Smelting Party Results

[gfish]

This is almost a month late, but here it is, the copper we smelting during the smelting/birthday party:


(The penny is just for scale.)

So, not very much. But more than the first two attempts, and in a much more promising form. I think that we've been failing to maintain sufficiently high temperatures for long enough, particularly later in the firing when the furnaces tended to start to fail. The next furnace is going to be built as a structure, not just a hole in the ground. Proper fired clay and sandstone brick, with a well defined chimney. This should also make it easier to use in the city -- a fire in a hole in the ground is a campfire, while charcoal burning in a device on a stand is a fancy barbecue.

Comments

[niac.livejournal.com]

are you going to use hardwood charcoal this time? What have you been using to fire your reducing fires?

[gfish.livejournal.com]

We've been using mesquite charcoal, since that is the only kind of real charcoal one can easily find.

[niac.livejournal.com]

Right on. That was what I was going to suggest. :) Did you know they have it in 50 lb bags at Cash and Carry for $12? Good price.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

No, I'll have to go there next time. I've been getting the 20 pounds bags, and two of them isn't quite enough.