from the hills,
When the last buffalo falls on the plains,
I will hunt mice for I am a hunter and I must have my freedom.
Chief Joseph

Offline Steve Nuckels

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #1 on: October 08, 2015, 08:18:00 PM »
Wow Karl, it's a a great opportunity for you that I am sure you will take full advantage of.

I watched "The Secrets of the Viking Sword", a very good production!

Have a great time, looking forward to hearing about it.  Safe journey.

Steve
-------
Potomac Forge
Member, W.F. Moran Jr. Museum & Foundation
ABS AP

Offline Lin Rhea

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2015, 10:37:00 AM »
I hope you guys have a lot of fun Karl. I wish I was with yall but I'd have to clone myself and you wouldn't want that.    :eek:
"We dont rent pigs." Augustus McCrae
ABS Master Bladesmith
TGMM Family of the Bow
Dwyer Dauntless longbow 50 @ 28
Ben Pearson recurve 50 @ 28
Tall Tines Recurve 47@28
McCullough Griffin longbow 43@28

Offline kbaknife

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2015, 01:27:00 PM »
And you have a point.  But I do wish you could be there.
When the last deer disappears into the morning mist,
When the last elk vanishes from the hills,
When the last buffalo falls on the plains,
I will hunt mice for I am a hunter and I must have my freedom.
Chief Joseph

Offline Track

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2015, 02:12:00 PM »
Have a great time Karl. Saw that show, was excellent.

Offline akaboomer

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2015, 05:24:00 PM »
Have a great time Karl. The event sounds like a fun trip.  I wish I were going also.

Chris

Offline gudspelr

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2015, 07:46:00 PM »
Wow-I'm envious. Can't wait to hear what you think after taking the class. Smelting and coming up with your own steel for a blade has always been interesting to me. It's not the same by a long shot as what you'll be doing, but I've looked into doing an Aristotle furnace to at least get a bit further down the line of making the steel. Don't forget to post pics   :)  .

Jeremy
"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
- William Morris

Craftsmen strive to make their products both.

Offline kbaknife

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2015, 10:52:00 PM »
Had a great time today and should have four good ingots in the morning.
When the last deer disappears into the morning mist,
When the last elk vanishes from the hills,
When the last buffalo falls on the plains,
I will hunt mice for I am a hunter and I must have my freedom.
Chief Joseph

Offline Lin Rhea

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #8 on: October 13, 2015, 08:32:00 AM »
Show pictures?   :coffee:
"We dont rent pigs." Augustus McCrae
ABS Master Bladesmith
TGMM Family of the Bow
Dwyer Dauntless longbow 50 @ 28
Ben Pearson recurve 50 @ 28
Tall Tines Recurve 47@28
McCullough Griffin longbow 43@28

Offline 4est trekker

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2015, 03:58:00 PM »
Any pictures or updates, Karl?    :campfire:
"Walk softly...and carry a bent stick."

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Col. 3:17

Offline kbaknife

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #10 on: October 24, 2015, 09:51:00 AM »
Sorry guys - I'm just kind of chained to my workbench right now and have had little time to edit a huge volume of pics I have on many topics.
Wootz being one of them.
The class was an eye opener.
What I learned is that there are a lot of variables here on this subject and a lot of methods and materials to use.
It will be a while before I can get it all sorted out in my head.
What we did was take a basic approach.
Lots of coke was burned.
Crucibles were placed in a coke oven and ingredients were melted.
Then forged down.
We all came home with two bars of questionable content.
Time will tell on that.

Crucibles are placed in the forge and filled with coke and blown super hot - 3000* - and maintaned for about 1 hour and then let cool overnight.

 

 


Glass is placed on top which acts as a flux to trap all the impurities and as it cools this rises to the top, as it is the lightest material:

 


This is the ingot when removed: About four pounds.


 
When the last deer disappears into the morning mist,
When the last elk vanishes from the hills,
When the last buffalo falls on the plains,
I will hunt mice for I am a hunter and I must have my freedom.
Chief Joseph

Offline 4est trekker

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2015, 10:32:00 AM »
Can't wait to hear how it turns out!  Thanks for posting.  :)
"Walk softly...and carry a bent stick."

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Col. 3:17

Offline FerretWYO

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #12 on: October 24, 2015, 12:21:00 PM »
Thanks for sharing. This is awesome.
TGMM Family of The Bow

Offline gudspelr

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #13 on: October 27, 2015, 08:29:00 PM »
Woohoo! Oh man, I can't wait for more on this, Karl. So cool.....    :saywhat:


   :campfire:


Jeremy
"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
- William Morris

Craftsmen strive to make their products both.

Offline Soonerlongbow

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Re: Wootz
« Reply #14 on: March 08, 2016, 10:08:00 PM »
Any updates on this exercise?
PSE Legacy 55@28
Diamondback Venom 55@28

US Army MP 2000-'08

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