[TheForge] Science fair project

[Dave Brown]

The simplest thing that I have found to wow the kids is to twist a piece of 
hot steel.  Let them see it and touch it cold, even have one of the other 
kids try to twist it ... all this to prove that it is a piece of steel 
(3/8"sq works good for this).  Then heat it ... explain what "red hot" is 
(it's red, see?),  Get to a good orange to yellow.  Touch it to a piece of 
wood to show how hot it is (ignite readily).  Then put one end in a vise 
and put a twisting wrench on the other end and twist ... no grunts, no 
groans, no sweat.  Quench to cool it, then pass it around.

Dave Brown.
Green Bay, WI

At 16:41 11/05/02 -0500, you wrote:
>My 10 year old son is going to do a science fair project soon. He 
>frequently helps me at the forge and also likes to do his own little jobs. 
>I thought that it would be a good idea to do his project on blacksmithing 
>as no one at his school has done a project on this subject in recent past 
>(that we know about).
>My question would be: does any one know of a good project for him, or any 
>recourses we could use? Please keep in mind that he is ten years old, and 
>I want him to pretty much do the job him self with only my supervision.
>Thanks in advance
>John Kellough