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.